Get ready for all the feels in this sexy, “emotionally charged” (Library Journal)romance about a bad boy hockey player who wants a second chance to win the heart of his high school crush. All Winnie Braddock wants is a quiet place to be alone and time to heal her battered heart. But the refuge she’‘d hoped for in her family’’s summer cottage is destroyed when she gets there to find Holden … summer cottage is destroyed when she gets there to find Holden Hendricks literally camped out in the driveway. He made her life hell when they were kids, and despite what he says, it doesn’‘t look like much has changed. She doesn’‘t care if her brother hired Holden to renovate the house this winter; she wants him gone.
You miss 100 percent of the shots you never take. Holden knows that hockey saying all too well. After all, he could have gone pro if he hadn’‘t messed up so much as a kid. But now he’’s desperate to prove he’’s changed for the better, especially to Winnie Braddock. As the two work together to fix up the cottage piece by piece, they realize that perhaps they can give each other the new beginning they’‘ve both been waiting for — if they’‘re just willing to take the shot.
“A sexy and entertaining enemies-to-lovers romance with real emotional depth…truly moving and deeply romantic.” –Frolic
“The characters are so genuine, their relationship so realistic, that I felt like I was living it along with them…It’’s the type of story that will get you hooked on the genre and begging for more…I loved this couple so much!”
–Lady with a Quill, “A Favorite Book of 2019”
“Victoria Denault has a real talent in writing romance that will touch your heart, as well as make you laugh out loud…Now or Never is a total 5-star read that will have you completely hooked from start to finish!”
–Steph and Chris Book Review
“The character-driven premise is engaging and spirited; the characters are broken, flirty and real; the romance is moving and emotional.”
–The Reading Café
What readers are saying about Now or Never…
“A beautiful story of healing, redemption, and the power of believing in each other.”
“Fantastic and enjoyable.”
“This book will give you all the feels.”
her to fix up the cottage piece by piece, they realize that perhaps they can give each other the new beginning they’‘ve both been waiting for — if they’‘re just willing to take the shot.
“A sexy and entertaining enemies-to-lovers romance with real emotional depth…truly moving and deeply romantic.” –Frolic
“The characters are so genuine, their relationship so realistic, that I felt like I was living it along with them…It’’s the type of story that will get you hooked on the genre and begging for more…I loved this couple so much!”
–Lady with a Quill, “A Favorite Book of 2019”
“Victoria Denault has a real talent in writing romance that will touch your heart, as well as make you laugh out loud…Now or Never is a total 5-star read that will have you completely hooked from start to finish!”
–Steph and Chris Book Review
“The character-driven premise is engaging and spirited; the characters are broken, flirty and real; the romance is moving and emotional.”
–The Reading Café
What readers are saying about Now or Never…
“A beautiful story of healing, redemption, and the power of believing in each other.”
“Fantastic and enjoyable.”
“This book will give you all the feels.”
aracter-driven premise is engaging and spirited; the characters are broken, flirty and real; the romance is moving and emotional.”
–The Reading Café
What readers are saying about Now or Never…
“A beautiful story of healing, redemption, and the power of believing in each other.”
“Fantastic and enjoyable.”
“This book will give you all the feels.”
her to fix up the cottage piece by piece, they realize that perhaps they can give each other the new beginning they’‘ve both been waiting for — if they’‘re just willing to take the shot.
“A sexy and entertaining enemies-to-lovers romance with real emotional depth…truly moving and deeply romantic.” –Frolic
“The characters are so genuine, their relationship so realistic, that I felt like I was living it along with them…It’’s the type of story that will get you hooked on the genre and begging for more…I loved this couple so much!”
–Lady with a Quill, “A Favorite Book of 2019”
“Victoria Denault has a real talent in writing romance that will touch your heart, as well as make you laugh out loud…Now or Never is a total 5-star read that will have you completely hooked from start to finish!”
–Steph and Chris Book Review
“The character-driven premise is engaging and spirited; the characters are broken, flirty and real; the romance is moving and emotional.”
–The Reading Café
What readers are saying about Now or Never…
“A beautiful story of healing, redemption, and the power of believing in each other.”
