This stand-alone was an instant USA Today bestseller! Everyone knows the girl is off limits. But it’s so good to be bad.
There’s this girl… Heidi and I have been trading hungry looks all year, and everything she does makes me smile. But I don’t do girlfriends, and I certainly can’t get involved with the league commissioner’s daughter. I need shots on goal, not a hookup and a widely … on goal, not a hookup and a widely misunderstood paparazzi photo.
Can I resist her, though? The way she teases me should be a game penalty for interference with my libido.
There’s this guy…
Jason wants me, but he won’t admit it. That man looks at me the way a hockey player eyes the lunch buffet after practice—and I love it.
But when victory is finally within my grasp, I blow it and humiliate myself. Even then I can’t even avoid him—as the team intern, I’m in constant view of his hard body and cocky smile.
I need another chance. Jason Castro is about to learn the true meaning of an overnight sensation.
Sarina scores big with this undeniably swoony romance. New York Times bestselling author Kendall Ryanmore
Read: 1/23/19
Overnight Sensation was the fifth book in the (NHL) Brooklyn Bruisers series by Serena Bowen.
We met Jason Castro in the previous books as a playful, flirty playboy but also an up and coming forward for the Bruisers. He was doing well but still learning the NHL. This year he started in a rut, was moved from Left Wing to Right Wing and was finding his way in his new position. We also learned his hockey superstitions and his backstory on why he doesn’t do relationships. I enjoyed getting to know him and fell in love with his playful, yet disciplined attitude.
Heidi Pepper was also introduced in the previous book but was still somewhat a mystery and had played out more as a sheltered society girl who landed the coveted internship as a result of family connections. We learn quickly in Overnight Sensation that not everything was as it seemed and there was much more to Heidi than meets the eye. I fell in love with her snarky attitude, quick wit, humor, creativity and determination. She was the perfect match for Jason.
I loved everything about Overnight Sensation. Well except the Tampa bash – really Bowen? #gobolts. But I digress….I loved the characters. I loved the storyline. I loved the humor. I loved the sexy connection. And although emotional at times, I loved their backstories and how they overcame them. There wasn’t much angst or drama, other than typical life, hockey, job and relationship challenges; which was a refreshing change and still kept me captivated.
Bowen also included intriguing and lovable secondary characters where Bruisers teammates Silas and Bayer were front and center; which means we’ll get their stories soon. I have my opinions on where Bowen will take us, but regardless of where we land, I’m totally ready for the adventure.
2019 Update: The author made a change for this as the second book in the Brooklyn series apparently pulling it out of the Brooklyn Bruisers series.
Heidie Jo is adorable. And yes I know she’d probably roll her eyes at me for saying so, but she is. And Jason Castro makes me swoon. Who doesn’t love it when a playboy fails in love?
While Heidi is an open book, Castro is hiding a heartbreaking past. It’s hard when he pulls away from her when those sad memories are forced back into his present.
On the fun side of this book, I loved all the jobs Heidi is forced to do. And I love how she does them with such a great attitude.
I will say that even though the manner in which her father goes about making her take “real” jobs isn’t the best, I can see some merit in the lessons she learns. I fully support everyone being made to take a job in customer service or something like it before getting a cushy corporate job. It builds character.
Great book, great characters. I really enjoyed it.
One of my favorites in a favorite series!
Great chemistry between characters, hockey player and a strong open-minded woman, makes this a fun read.
Why did I not read all of these sooner?? If you have been following me for awhile, you know I love hockey romances!! So it should not be shocking that I have been loving this series!! Overnight Sensation was the second book in Sarina’s Brooklyn series. It was charming, sexy and hysterical!!
Heidi was in limbo, she only had an internship with the team but she wanted an actual job. She had to prove her worth to her Dad, the league’s commissioner. While she worked herself ragged, she also wanted a shot with one particular player. They had been dancing around their attraction, but the night she tried to make a move, she had a little too much to drink. Did she loose her chance or would their connection be strong enough?
Jason didn’t want to get involved in a relationship, he needed to focus on the game. But the more Jason tried to ignore Heidi, the harder it became. Would he be able to hold out forever?
