He’s ready to quit his pro-hockey career. She’s doing everything to keep her career afloat. And neither of them have time for distractions.Jax Emerson, legendary forward for the Chicago Flyers, is ready to throw it all away when he uncovers the truth behind his NHL contract. The last thing he needs is more media attention, or his father to get involved in his contract, or a beautiful woman … beautiful woman apologizing once again for an accident.
Meg Bailey didn’t think her life could get any worse, until it does. Time is running out before her business is forced to close. When Jax Emerson offers a solution, she knows that by accepting his help, she might be getting in too deep. And deep is not a place her heart is prepared to go.
Welcome to Northbrook Hockey Elite!
Six professional hockey players used to play on an elite club team together, but have all separated and now play in the pro-hockey leagues. Not all of them were friends, yet circumstances bring them together, and for the greater good, maybe they can put aside their differences.
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Northbrook Hockey Elite Series:
Faceoff
Powerplay
Rebound
Crosscheck
Breakaway
Shootout
Love sports romance? Check out our baseball romance series: The Belltown Six Pack
more
Jax Emerson has just learned some news that nearly sends him over the edge. Distracted by his problems, he crosses the street – right into the path of an oncoming car.
Meg Bailey is already struggling with her failing business when she accidentally hits a guy that stepped directly in front of her. Terrified that she killed him, she follows him to the hospital to learn of his fate. When she sneaks into his room to apologize, she never expects attraction to grow between them.
What follows is a sweet romance with flawed characters that are trying to protect their hearts from another mistake. What makes the story great is a sense of realism that I could relate to. He’s struggling to be seen on his own merits, she’s struggling to have her wishes taken seriously. In many ways, their issues overlap. I also really enjoyed the supporting characters. They really enhanced the story.
Romance – Steamy PG / lots of kissing
Language – PG13 – some cursing
My rating – 4.5 (deduction for language)
Sometimes when reading a romance the adults, don’t actually act like adults. I’m more drawn to romances that are both sweet and realistic and this story was both. I loved their dynamic! Though I know next to nothing about hockey…it made me want to go to a hockey game.
Jax and Meg come from two different worlds and should never have met. Until fate steps in and Meg runs into Jax – literally… with her car. Feeling lots of guilt, Meg follows Jax to the hospital to make sure he’s ok. Jax wants out of the hospital but can’t drive home, and with Meg hanging around, Jax convinces her to check him out. They stay in contact and a relationship begins. But with Meg’s business in trouble, Jax’s family wonders if she’s after Jax for his money. And Jax finds out the truth behind his hockey contract. Will he leave his team to go prove himself somewhere else? What does that mean for him and Meg? Is he more like his father than he thought? And how does he get Meg to talk to him again after he oversteps? Will Meg swallow her pride and finally talk to Jax?
Second book in a series of six. Can be read as a stand alone.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
This book starts off with a bang that pulls the reader right into the story.
I liked Meg a lot and mostly liked Jax. I didn’t like his jealousy or temper. It sent red lights flashing and bells dinging in my head for a potential controlling/abusive relationship. He turns out to be a good guy but it was worrisome to me. He has a temper and a lot of anger inside. So, I only mostly liked Jax.
I liked that because the series is about hockey players, we actually see hockey over the course of the book. Sometimes sports series just say the player is on a team but we never see the game in action. Hockey might be a little violent for me though. Still, I want to read the next book in the series.
Sex: some kissing/making out
Language: yes – mild
Violence: hockey. Also a car accident
*I received a complementary ARC of this book and voluntarily chose to review it.
The more I read about hockey experiences the more I wonder if this is a sport that I should be getting more into! Powerplay is the second book in the Northbrook Hockey Elite series, and with each volume I fall more in love not only with the characters and the series, but with the sport itself!
In this book we meet Jax, a natural talent with lots of insecurities and a hot temper, which is what I would expect from a hockey player. Meghan is a Chicago hockey fan that is not like any girl that Jax has ever met, and that’s not including the unorthodox way their paths happen to cross, which is absolutely unexpected, and quite unique, but the chemistry between the two is palpable from the beginning, and it’s not hard to root for the pair.