“Fantastic and enjoyable.”
“This book will give you all the feels.”
her to fix up the cottage piece by piece, they realize that perhaps they can give each other the new beginning they’‘ve both been waiting for — if they’‘re just willing to take the shot.
“A sexy and entertaining enemies-to-lovers romance with real emotional depth…truly moving and deeply romantic.” –Frolic
“The characters are so genuine, their relationship so realistic, that I felt like I was living it along with them…It’’s the type of story that will get you hooked on the genre and begging for more…I loved this couple so much!”
–Lady with a Quill, “A Favorite Book of 2019”
“Victoria Denault has a real talent in writing romance that will touch your heart, as well as make you laugh out loud…Now or Never is a total 5-star read that will have you completely hooked from start to finish!”
–Steph and Chris Book Review
“The character-driven premise is engaging and spirited; the characters are broken, flirty and real; the romance is moving and emotional.”
–The Reading Café
What readers are saying about Now or Never…
“A beautiful story of healing, redemption, and the power of believing in each other.”
“Fantastic and enjoyable.”
“This book will give you all the feels.”
aracter-driven premise is engaging and spirited; the characters are broken, flirty and real; the romance is moving and emotional.”
–The Reading Café
What readers are saying about Now or Never…
“A beautiful story of healing, redemption, and the power of believing in each other.”
“Fantastic and enjoyable.”
“This book will give you all the feels.”
aracter-driven premise is engaging and spirited; the characters are broken, flirty and real; the romance is moving and emotional.”
–The Reading Café
What readers are saying about Now or Never…
“A beautiful story of healing, redemption, and the power of believing in each other.”
“Fantastic and enjoyable.”
“This book will give you all the feels.”
her to fix up the cottage piece by piece, they realize that perhaps they can give each other the new beginning they’‘ve both been waiting for — if they’‘re just willing to take the shot.
“A sexy and entertaining enemies-to-lovers romance with real emotional depth…truly moving and deeply romantic.” –Frolic
“The characters are so genuine, their relationship so realistic, that I felt like I was living it along with them…It’’s the type of story that will get you hooked on the genre and begging for more…I loved this couple so much!”
–Lady with a Quill, “A Favorite Book of 2019”
“Victoria Denault has a real talent in writing romance that will touch your heart, as well as make you laugh out loud…Now or Never is a total 5-star rea
more
Victoria Denault writes phenomenal hockey romances, and I’ve loved every book in her San Francisco Thunder series. Now or Never is the fourth, stand-alone installment, and it’s a sexy and entertaining enemies-to-lovers romance with real emotional depth. The heroine has fled to her family’s summer beach house in order to grieve her father’s passing and revaluate her life. She desperately wants to be alone, but her solitude is disrupted by her former childhood nemesis, who was hired to remodel the house. They butt heads and argue, but they quickly discover that they’re very different people now. Their relationship turns sexual and burns hot, but they also develop a supportive and strong emotional connection that takes both of them by surprise. Their journey to happily ever after is truly moving and deeply romantic.
Recommendation appeared @ Frolic on January 20
ARC provided, but this review was voluntarily and honestly written.
Winnie Braddock just wants a place to hide and heal her broken heart, so she heads for family’s summer cottage in hope of finding the remedy she needs. But upon her arrival she learns she isn’t the only one in search of a little quiet time, her brother has hired her childhood nemesis Holden Hendricks to work on the cottage throughout the winter. Which means she either has to figure out a way to get rid of him or learn to live with him… she chooses the later, and winds up finding the perfect treatment for her battered heart!
Now or Never is wonderfully crafted tale of healing, personal growth and love. I thought these characters were perfectly suited for one another, they had sparks for days, and were the perfect support system for one another. Winnie was depressed after losing her father, and Holden was quite determined to find the once feisty girl he loved to tease way back when. He just had to dig deep to find her and bring her out of her shell. She certainly gave him a run for his money, constantly pushing his buttons and bucking at every turn, but you could tell that he thoroughly enjoyed every minute of it. I have to say that I am sad to see this series coming to end, but I think these two made the perfect couple for the last chapter, it was so great to see Winnie finally get her happily ever after. Her story was quite uplifting, and filled with many moments that tugged on the heartstrings, and put a blush on my face. Highly recommend this one, it has all the feels, and then some!!
