USA TODAY BESTSELLER • When the Carolina Cold Fury’s hottest young star gets blindsided by an ex with a scandalous secret, it’s game on. “One of the best voices in contemporary romance.”—New York Times bestselling author Lauren Layne Marek Fabritis is used to delivering blows, not receiving them. But when he gets tipped off by an anonymous email about his ex-girlfriend, the news leaves him … anonymous email about his ex-girlfriend, the news leaves him ice cold—and it’s not because Gracen Moore is getting married to a total jerk. It’s the fact that Marek has a three-year-old daughter he never knew about. Now he’s going back home, not to play knight in shining armor but to make damn sure that no man takes what’s his. For the first time, there might be something more important than hockey.
Gracen Moore has always loved Marek. That’s why she let him go, so he could pursue a career in the NHL. And that’s why she never told him about Lilly. Only now does Gracen realize that she made an unforgivable mistake. But is that any reason for Marek to crash her wedding and make an epic scene? If the spark that still smolders between them is to be trusted, maybe. Still, Gracen’s not getting her hopes up. Because she knows better than anyone that appearances aren’t always what they seem. . . .
Praise for Marek
“Another five-star read from Sawyer Bennett! A second-chance roller coaster of emotions. I was cheering for Marek from page one. Loved it.”—USA Today bestselling author Sidney Halston
“Marek is a steamy, emotional, second-chance romance that had me rooting for both deeply scarred characters. Sawyer Bennett neverdisappoints.”—Gillian Archer, author of Rough Ride
“Just when I think the Carolina Cold Fury Hockey series couldn’t possibly get any better, Sawyer Bennett gives us Marek!”—Steph and Chris’s Book Review (five stars)
The Carolina Cold Fury series from New York Times bestselling author Sawyer Bennett can be read together or separately:
ALEX
GARRETT
ZACK
RYKER
HAWKE
MAX
ROMAN
LUCAS
VAN
REED
MAREK
And don’t miss her Arizona Vengeance series:
BISHOP
ERIK
LEGEND
The Love Hurts series features sexy standalone novels:
SEX IN THE STICKS
JILTED
And the Sugar Bowl series is one treat you’ll want to read in order:
SUGAR DADDY
SUGAR RUSH
SUGAR FREE
Includes an excerpt from another Loveswept title.
more
Ever since we met Marek in Reed’s story, I’ve been dying to get all the details on this man. Now that I have them, I can tell you I’M IN LOVE!
But I can also tell you it didn’t start out this way. Marek has a lot of hurt and anger to work through in this book, and there will be times where you don’t like him very much. But be patient with him. Underneath is an amazing guy that will melt you in all ways.
The same can be said for Gracen. Her choices made it hard for me to like her in the beginning. But just like Marek, you’ll love her by the end.
I definitely enjoyed the journeys of the characters in this book. There were a ton of feels in this story and chapter by chapter I fell in love with them. This book lacks for nothing- plenty of feels, heat, passion, anger, and love to binge on. Marek might just be one of my new favorite Cold Fury hockey players.
I really like this series. I loved the struggles as Marek adjusts from being single to becoming the father of a little girl. I do wish there was a bit more hockey in the book. But overall a well written book. If this happens to be the end of the series, it stops on a brilliant note.
This is a beautiful story of forgiveness, learning to trust, and second chances. This picks up where bk #10 leaves off. Marek is still reeling after finding out he has a 3 year old daughter he never knew existed. When he went to play professional hockey, he left behind the only women he ever loved for the freedom of the open road, not knowing she was pregnant. He rescues his ex-girlfriend, Gracen, and their daughter, Lilley, from Gracen’s loveless wedding, but is clueless as to what to do now. Marek falls for his daughter, never realizing he would love a child as much as he does. He is hurt from missing out on so many things with her. Gracen is burdened with the guilt of keeping her secret, but also with a broken heart from the man she has always loved. As they navigate their new family dynamic, old feelings come alive. But will they be able to let go of the hurt they both feel? This is a sweet and sexy romance that had me totally engaged from start to finish. I loved seeing past characters and the unwavering support they provide. This is a great addition to wonderful series!
Le Sighhhh…Marek is so dreamy!
Sexy hockey player, killer smile, and ohhh his dirty talking game is…on pointttt!
Gracen is a sweet girl…who had her heart broken. She made some mistakes. He made some mistakes. Now they are making mistakes together…or are they? I guess only time will tell. Second chances are tricky suckers. You think your going one way, but then something happens and your headed for the opposite direction.