The scenes that cover the hockey games put you right there in the action, taking these moments to a higher level, thanks to the incredible writing of Heather B. Moore. The conflict of the story is a heavy blanket draped over the entire narrative, but this strife gives such great depth to both Jax and Meghan, and makes the resolution even more satisfying.
This series continues to get better and better and I can’t wait for Rebound, Book #3, to come out January 14th!!
I love how these characters are a little older and established in their careers, which brought a level of maturity to their relationship. They aren’t playing games- what you see is what you get, and the honesty is refreshing. The chemistry is so great (and I’ll never look at Pac-man the same way again!) and even though there are sparks early on, they both take things at a steady rather than rushed pace. I enjoyed the plot and seeing some behind-the-scenes hockey drama with the politics of contracts. I also enjoyed the interactions and banter between the hockey teammates and their friends from other teams. A strong addition to the series that made me want to read it again… so I did 😉
(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)
I loved reading Powerplay. I’m not a huge hockey fan but I read the Belltown Six baseball series and then Faceoff of the Northbrook Elite and I’m hooked. I love how they meet. Even though it would be a total shock to BOTH participants, it ended up being a great thing in this story. I love that she has no idea who he is and learns all about hockey through the course of the book. I enjoyed that he improved his relationship with his family including maybe doing what they don’t want him to do? We’ll see. I can’t spoil the whole book. There are people to both love and hate and still has a satisfying ending. Tiny little connection to the Belltown Six as well.
Clean romance. Enough chemistry to keep it interesting. Great family relationships, friendships, friendly and FUNNY banter between team members and others, definitely keeps me turning pages, laughing, and connecting with these stories.
Even as I read both this book and the preceding one I learned more about hockey and made me go back to watching the Mighty Ducks and movies like that. I think anyone picking this book up with a mild interest in sports or romance will enjoy it.
I received a copy from the publisher but all opinions are my own.
What an emotional and very romantic read. I am not a sports person but I have certainly been enjoying this series of stories about hockey players and their lady loves. It almost makes me want to watch a hockey game, almost.
This is the second book in the series, but no worries you don’t have to read the first one to feel fully invested in this book. These guys are on all different teams and each of the book gives us a close up of where they are in life and love.
I enjoyed the first much very much, but this one tops that one. Jax (Jackson) is a guy who is trying to make it in his career on his own merit and skill, without his daddy’s money. He finds out some news he was not prepared for concerning his contract, and goes off in a bigtime huff. What he is also not prepared for is running into Meghan Bailey. Their first meet was quite a meet up and it was one of the most scary and crazy ones that I have read.
I liked Jax and Meghan. They tried really hard to keep their relationship going slow as both had been burned before. Meghan is an upscale boutique owner and her business is not doing well, so she is trying to save her career as well when Jax walks into her life. She is also four years older than Jax, so that threw in an interesting layer.
Jax had some hard lessons to learn concerning himself, his father, and how he sees the world. I can’t go into more as they are spoilers but I really enjoyed the ending. Very eye opening and romantic.
I look forward to the next in the series.
I received an ebook of this novel from the author. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.
Powerplay is Jax and Meg’s story and man does it start out with a bang! Literally! Meg hits Jax with her car because he is completely angry and distracted. Their story starts out in a strange way I never saw happening. Each of them had issues and problems they were facing and that is what really connected me to the story. Everyone has problems no matter what their life is like. I could relate to that and it drew me in as a reader. I enjoyed watching Jax and Meg’s relationship grow and change. Meg’s grandma was a minor character but I have to mention her, she was awesome! I loved that Meg was so close to her. This was an easy-to-read, fun, and swoony book for sure! I received a copy of this book for free; all thoughts and opinions are my own.
I read the first book in the Northbrook Hockey Elite series and really enjoyed it (even though I know nothing about hockey!) and I liked getting to know the team. Clint from book 1 (Faceoff) is mentioned as well.