I requested an advanced copy of this title from the publisher, via NetGalley, and I am leaving my honest opinion.
Now or Never.
If you are a San Francisco Thunder fan, you knew it was going to happen. If you are a newcomer to the series, Now or Never starts with a loss. The biggest loss this family has ever faced. Dealing with loss and grief makes us do some uncharacteristic things. Spiraling out of control, lashing out, or drowning our sorrows…
Sometimes uncharacteristic isn’t actually a bad thing. Winnie finally gets around to dealing with the biggest baggage ever. Her 6 Ft. tall designer looking boyfriend. Learning about herself and finding a way through, Winnie flourishes with the help of a childhood nemesis.
Enemies to lovers and happily ever afters.
Another fantastic and enjoyable installment in the San Francisco Thunder series, Now or Never kept me awake until the late hours, completely immersed in Winnie and Holden’s hate-to-love story. The progression of their relationship, from antagonists to tentative friends to more was paced perfectly. Highly recommend this heartfelt and humorous book—and, in fact, this entire series. I’m enamoured by the Braddock siblings!
3.5 stars–NOW OR NEVER is the fourth instalment in Victoria Denault’s contemporary, adult SAN FRANCISCO THUNDER romance series. This is thirty year old, home renovator Holden Hendricks, and twenty-nine year old, primary school teacher Winnie Braddock’s story line. NOW OR NEVER can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary.
Told from dual first person perspectives (Winnie and Holden) NOW OR NEVER follows the enemies to lovers, acrimonious relationship between thirty year old, home renovator Holden Hendricks, and twenty-nine year old, primary school teacher Winnie Braddock. Years earlier Winnie’s brother Jude’s best friend Holden Hendrick’s made Winnie’s life a living h*ll. Teasing and bullying escalated until the day Winnie punched Holden and broke his nose. Fast forward to present day wherein Holden Hendrick’s has returned to his home town, unwelcome and without forgiveness for sins of the past. When given the opportunity to renovate and repair the Braddock’s family cottage in Maine Holden will come face to face with his past, a past that is unwilling to forgive and forget. Enter Winnifred Braddock, and the woman with whom Holden will fall in love. What ensues is the tempestuous relationship between Holden and Winnie, and the potential fall-out as secrets and the inability to trust continue to push Holden at every turn.
Holden Handricks’ life was destroyed when at the age of ten, his mother died in a freak accident. Angry and grieving, for the next several years, Holden lashed out at everyone and everything, including our story line heroine. Holden’s earlier self-destruction destroyed any chance of turning professional in the game he loved, a game he sacrificed for someone else. Hoping to make amends to everyone back home, the constant rejection was difficult and painful. Winnie Braddock just buried her beloved father and is unable to let go of the grief and pain. Breaking up with her boyfriend of eleven years meant Winnie wanted time alone never thinking she would spend weeks with a man she decreed her mortal enemy. Living side by side Winnie would soon discover that the man with whom she is falling in love is not the same, angry boy whose actions turned her life upside down.
The relationship between Winnie and Holden is acrimonious at best. Their bitter and caustic back and forth is fuelled by Winnie’s inability to trust, and the reminder of a time long ago when Holden did everything to push Winnie’s buttons. Secrets from the past, and Winnie’s issues of trust continue to dog our couple throughout the story. The $ex scenes are passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.
We are reintroduced to Winnie’s brother Jude and his wife Zoey (Scored #1), and their sisters Dixie and Eli (Slammed #2), Sadie and Griffin (When It’s Right #3); as well as a Winnie’s friend and townie Cat’ Holden’s sister Bradie and her son Duke, and a couple of Holden’s friends from the past.
The world building departs from hockey and the San Francisco Thunder. Holden was a rising star in the junior hockey leagues but life choices destroyed any chances for a professional career, a career every knows would have been as successful as Jude’s.