When these two are together the sexy times are off the charts. Marek knows how to score not only on the ice, but off the ice as well.
Sighhhhh when he calls her Gracie I just melt…I am a puddle…with his blue eyes. Sighhhhh!
Once Marek get’s his shizzz together and it’s amazing to see him put others first. He really steps up and figures out what he wants in life.
#CherryPie #Lillybug #NextLevelShit #SecondChances #Gracie #ILoveYou #Robactic #Email #Family
Love this series! 11th book, am I getting sick of it?!? That’s a HUGE NO!!!! I could read about those Cold Fury boys all night long 😉
This one had tons of feels like you’d expect from Sawyer Bennett, lots of ups and downs between Marek & Gracen…and sweet Lilly
Super steamy like you’d expect from this series! A HOT Daddy, yes please! I had lots of mixed feelings reading this, the words between them were pretty harsh at times and my heart hurt for each of them.
So glad Marek got his story after Reed! Highly recommend this book, series & author!
I really enjoyed this addition to the Cold Fury Hockey series. I love a second chance romance especially when everyone involved thinks their doing what’s best.
Marek and Gracen are young sweethearts when Marek gets his break in the NHL. He really wants to focus on doing well and doesn’t want the responsibility of a relationship. Since she’s younger than him, he also wanted her to fulfull some of her dreams like finishing school and becoming a nurse but knew she wouldn’t if she followed him around. So he dumps her. Gracen is pregnant but doesn’t want to tell Marek because he broke up with her to enjoy the benefits of being in the NHL. She doesn’t want him to feel obligated to her. After 3 years, Gracen is about to marry Owen when Marek finds out and comes to stop it.
Marek and Gracen have a lot of unsettled business. Both were in love with each other and too young. But can they put their past behind them and find a path together? Can Marek get over the fact that Gracen kept his daughter from him for over 3 years? Can Gracen get over the fact that Marek picked his career over her? Don’t forget their daughter Lily who is a fun piece to this whole puzzle. You can’t help but route for them to overcome these obstacles, but can they?
Another great read by Sawyer Bennett!
So often we hurt one another with our choices; especially choices that we make during big, life changing moments. Sometimes, however, we are able to turn those once hurtful decisions into the very best of our futures.
Marek Fabritis is one of the Cold Fury’s hottest hockey players off and on the ice. When he learns that his one true love, is about to make the mistake of her life, he loses his mind!
Gracen Moore was heart-broken when Marek left her behind to pursue a career in professional hockey.
Gracen and Marek are both strong minded, passionate, and determined people. They are also stubborn to a fault.
While they continue to rip each other to shreds verbally with hurtful words and accusations about the past, there is one saving grace. The one thing that has never changed on either side is the undeniable attraction they have for one another. There is an intense push and pull between both characters who continue to fight both themselves and each other in letting down their guard and learning to trust one another.
Marek and Gracen were two characters that I couldn’t get enough of and I was a bit saddened to get to the end of the book, I wanted more. Typically I enjoy when Sawyer adds more hockey to the Cold Fury books. In this case however, I was so glad she had less about hockey and instead added more heart.
I loved Marek, but boy the heroine did a number on me… to me she was selfish and her reasons were childish… she judged Marek, but who judged her? the whole story line with her ex felt a little too unnecessary with the blackmail.. I wanted more hockey too, but I loved his interactions with his daughter!
What can I say, I love these cold fury men no matter what! They can frustrate me, which Marek does to no end in the beginning of this book, but I still fall in love with them in the end.
Marek and Gracen were childhood sweethearts, but when Marek finds out he’s going to the NHL he breaks up with her because he doesn’t want to loose focus and he wants to be able to be single and enjoy what being a professional hockey player has to offer.
When Marek dumps Gracen he leaves more than a broken heart behind, he leaves Gracen pregnant with his daughter. He has no idea he has a child until he finds out Gracen is going to marry a man he can’t stand and he goes home to stop the wedding.
To say that Marek is surprised he has a daughter is an understatement. Add to that the betrayal he feels and finding out after missing 3 years of his daughter’s life and things really aren’t good between Gracen and Marek.
Marek insists Gracen and Lilly move to North Carolina with him. But it’s not all fun an games. The resentment eats away at Marek and he just can’t be civil to Gracen. Add to that the fact that Gracen is not being truthful to Marek about certain things going on at home increases the tension. But know this, Lilly is the sweetest little girl and her parents love her dearly. I think far is like my favorite character in the book.