“Powerplay” focuses on Jax and Meg. Meg and Jax seem to hit it off when they are literally thrown together in the first chapter of the book. Jax struggles throughout the book with feeling successful in his hockey career, feeling good enough for his family (specifically his father) and finding the right woman in his life that just doesn’t want his money. Meg is a pretty business woman who is kind and knows what she wants from life. She takes care of her Gramma and spends time with her friends and suddenly finds herself friends with the famous Jax.
I liked how their relationship and friendship grew during the story, and how they both were quick to help others-not thinking of themselves. Interesting plot, great characters, steady pace and funny.
Clean romance but does include some steamy kiss scenes and a couple swear words throughout the book. I can’t wait to read more from this series!
I received a copy of this book complimentary for blog and social media review. All opinions are my own.
I’m dead. There’s something so hot about a big, hulking, slightly possessive, intense, gentle giant of an athlete that just melts me into a puddle of goo and Jax is it. I don’t know a lot about hockey…yet…but I felt like I was there, both on and off the ice, and was a background character in the story.
Jax is good at what he does, but he doesn’t want any handouts to get to where he is. A crazy chance encounter with Meg leaves him literally reeling and she’s so different from any other woman he knows. She’s quirky, sweet, and charming, which makes her a perfect complement to this bulky hockey pro.
Great characters are absolutely key to a great story. There is also some explosive chemistry that rocked my socks and left me swooning until the next interaction. I also loved the rest of the Northbrook Hockey Elite group and enjoyed their banter, as well as Meg’s grandma, and I can’t wait to read the rest of the group’s stories.
Content: mild language; mild+ swoony romance; very mild hockey-type violence
*I received a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given*
I am loving this series so far. I knew I would after reading the Belltown Six Pack baseball series because it was so good. Fortunately for me, the characters from the previous series pop up so it’s like one big family.
This series is set around a group of guys who play hockey. I know absolutely nothing about hockey but it really doesn’t matter because the authors do an excellent job of making me think I do! I really need to attend a live professional hockey game someday.
I love the main characters in this book- Jax and Meg. They are both good people who are easy to like. Even when they are both faced with difficult and frustrating circumstances, they are likable. I’m just glad they both survived their first encounter! There is some excellent swoon in this book- yummy kissing and lots of sparking attraction. Who knew Pac-Man could be so hot?! haha
This was an excellent book to end the year on. It had all my favorite elements in it. Heather B. Moore is one of my favorite authors and I loved this book. I can’t wait to read the next book in this series!!
Content: kissing
– I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
I enjoyed reading this sports romance. The characters are engaging and the plot interesting. I would have preferred a marriage proposal instead of Meg agreeing to Jax’s desire for her to move wherever he does. I got a copy through KU.
This is the second book in the Northbrook Hockey Elite Series and I loved it! I don’t read a lot of contemporary or sport romance novels but I am loving the books in this series! They are very well written and you can’t help but love the characters! I love how the main characters came together after a very unusual beginning. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone, even those who know nothing about hockey!
I wasn’t quite sure what I was going to think about these hockey themed romances. But I LOVE them!
This one was a lot of fun, because the reader was already introduced to Jax, the main character in book 1, Faceoff. And the reader all ready knows a bit about Northbrook Hockey if they’ve read that one as well. You don’t have to read these in order if you don’t want to, but I would recommend it, it’ll just make more sense.
Anyway. I liked Jax. He’s a good guy. I thought the way he met Meg was clever. He walked out in front of her car. And she, feeling terrible that she hit him, bailed him out of the hospital early. Jax is the kind of guy that comes from money, but he doesn’t care at all about it. He lives in a modest home, drives a normal truck and is just a nice guy.
Meg is a young woman who is trying to make her small shop work in busy Chicago. She watches hockey, so she knows who Jax is. I loved the way she and her grandma would watch hockey together. And the way she didn’t want anyone to bail her out of trouble that she had caused herself.