Oh, the humor!! Hot Pepper! I loved Heidi, she would get knocked down and get right back up. Her and Jason were such a power couple! He was so supportive and understanding during everything! So far, my favorite couple of the Bruisers!
Wowza!!! Another absolutely fantastic book in the Brooklyn Bruisers Series!!!
Heidi Jo is my absolute favorite! What a trooper. Love her spirit, determination, stubbornness
Jason is absolutely adorable. Attentive, sexy, a little alpha.
I love their dynamic, the banter, her ‘chasing’
If you like hockey romance, this series IS IT!!! It has it all
I kindly received an arc for an honest review!
4.5 Overnight Sensation was great! It was highly entertaining, making me laugh a lot. I just love all these hockey guys, they’re great! Jason is a good guy but has a ghost from his past that keeps haunting him and holding him back. I feel for him, but after a while he did get frustrating by how he was handling everything. He needed a swift kick in the rear. Other than that I loved him as a character, he’s a hoot! Heidi is an interesting girl. She can be spoiled at times but she grows to be more than that throughout the book. She becomes a strong, determined girl with a good head on her shoulders. She is also quite entertaining, especially with all the jobs she has to do. I felt bad for her and how her dad treats her, he’s a bit of a jerk. Even when things weren’t going her way she kept her head held high and exceeded expectations. I enjoyed her and Jason’s relationship, the start of it was hilarious! I loved Silas in this book and can’t wait for him to get his own book, I think it’s about time he got one! I also really enjoyed Bayer and am hoping to see more of him in the future.
One sentence summary: Jason Castro’s got his eyes on the league commissioner’s daughter, Heidi, and she’s got her eyes on a sensational overnight visit with him. (sorry readers!)
First thought: I love this one! Don’t be fulled by four stars. At this point, I’m used to Sarina’s work– I’ve read almost every one of her books. She’s an auto and comfort read for me and Jason and Heidi’s story will make it’s way into my regular rotation.
Why I read it: See above! Honestly, Sarina is one of my all time favorite romance authors.
POV: First person alternating M|F, present tense
Setting: NYC: Brooklyn!
Tropes: Athlete, Forbidden, Past Scars, Work Place
Our Heroine: Heidi. She’s young and spoiled, but owns every second of it. It makes her an adorably self aware and fun to root for. Heidi’s full of energy and positivity. I’ve got a lot of adjectives for Heidi, spunky, go getter, and compassionate.
Our Hero: Jason. He’s an adorable Dickens quoting, hockey playing, tequila drinking book boyfriend. Honestly, he’s inspired a new blog post called: best book boyfriends! (which is currently under construction). I’d love for some men to take lessons from Jason. While he admits that he’s not perfect, he’s constantly working on himself, as an athlete, as a boyfriend, and as a compassionate person.
Overall thoughts: Jason and Heidi really fit together. It’s obvious that they care so much about their friends and that rolled over into each other. There were some great moments at the beginning of the story that showcased a bromance with Silas and Jason and I really wished for more of those. However, the story really focused on Jason and Heidi’s relationship.
While there were certainly moments of pain that our characters had to face, I didn’t feel like there was any unneeded drama just keeping the two a part. Just an adorable story of how two people get their HEA.
The sexy scenes: Bossy feminist alpha male alert. I love Sarina’s sexy scenes– they make me feel like there are still wonderful men that respect women. Castro is the ultimate book boyfriend!
The best part of the book: There were some great moments in this book that deal with everyday real issues. It felt so relevant to today, but in a way that made me believe more in men and sometimes the human race. Those moments of addressing our own bias in casual conversation allows us to think about the way we see the world.
Worst part of the book: The only thing I didn’t like was more of a writing choice: Heidi’s part time job was a bit recycled from the WAGS book: Stay. It didn’t really bother me too much, but it pulled me from the story. I mean, it totally made sense, the Heidi’s motive was different, and it worked for her! And if there was only one person that created a business, we wouldn’t be able to choose from a variety of dating apps!
TLDR: Stop reading this and go read Overnight Sensation. You deserve another book boyfriend.