Overall I really liked this book. I do have to admit the way the two characters handled things in the beginning were a little frustrating to me, but it wasn’t enough for me to not like the book. Because in the end I really enjoyed it!
Gracen is rescued from an unwanted marriage when Marek virtually kidnaps her and takes her to his home. Along with their daughter, Lily, he had not known about. They are both harboring seething emotions. Gracen for the way he dumped her years ago because he loved hockey more than her as well as wanting his freedom and Marek because she never told him she was pregnant and has kept his daughter from him for the last three years.
This couple had a lot of issues to work out as they both suffer guilt as well as justifiable anger. I could clearly see both sides and was often bouncing back and forth over who I should pledge my allegiance to. I like my hero to be all in where the heroine is concerned so I struggled with Marek’s ability to walk away from Gracie after they had spent five years together and were in love.
However, I also thought that there was no acceptable reason for Gracen to keep Lily’s birth a secret not only from Marek but his parents as well. No matter that he might have been a grade A jerk for leaving her.
In the end, I began cheering for them as a couple as they start to work toward an amicable, steamy, and promising future. It was a rather rough road to travel and the angst was a bit on the heavy side due to Marek’s point of view never giving even a hint that he still loved Gracen. Did I mention I like my hero all in? Yeah, until the end I never really felt that from this hero.
Overall, it’s a relatively fast paced read with a look at a few past Cold Fury characters and an ending that was really very nice. Lily was written exactly as I expect to see a young child behave which is sometimes tricky and I did love seeing Marek fall in love with her.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book provided by NetGalley and Random House – Loveswept. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I love this Cold Fury Hockey Team! At the end of Reed’s book, we discover Reed & Marek flying off to New York to stop Marek’s old girlfriend/first love, Gracen, from getting married. As he gets there, Marek is shocked to find a little girl who looks just like him. Furious that Gracen has kept his daughter a secret from him, Marek stops her wedding, makes Gracen pack up Lilly, and brings them back to his house in Raleigh, NC.
Marek’s book starts off with him dropping Gracen & Lilly off at his house, while he takes off for 3-4 days to try and accept the realization that he’s now a father and has no idea how to be around or relate to this little girl. When he realizes he can’t stay away any longer, he finally goes back to his house. Gracen, herself, is extremely upset that they’ve been left without knowing where Marek went. Marek is so, so angry with Gracen not telling him about Lilly, that Gracen does start feeling guilty about it. However, Marek is so harsh to Gracen that she immediately turns her anger back on Marek. She reminds him about how he left her and broke up with her because he didn’t want to be tied down & wanted his “freedom” while starting his Pro Hockey career.
There are so many emotions, hurtful words and accusations between Marek and Gracen going on, while they still need to come together as parents to make this beautiful, adorable little girl come to the realization that she now has a Daddy.
This is a great story about second chances, healing and forgiveness. Sawyer has written us yet another Hockey Player story to love!!
Marek… Marek… Marek… What is one to do with you?
Marek got on my nerves a bit… but I mean, can you blame him? He has a child he never knew about! How about that for a game changer! Marek has this god awful grudge and just takes his damn time getting over it. There were times I did want to smack him around a little and then as the story went on, you get that second change romance and the HEA. I love Sawyer for her steam and romance and she still delivered here. Gracen had some moments where she needed a good talking to and when she finally got it, she got it! This was one of the longer reading times that I have had, but as I finished the book, I still enjoyed it. Sawyer gives you a book that has a very realistic tone to it. You cannot expect things to fall into place without some hard work and this story is just that.
I still love my Cold Fury Family!
Marek Fabritis is a hockey player for The Cold Fury in North Carolina. He enjoys being single, and spends a lot of his time on the road with his team. Suddenly his life is turned upside down when he finds out he has a three year old daughter named Lilly he knew nothing about. His ex-girlfriend kept her a secret, and he’s hurt. He wants to get to know Lilly, and the only way to have a relationship with her is for her to come to NC. He has a toddler he barely knows, and lots of time to make up for.
Gracen Moore has loved Marek since she was fifteen. He was her boyfriend and best friend for five years, and then he broke her heart when he dumped her four years ago to start his new, fancy life as a professional athlete. He was drafted into the NHL, went pro, and left her behind. His career was more important, so when she found out she was pregnant, she decided to protect her baby from possible rejection by raising her alone. She finished college, got her degree in nursing, and is about to get married when Marek crashes her wedding & goes all caveman on her taking her back to his house. Gracen and her daughter are abruptly inserted into Mareks life, and they are all doing their best to adjust.