NOW OR NEVER is a story of family and friendship, death and loss, forgiveness and moving forward. The character driven premise is engaging and spirited; the characters are broken, flirty and real; the romance is moving and emotional. NOW OR NEVER reveals the pain of childhood trauma; the regret of sins and bullying; and the second chances for two people hurt by words and loss. On the flip side, I struggled with the heroine’s immature attitude throughout most of the story, sometimes too much childish behaviour is difficult to accept.
What an emotional and moving story! I have loved the Braddock family from the start and watching them struggle and then rise to each challenge or setback that they face has been amazing. Winnie’s story was the most poignant and heartfelt of the series for me. There were times when I felt like I was right there grieving the loss of her father alongside her. Now or Never can be read as a stand alone, but I think it would be most appreciated if read after enjoying the previous 3 books in the series.
This enemies to lovers romance had me rooting for Holden and Winnie from the start. Both are trying to make peace with their pasts and move forward. When life brings them back together unexpectedly, they surprisingly find comfort and understanding in the other. I loved that Holden could really “see” Winnie and helped her by sometimes pushing her to face scary feelings that others would shy away from. From the moment they come back into each others lives, Holden is all in and I really appreciated that. Sure he made some mistakes, but at the end of the day, he was trying to make amends and become a better man. It did take me a little to warm up to Winnie, but her behavior and actions made a lot more sense as her walls came down and you could see what she was facing and going through. I think all readers can understand how devastating the loss of a parent can be whether they have experienced it or not.
Checking in with the Braddock siblings was awesome, especially Dixie and Eli. I think those two will always be my favorite Braddock couple. I’m definitely going to miss this family!
*I voluntarily read an advance reader copy of this book *
We are at the end of the Braddock family and I am going to miss them. I feel like I have been apart of them from the very beginning with Zoe and Jude’s book (Score) we have gone thru sadness together, laughter together and love together. It is finally Winnie’s time to have something good happen to her, we have known that her and Ty’s relationship was not going to last but I personally wanted to jump thru the book and knock him out. In this one we read about her grief and felt for her but was happy that she got to get reacquainted with Holden, he sounded hot and he had changed his life so he also deserved goodness happen to him..By Braddock’s can’t wait to see who we will get to read next. Enjoy!
Rcvd an ARC at no cost to author.(netgalley) voluntarily reviewed with my own thoughts and opinions
I received a copy via Netgalley and voluntarily left a review and all opinions are my own.
Not only have a fallen madly in love with all of Victoria Deanult’s hockey players in her past stories but I have also fallen head over heels for the Braddock family since Jude was introduced and my love for them has grown by leaps and bounds the more time that I spend with them. Victoria has shown us the passion and love that has grown with each of the Braddock children as they couple up and the strength between this family has endured so much with the illness and passing of their father. I couldn’t wait to see Winnie follow her heart and desires down the same rabbit hole that all of her siblings have tumbled down and experience every sweaty, heart palpitating moment that she would have on her road to love. I look forward to every moment of these childhood nemesis to become so much more! Winnie and Holden know how to keep their emotions, heart strings, and sheets twisted in ways that keep readers entertained for hours with no hope of putting down their fictional world until the last page has been read!
I have known Winnie for quite some time now from being in other books by Victoria Denault. I always knew her as Jude’s little sister and like his other sisters, she has a tendency to be sassy and doesn’t have a problem speaking her mind. I was so excited to get inside this Braddock sister’s head and find out what she was made of. It was painful to watch her grieve but also cleansing to see her survive, thrive, and flourish with the love of her family, who are always up in each other’s business, and Victoria’s newest hero. It was also downright entertaining watching the childhood enemies not only find common ground but try to fight their desires for each other.
Holden Hendricks is a hero that I definitely wanted to get to know and scratch more than just the surface. I could tell right from the beginning that he had a hard childhood that fueled his anger and resentment towards those that had a better life than him and was often misunderstood. It was enlightening to watch this character grow and change from his past self into the man that he needed to be to become a part of Winnie’s life and burrow into her heart. It was fascinating watching him and Winnie circle each other like boxers and I couldn’t wait to see the sparks fly once these two and their undeniable attraction collides.