Of course I enjoyed “Overnight Sensation” by Sarina Bowen. I love this series, I can’t get enough. Every time I finish the newest book, I declare a new favorite until the next one comes out. The books are so well written and the characters are engaging and keep you entertained from the first page until the last.
This book, this series and this author are a must have for your book collection!
Happy Reading…enjoy!
A really entertaining and enjoyable story. I loved the characters, especially the feisty and entrepreneurial Heidi. Jason learns to realise he can’t live in the past and their HEA is really sweet.
Audible Review:
Overall 4 out of 5 stars
Performance 4 out of 5 stars
Story 4 out of 5 stars
Keep them coming.
I don’t think I will ever get tired of books about the Brooklyn Bruiser players- Ms. Bowen could keep on writing them and I’d keep on reading/listening to them!
Castro and Heidi’s book was fun and sexy, but also frustrating and at times stressful and a little sad. Heidi was a feisty little thing, and she sure didn’t make things easy for Jason. Admittedly it took a bit for me to warm up to her at first, she just seemed too young and spoiled, but I slowly came around as she worked hard to prove she was anything but.
Jason’s the quintessential one and done playboy, not willing, or able, to commit to more because of what happened in his past. Until Hot Pepper comes along and he realizes by closing himself the only one he’s really been hurting is himself.
I enjoyed the narration by Jason Clarke and Savannah Peachwood. Although I thought they each sounded a little older than I imagined both Jason and Heidi Jo sounding, they both really did a nice job bringing the characters to life. I know I sound like a broken record when I say that, but I don’t know how else to put it!
Jason’s becoming one of my favorite male narrators, he’s got such a great voice and does a female voice really well. This was my first book of Savannah’s and I’m a fan. I have quite a few books on my tbr that have come out on audio recently that she’s narrating and I’m looking forward to hearing more from her.
I’m so glad that Sarina continued this series. I loved Brooklynaire and was afraid that she would end it there. We’ve seen Castro in the other books, but this book showed the private side and so much more depth. I didn’t dislike Heidi previously, but we see so much more in this book and I was totally won over. A great addition to the series, now we need to learn about Silas and what’s going on in his head.
I freaking love love loved this book ! i could not put it down it was so good!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am a total fangirl of Jason ! he’s pretty freaking perfect 🙂 he’s funny,sweet and knows his literature! i loved that he tried to resist Heidi at first but the more he got to know her the harder it was to keep his distance 🙂 once they fall into bed they also fall into a relationship and it is awesome ,they make each other so happy ,i was rooting for them the whole time ,i totally get why Jason hasn’t had a relationship since his high school girlfriend passed away but the moment Heidi arrived he was able to finally get past his loss and look forward to a future with someone who loves him 🙂
I loved Heidi ,she’s fun and bubbly and i loved her determination ,she wanted something and she took a risk and got it 🙂 the moment she set eyes on Jason she wanted him ,they have some serious chemistry and once they hit the sheets the book pretty much burned up 🙂 i loved that Heidi just wanted people to take her seriously and she threw herself head first into all the jobs she is made to do and i loved how fearless she was 🙂 her and Jason make a kick ass couple and i love them so so much 🙂
Loved all the side characters ,i need them all to get their own books asap 🙂
Sarina Bowen has done it again and made me wish i was a character in her books ! i need a hockey stud of my very own 🙂
I suppose it comes as no surprise that I loved this book by Sarina Bowen. Castro and Heidi Jo were both delightful. Castro is the team “clown” and never serious, so seeing him fall hard for Heidi was fun. Heidi was fun and determined and I loved seeing her stand up to all the forces fighting against her, primarily her dad. I can’t wait for the next book in the series. If you haven’t read anything and everything by this author, I suggest you hop to it!
This was my first book from Sarina Bowen. And after this I was completely hooked! I have been reading books in two days! They are all page turners and make you fall in love over and over again. They are the right amount of spicy. And the perfect amount of everything in between!
Just finished listening to this book and not only was the story awesome, but the narrators were amazing!!
I love this series so much and Sarina Bowen never disappoints. She really knows how to give us wonderful lovable characters that we want to know everything about and follow them on their journey to their HEA. This time Jason Castro meets his match in the fiery sassy package that is Heidi Jo Pepper, or Hot Pepper as the team calls her. This is a fun, flirty and super sexy story about two people who are absolutely perfect together!