Everything is a big mess. Marek is trying to bond with his daughter, and is feeling confused and angry with Gracen. He was young when he broke things off with her. He’d wanted his freedom, but that didn’t change how he’d felt about her. She was his first love, and now she’s back in his life, and he doesn’t know how to handle it. He never quit thinking of her, and regrets hurting her. She’s still the most beautiful woman he’s ever known.
As they all spend time together old feelings return, and Gracen tries not to have expectations as things turn physical. She’s never gotten over him, and he could hurt her again if she gets too tied up in him. He was always so devoted to her when they were together. No one has ever compared to Marek and the deep love they once shared. As everything falls into place, can this couple move past their pain and give love another try and finally be a family?
This was a great second chance romance full of angst and love. I love this series and all these delicious Cold Fury hockey players! ;))
3.5 STARS!!!!
Marek was a good second chance romance read. I enjoyed every character in this book except Owen. I truly wished that I had felt more of a deep connection between Marek and Gracen. They had a past and Marek was a fool for how he ended things, but I wish I had felt that bone deep type of love from them in the past that would make me believe that their feelings in the present was real. I enjoyed the moments between Marek and Lilly and Gracen was a great mother. There were things I liked and disliked about this story, but it was a sweet second chance sports romance read that was worth a read.
Uuuh, I love this series! Hot and brawny hockey hunks finding their HEAs, one great story at a time. And while my favorite of those guys is set in stone (Van is mine!), I always get giddy whenever I get my hands on another book. And Marek… well, he’s a special candidate for sure, being introduced to us with a bang at the end of Reed’s story. A second chance romance featuring a secret daughter? Gosh, yes, count me in! Especially because I’m such a sucker for romances involving little kids lately. Just… swoon. Yeah, apparently I have reached *that* age.
Marek really was a jerk for a good part of the story. Man, I wanted to punch him. Yes, Gracen kept an integrally important information hidden from him for about four years, but who could really hold that against her, after he unceremoniously dumped her to “have his freedom”? So, you see, these two have a whole lot of issues to work through: hurt, guilt, anger – and they do. Fighting, screaming, making up … just to start it all over again. The constant push and pull of two people badly hurt by the other but madly in love with one another as well. It simply needs some time for them to get to that point, their wonderful daughter, Lilly, caught between them…
A trying cycle of misunderstandings and –communication, fueled by trust issues, unresolved feelings and the fear of getting hurt again. And as maddening as it was for me as reader to get through all that – “kiss and make up already!” it is what’s needed to make the story real and believable.
In contrast to the previous book, this one has at least some hockey in it, as off-season is finally dwindling down, which gave it a bit more of a feel of a sports romance. For me, this series is not really about the sports anymore, but about the family this team of hotheaded and now mostly tamed (bwahaha) men has become.
Now it looks like it’s time to move on to a different series, and while I’m excited for whatever Ms. Bennett brings us next, I am sad to see these guys go.
The first half of this book was straight up stressful. We got introduced to Marek and Gracen in the book before this, but I had no idea just how tough it would be for them to navigate this new situation! Marek does NOT even know how to handle any of it, so at first he avoids then he lashes out. Gracen at first lets him, then finally grows a backbone. I mean come on!
They obviously still have feelings there and attraction. And their kid is freakin cute. There’s a bathroom scene that seriously amused me as a parent. We also get to glimpse in on all the other players’ lives, which was cool.
This is the 11th book in the series, they can be read as stand alones. I have read about half of them so far- fantastic sports romances. Oh, and there’s a HEA.
***3.5 ‘#TEAMLILLY’ Stars***
I love Sawyer Bennett and her Cold Fury series is one of my top fav sports romance series. It’s all kinds of sweet, smexy and swoony and I love getting to know the characters as well as getting glimpses of ones I’ve come to love (Ryker, Max and Alex all still my favs) but this one…this one tested me. I still got all kinds of caught up in the story…but it was a rocky ride..
Gracen and Marek tested me a lot throughout this entire book and while I can say that I liked them in the end, they will probably go down as the couple I have the most issues with in this series. As much as Marek intrigued me in Reed, I didn’t like him all that much in the beginning. I got why he felt the way he did, and I don’t blame him in the least, but his reactions didn’t leave a good impression. Gracen, I had a lot more empathy for. I understood why she did what she did, and honestly, if I were in her shoes I probably would have done the same thing without apology. But even she had her moments that had me groaning.