I really liked the plot of this one. It kept me interested. I would say that this one has a few mild swear words. So just be aware of that.
I’m excited for more of these hockey books! I can’t wait to see who else will get their happily ever after.
I was sent an e-copy of Powerplay as a gift from the author. All opinions are my own.
Powerplay is a great clean contemporary romance, but don’t let that be taken to mean it doesn’t have some great tension and chemistry between the main characters Meg and Jax because the pull between the two characters is palpable throughout the story. This was an enjoyable read for me. I like how Meg and Jax meet so unexpectedly and the way they overcome obstacles in their relationship and personal lives together. I was happy to see them both lay down their pride which I think is an important part of making a real relationship work. I only wish Jax would have had a final chapter or epilogue to see his thoughts on how things ended in this story. Well written and entertaining, I recommend this story and look forward to reading others in the series.
Well, I certainly didn’t see that meet-cute coming (and can it be called a meet-cute if someone is hospitalized in the process?).
Book number two in the Northbrook Hockey Elite series takes readers to Chicago and into the lives of hockey sensation Jax Emerson and Meghan Baily, a struggling boutique owner. The chemistry between these two melts the ice.
I do have one small complaint, though. As a die-hard hockey fan, it bothered me that in one of the games Jax scores three goals and the hat trick celebration isn’t mentioned at all. In fact, those two words (hat trick) don’t even appear in print. If you’re not a fan of hockey (or maybe just new to the sport), this little quirk probably isn’t going to bother you much.
Even so, this hockey romance is heavy on the romance, which managed to sooth my objection.
While Powerplay is a standalone book, you are doing yourself a disservice if you don’t start with Faceoff because that’s where you get an idea of the relationships and personalities of the former members of the Northbrook Hockey Elite club.
When is book three coming again? For those keeping track, the answer is January 14, 2020.
Disclosure statement:
I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including NetGalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
Oh, so swoony. Seriously. Why aren’t there single men out there like Jax? I loved the characters and their story. So sweet and clean with a fantastic ending. I can’t wait for the next book!
I received a complimentary copy of the book. All opinions are my own and are expressed voluntarily.
To say Jax Emerson and Meg Bailey will have an interesting first-meet story to tell their children and grandchildren is a bit of an understatement. It’s one that will live on forever–she hit him with her car when he was crossing the street! Thankfully Jax, a forward for the Chicago Flyers, wasn’t seriously injured and he didn’t blame Meghan for the accident since he upset and wasn’t looking when he walked into the street. Despite the way these two meet, they seem perfect for each other.
Both of them have gotten some bad news–Meg’s going to have to close her upscale clothing boutique–Meg’s Loft and sell strictly online, and Jax discovered some disturbing news about his contract. To say he’s not happy is putting it midly , so he’s planning to have a serious talk with his agent, his coach and his father about what he’s found out.
I loved both of the main characters. Jax and Meg are down to earth people who want to do things on their own. They don’t want to be rescued by well-meaning people–specifically his dad. I was completely surprised (and worried) when Jax did a went behind Meg’s back trying to help her keep the doors to her store open. What a stupid move for a smart guy, but then I loved how he tried to fix it. I also loved the cameo appearances of the McCarthy brothers–Clint and David aka Grizz. Can you tell how much I loved this story?
I didn’t really care for Jax’s father but he seemed to have gotten the message Jax was sending and hopefully he changes for the better. I wasn’t sure about his mother at first, but really liked her by the end of the book.
What I like about this series is you don’t have to know anything about hockey to read and enjoy the books. I loved the Belltown Six Pack series and don’t know more than the basics about baseball and I know nothing about hockey. It’s all about the relationships. The relationship between the main characters, the relationships between the guys on the team, etc. I can’t wait to read the rest of the series.
I really enjoyed this one. It had a everyday kind of story line, with a bit of the winter feel. It was just well written and had some nice complex characters that I really enjoyed reading about. I just really needed a book like this and this hit the spot. Chaste romance with some nice kisses!