This is another series that i just can’t get enough of and i love that when you dive into one of these books it doesn’t matter how long ago the previous book came out you still remember everything that happened in all the other booKs.
Castro was always a character that was there telling the jokes and really hanging it on the blokes especially when they were getting really serious with a chick so to finally get his turn was awesome. I love getting to know these characters that we have heard about and i wasn’t expecting the tragedy that Castro went through when he was younger but it was so good to see him grow from it.
I loved Heidi Jo she was really special and one of my favourite characters she was so savvy and lovely and really determined to grow up and not be the spoiled brat that she thought she was. Her personality just jumped from the page and it was hard not to fall in love with her.
If your a fan of the Brooklyn Bruisers series you will not be disappointed, if you haven’t read it yet it is a must not only for the different story’s but Sarina Bowen’s writing is just so amazing and such a joy to read.
If you’re a fan of hockey books and love awesome alpha hero’s with some spunky heroines with dual POV, some laughs and some tears this book is for you.
Awesome addition to this series 5 amazing stars.
I really enjoyed this new hockey romance from Sarina Bowen. I liked seeing the guys from the previous books. They didn’t overwhelm, but were involved just enough for it to be fun to revisit with them.
I adored Jason Castro as the hero of this book. However, I did feel like the little (aka tiny) subplot of him being given a different position than he’s used to playing kind of…got forgotten. It was a thing, and then it sort of just disappeared.
My thoughts on Heidi. I liked her, but for some reason I didn’t see her as an adult. There was something in her dialogue and in her scenes that reminded me of a teenager. And the way Castro and her father kept trying to protect her, and how her father wouldn’t acknowledge that she had her own mind…something about all of that said teenager to me. She grumbles throughout the book about not being treated like an adult, and she’s right. Problem is that I never saw her as an adult either.
Also, another side plot that never went anywhere…Heidi’s spying for Becca. That just sort of fizzled out with no resolution.
I did like Castro and Heidi together, though. I thought they were cute. And I found myself engaged in the story. Almost missed my subway stop, actually! This is the kind of story I’ve come to expect from Sarina Bowen: fun, no OTT drama, not overly serious, great secondary characters
Spectacular! Five plus stars if you love sports romance with an incredibly hot steamy alpha hockey player Jason Castro and a sexy beautiful intern who happens to be the commissioner’s daughter Heidi Jo Pepper this book is for you especially if you like peanut butter and strawberry jelly sandwiches. The author story is funny, passionate, and will make you laugh and cry. I can’t wait to read it again as two star crossed lovers stumble through their personal hang ups to find each other.
Overnight Sensation is the fifth book in the Brooklyn Bruisers series. The first thought I had was how great it was to be back with the whole team! I enjoyed reading series a lot because we get to see previous characters, previous couples. With the Brooklyn Bruisers, it’s like you get together with friends you haven’t seen for a long time. And the cherry on the cake is having Castro’s story.
“You and I are going to be a thing.”
“A thing? What’s that?”
“It’s whatever we want it to be. It’s our thing.”
Jason Castro is a laid-back guy, always there to crack a joke and entertain his teammates. But Jason has also a dark side, one he never shows, one no friends know about.
Jason was so easy to love. Charming, respectful, loyal but also a gentleman with a dirty mind, he was the perfect match if it wasn’t for his aversion to relationship.
Heiidi Jo Pepper is what you can call a good girl. One who has been raised to act a certain way, to think and to do things a certain way… so you can imagine she finds all this extremely boring. What she wants is a bit of dirt and why not experience with the guy she has her eyes on: Jason Castro
From the beginning until the end, there’s not a second I didn’t enjoy while reading Overnight Sensation. Jason & Heidi’s banter was funny and entertaining. I love them as friends and the way they fall for each other was sweet and felt natural which to me is important to believe they can be happy together.
But when everything seems said and done, darkness is around the corner. Past come to threaten some of the happiness. Jason will have to decide to just let go or to stay in his own head forever.
If you are looking for some sporty romance without drama but lots of hotness and incredible characters, look no further, Overnight Sensation is the perfect choice.