Victoria Denault delivers another romance that takes us skidding across the ice right into inferno territory with hearts and desires that cannot be contained. I highly recommend “Now or Never” for a love story that brings a reader all the emotions and passion that they could ever want. I have been a fan of Victoria’s since the beginning of her Hometown Players series and my love for her writing never ceases to grow more with each new book that she pens. Her stories always contain the perfect mixture of heart, heat, and wit to keep me glued to my seat until I am finished with the last page and longing for more.
I’ve read a few of Denault’s books but this is my first in this series … and I’m SO upset at what I’ve been missing! (This one can stand on its own, btw.) These characters are complicated and such a joy to read.
Winnie has recently lost her dad and is reeling. She’s hiding at her family’s cottage and doing her best to ignore everything & everyone. Unfortunately she’s not able to ignore Holden. She gives it a good try though, and is quite abrasive with him for a long time, but Denault does a wonderful job of gradually bringing things around – with Winnie warming to the changes in Holden as well as working her way through her grief with his help.
Holden has a terrible history in the town and Winnie isn’t very receptive to the idea that he’s changed. Realizing why he was so difficult as a child makes you just want to give him a huge hug and not let go for like a week. He was never a bad person but he worked hard to push buttons and even though he’s outgrown that it’s going to take a while to live down his reputation. He’s a truly good guy though and that shines through, especially with his treatment of Winnie.
Things are difficult between the two but it was (happily) low on the melodrama. These are people with real issues they are working through and they handle it in a manner that resonated with me. There’s quite a few 2 steps forward & 1 step back moments but it never got old (while it easily could have) and I found myself rooting for them to figure things out. But I finished Now or Never wishing for more pages because I didn’t want their story to end.
**Review given honestly and freely after receipt of a reader copy. This opinion is completely my own and was not influenced in any way.**
A heartfelt story! With the next book in the San Francisco Thunder series, we get the final Braddock sibling’s story. We met Winnie in her hockey playing brother Jude’s story, then saw more of her in both of her sister’s books as they hooked up with the men of the Thunder. This was a very emotion filled read, and flowed well, but there were a couple of aspects missing for me. Number one, it’s really no longer a hockey romance … and number two, considering the main plot of the story, I felt the family should have been brought in more so we could have shared the journey of healing with everyone that we got to know in the series instead of just Winnie. Overall a solid read, but it will resonate with the reader more if they have read the entire series and know the background.
Winnie Braddock just wants to be left alone to nurse her battered heart, but she doesn’t seem to have that luxury. She has an overbearing family who insinuate themselves into everything, and just when she thinks she’s pulled one over on them to have some alone time, she’s stuck dealing with the guy who tormented her as a teen!
Holden Hendricks is grateful for the job Jude gave him renovating the Braddock’s vacation home in Maine. He’s done plenty of growing up over the years and wishes he could find a way to prove to people that he’s no longer that snot nosed kid who wreaked havoc on everyone he encountered. Discovering he’s going to be in close proximity to Winnie for a few weeks just might be a step in the right direction considering she holds a huge grudge … but time and proximity seem to be heating up more than anger between the two of them!
Now or Never is a mix of two of my favorite types of romance, sports and enemy to lovers. Holden and Winnie felt so real to me that their feelings and emotions jumped right from the pages. Now I know that this is an enemy to lovers and I have to admit that I don’t think that these two hated each other as much as they needed to believe that they did.
Winnie has been suffering emotionally since losing her father, all of the suffering leaves her needing someone to take the anger that has built up inside of her, Holden is the unlucky/lucky recipient of the anger and pain. Watching these two knock down each others walls was captivating. This is an absolute must read, especially if you’re a fan of Denault’s writing.
~ Jessica
San Francisco Thunder #4, Even though this is a SF Thunder book is does lean more toward just being a straight Contemporary Romance than a Sports Romance. The last Braddock sister finally finds her true HEA and it’s not with anyone we have previously met. I loved how emotional charged this book is compared to the others, it’s all about grieving and starting over again.