With my tepid feelings towards these it’s not a surprise that there was a lot of eye rolling and wanting to Gibbs smack them going on. The chemistry was there, the feelings ~ though all kinds of wonky ~ were there, but these two couldn’t hold down a civil conversation to save their lives and it got a little tiresome. The one bright spot was Lilly. She brought out the absolute best in them, even when they were acting younger than her. She was the only reason I thought they had a chance of working things out. As it is, I’m still on the fence about Marek and Gracen being together, but in the end, and even without the Lilly factor, I don’t think anyone else could put up with either of them.
Though this didn’t make it on to my fav’s list for the series, I still got caught up in the story and must give Ms. Bennett props for keeping things real. There was no quick fix, no easy peasy solution to the situation Marek and Gracen found themselves in. She had them run the gamut of emotions and let it ride. The rounding up of the rating does have a lot to do with Miss Lilly, who was just too adorable, Reed and Josie, both of whom injected some much needed voice of reason advice in the emotional storm ~ as well as those sightings of some of my fav Cold Fury couples specifically Ryker and Gray, Max and Julianne, and Alex (as always) made me all kinds of happy. Now to wait and see who will be next up on the chopping block!
~ Copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley & voluntarily reviewed ~
**Received ARC from NetGalley for a fair and honest review**
Marek is book 11 in the Cold Fury Hockey series. This book can be read as a standalone, however IMO you lose some of the story by not knowing the other characters from the previous book. Again– just my opinion. This book was a fast, fun read, hard to put down.
Marek and Gracen were together for 5 years, then when he lands a position on a professional hockey team, he decides he wants his freedom and ends the relationship. But there are things he doesn’t know, and things he should have been told. Now she’s getting married and an anonymous email shows up and Marek gets upset.
This is probably my least favorite book in the Cold Fury Hockey series. I wasn’t a big fan of Marek, he came across mostly as selfish, spoiled and entitled. He does redeem himself, but his character really just rubbed me the wrong way. The characters had good chemistry, and I really enjoyed the story overall. If you like hot and steamy you will enjoy this book. I really enjoyed Lilly, the daughter in the book, wish we would have seen a little more dialogue with her- when you did see it, it was precious. Overall it was a good book, and I would recommend. Can’t wait for the next book in the series. Hope this helps. Happy Reading!!!
I don’t know that I will ever get tired of this Cold Fury series. I just love it so much! Sawyer Bennett has done it again with Marek!
Marek finds out he has a little girl with the woman he loved but left 4 years earlier to just focus on hockey and whatever else went along with that. But this news causes him to go stop Gracen’s wedding to another man and bring her and sweet little Lilly back home with him. Needless to say he is not happy to find out she has been keeping his daughter from him for over 3 years now. He is not happy with Gracen, period.
After some settling down time though, Marek and Gracen realize they have a lot of emotional baggage to sort through and it is clear there are still feelings between them for better or worse. Can they co-parent Lilly and maybe just have a fling to address the sexual tension?
Can they sort through the mess and all the feelings and finally get the HEA that has eluded them up until now?
I know I cheered them on from the beginning, but they sure gave me a run for my money!
Marek Faloritis got the surprise of a lifetime. And it scares him to death. Gracen Moore has had to make some pretty tough choices. But was her latest choice a mistake. We also have a sweet little girl. This may be a second chance romance but it takes quite a while to see.
When I first started reading the book I thought Marek was an A #1 jerk. Wasn’t too sure if he was going to redeem himself until he tells us a tall tale. He also seems to tone down his attitude but it’s always at the back of my mind – can a leopard change its spots. And that’s one reason that I kept reading. At times Gracen made me sad because of what appeared to be self-esteem issues. But when it comes to her daughter, she’s a lioness. The author creates a secondary character that you have no trouble hating. He’s not a wimpy character but the word bully comes to mind.
This is a story of patience. It will take a while, and it may seem like quite a while, for you to warm up to a certain hockey player. It may be typecasting but he fit the role perfectly. I just couldn’t like him until I knew he was going to be good to Gracen – and that’s another way that I had to show patience. Lastly, we have to be patient to see if the author is going to give her readers a book twelve in the Cold Fury Series. But in the meantime, she has plenty of other hockey players that you can learn about when you read the other books in this series.
I was not compensated nor was I required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.