Winnie is grieving differently than her siblings, she finally come to the realization she couldn’t be happy with her boyfriend of ten years especially after he cheated on her so she did what she should have done two years ago and dumped him. Now all she wants is to be left alone where she can drown her sorrow and grieve in peace without her siblings butting in. But doing this in the family summer home was disrupted when Holden Hendricks sets up right outside and starts the renovations her brother had secretly planned.
Holden didn’t leave town his childhood hometown on a good not when he was a teenager. He was an angry kid in need of attention after his mother died and he got into all sorts of trouble that eventually landed him in juvie. Since then he’s worked hard first with construction and worked his way up to contractor. The whole reason he moved back home was to be closer to his older sister and her son but it’s a bridge he burned a long time ago and rebuilding it is harder than he hoped. He’s hoping that if the renovations and remodeling of homes will help people see him in a different light especially the Braddock sibling he teased mercilessly and who also happened to be is favorite, Winnie.
The attraction is strong with these two it’s practically been simmering beneath the surface since they were kids. Holden is hesitant for a lot of reasons, Winnie just broke up with her really long time boyfriend and is grieving but mostly she hates him. Winnie as much as she wants to hate Holden he is a different person from when he was younger he wants to make things right with the people he hurt and Winnie believes in him. But there are obstacles for them to get over mostly ones they created themselves.
Overall, a very emotional book and a really hot romance. I loved Winnie and Holden they are just perfect for each other. There is some hockey so it’s not entirely devoid of sports. This book had funny moments, hot encounters, and plenty of emotion. I’d love to see some more of the SF Thunder boys get their own book.
Another fabulous addition to this series . Winnie and Holden have known each other since they were kids . It is a relationship built on taunting , extreme dislike and Winnie having punched Holden the bully in the face breaking his nose. It is years later and the life and those years have changed both people. Holden is now fresh out of the gate as a new business owner starting a contracting business. Winnie and her family have just suffered an extreme loss. They have lost their dad . Winnie now realizes everything she thought she knew is different is obscured . She makes a clean break. She decides to split from her decade old relationship with her boyfriend and come to the place that has always made her feel at home. The lake cottage in Maine has always been the family’s refuge and may be exactly what Winnie needs. Holden is excited to begin his first huge project. His friend Jude has hired him to renovate the lake cottage in Maine little did he know was that Winnie had taken up residence there to regroup. It starts off as childhood enemies but soon turns into something that neighed Winnie or Holden thought they needed !! Each of them need to heal and believe in themselves again but it may take the love of one another to make that happen . Loved their story .
~~Michele McMullen ~~
Now or Never is book four in the San Francisco Thunder series but it can be read as a standalone.
I have read quite a few books by Victoria Denault and I have loved every single ones that I have read. This book is no exceptions. I just couldn’t stop reading this book and I didn’t want to stop even though it was past my bedtime. I ended up staying up to 2am!! I never stay up that late.
The story is very well written and if you are into hockey romance I think you will love this book.
I am giving this 5 out of 5.
Y’all. I have so much love for the Braddock family, I can’t even tell you. I’m so happy to have gotten to know them, and to have them nestled so deeply into my heart. I’ve loved every single story in this series, and Winnie’s was no exception.
The emotional punches went a little deeper with each new book, I think, and so I felt right there with Winnie as she curled into herself and tried to heal her battered heart. She’s not always easy to like in this book. She’s a wounded animal with so much grief and anger that it’s hard to see through it all sometimes. But that’s the beauty of her story arc. She slowly comes out of her shell and we see her true spirit and lovable nature shine as her wounds begin healing.
And Holden Hendricks? Lord almighty. Talk about a perfect hero. I absolutely adored the dynamic between Holden and Winnie. I loved that they had history together and that it was…spirited. I loved that it was the reformed bad boy who settled Winnie’s storms. I just loved HIM. So much. And even more? I loved who Winnie and Holden came to be together.
Now or Never was a beautiful story of healing, redemption, and the power of believing in each other. It was romantic, emotional, and littered with these lighthearted moments and smart humor that added balance and kept me hungry for more. This was a lovely series finale. I’m sad to let go of these characters I’ve come to love so fiercely, but my heart is so full and happy for them. Truly, if you haven’t met the Braddock siblings yet, I cannot recommend them highly enough! ~ 4.5 Stars