From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Sawyer Bennett comes a new story in her Arizona Vengeance series… live. In that moment, nothing mattered more than getting home to North Carolina to be by his side. That meant asking for the unthinkable—a trade to the Carolina Cold Fury.
Now I’m home and when I’m not on the ice with my new team, I’m helping care for my dad. And in the midst of my grief, I find comfort from the one person I never expected.
Calliope Ramirez stole my heart at a very young age. The beautiful, smart, headstrong girl next door, she was my first… everything. She has never forgiven me for leaving her, believing that I chose hockey over a future together. What she doesn’t understand is that every decision I made was for her, and I’ve never given up hope that one day we’d be together again.
Watching my dad slip away is a harsh reminder of how short life can be, and having Callie by my side makes me realize I was a damn fool before. That changes starting right now. Calliope Ramirez is mine and I’m not going to waste the second chance that I’ve been given.
Every 1001 Dark Nights novella is a standalone story. For new readers, it’s an introduction to an author’s world. And for fans, it’s a bonus book in the author’s series. We hope you’ll enjoy each one as much as we do.
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I am so happy Rafe got his own book!! I needed to know he was OK, you know?
I love how Calliope made him better and how she held his hand through it all (a little begrudgingly, at first). I loved their friendship, mostly. And that scene at the dinner table with both families, was brilliant!!
Rafe Simmons was living the high life playing for the Arizona Vengeance until he got the call that his dad had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and only had months left to live. Asking to be traded to the Carolina Fury to be closer to his family Rafe leaves his hockey family for the dread he now has to face.
When Rafe flies into Raleigh, NC he is surprised to find that Calliope “Poppy” Ramirez is picking him up from the airport instead of his mom. Poppy was Rafe’s next door neighbor, best friend, high school girlfriend, and the person he was supposed to have conquered the world with until he broke up with her and shattered her heart when he left to play hockey.
Poppy is a nurse and is helping out Rafe’s parents with his dad’s illness. Rafe never expected to connect back with the girl he has never stopped loving. He realizes that life is too short and needs to make Poppy see that they are meant to be together. Leaning on each other through such a heartbreaking time helps to bring emotions into the present. After much soul searching these two lost loves find a way back to each other to bring something wonderful into their sorrow they are experiencing regarding Rafe’s dad.
I really loved this story. Poppy is such a great character. Strong, smart and a perfect woman. We got to see a side of Rafe that showed his emotions regarding his dad. Having gone through losing my dad to cancer, this story hit me hard and at times I was bawling. Sawyer Bennett has a way of really pulling the emotions out of you! 😉 I also really enjoyed the revisiting some of my favorite Cold Fury players….ahem….Ryker…. :).
Words do not express the love and emotion I have for this story. This story was simply magical. It felt like a love letter to all of us who have lost a parent. It felt like it was written give words to those us that have hard time expressing them to our partner. Sometimes in your heart you just know when you are needed. Calliope knew in a moment when Rafe was going to need her.
This was a 5/5 star read for me. I really want to give it like a 10/5 stars this went above what I was expecting. Most times Novellas are short and sweet and fall short of hitting the need for the story. Sawyer Bennett did not fall short at all this time. She Knocked it straight out of the park. It is the perfect novella.
This second chance romance is one not to miss! We get the beginning of Rafe’s story at the end of Dominik so I was super excited to see what was going to happen. The author does a great job on re-introducing Rafe’s story so if you haven’t read Dominik you won’t be lost. It was story filled with sweet, love, passion, and heartache. Rafe had a lot going on in a short period of time So when a former girlfriend is there to help him through this difficult time old feelings emerge and truths come out. It is a shorter story but the author did a great job developing it and giving us a well balanced story.
This is my first book by this author and normally I don’t like coming into a series without having read others first. But with the 1001 Dark Nights books, they’re novellas and in this story, I didn’t feel like I missed anything. It a short book but packs so much emotion and passion, I couldn’t put it down. I felt for Rafe and Callie and found myself hoping she would hear him out and forgive him. Now I will be picking up other books by Sawyer Bennett.
4.5’s
If you are a fan of Sawyer Bennett like I am, you will know a little background of Rafe. He was in her Vengeance hockey series and that his dad is terminally ill. This causes him to ask the general manager to trade him to Sawyer’s other hockey series, the Cold Fury for whom he now plays for. Rafe is juggling a few things in the air. Getting to know his new team mates and how they gel on the ice, dealing with his father’s progressing illness and death and the girl next door… the one he stupidly let go eight years ago thinking he was doing the right thing by her. She’s the one he never fully forgot about and now she is prominent in his life once more. It’s a mistake he wants to rectify and hopefully prove to her, he’s worth the chance of loving again.
The thing I enjoyed with this novella is how Rafe dealt with his dad and his past errors. He made sure to make the time to sit with his dad and thank him for helping him achieve his own life goals. He also dealt with what happened those eight years ago with Poppy. Did he make the right decision for both of them back then, no but he was man enough to admit it now and apologize. Now it’s Calliope’s turn to make some decisions on their behave. Friends – with benefits – or a full on relationship. This is a very quick read, but one very much worth it.
Rafe is book 6.5 in the Arizona Vengeance series. In this novella there was an Arizona Vengeance/ Cold Fury crossover. Rafe is traded to the Cold Fury team so he was be closer to his dying father. While home he also comes face to face with Calliope, the woman he left behind. Will he ever get Calliope to forgive him enough to get a second chance?
This is a novella for An Arizona Vengeance Series. I was so happy that this little story made me feel what I did in such a short amount of reading time. In the last book we know Rafe has been traded to the Cold Fury Hockey team as his father is very ill and dying. I knew this story would be emotional and a second chance love story. It delivered so much more. Growing up Rafe didn’t have a great relationship with his father. He left behind the love of his life when he went to play professional hockey.
I loved the all the emotions in this book.
Highly recommend
If you are looking for an engaging and entertaining hockey romance with captivating characters and second chances, then you will want to read this book. For those of you are new to this author, you are in for a treat as this author weaves together a beautiful story that will pull at your heartstrings all while proving that hope, forgiveness, and second chances are possible. I absolutely loved Rafe and Callie. The two are well developed and likable characters who were each other’s first loves. They never forgot each other, but old hurts threaten any type of romantic relationship between them. This novella elicited a wide array of emotions from me. I both cried and swooned, but I was mostly left with feelings of love. This is a relatively quick read that moves at a good pace and the characters as well as the relationship between them is well developed. Rafe is a standalone novella in this author’s Arizona Vengeance / Cold Fury world.
Rafe is riding high on the success of the Arizona Vengeance, loving be part of the expansion team. All that changes with one phone call from his father, who lets Rafe know that he has cancer and does not have long to live. Rafe is traded from Arizona to the Carolina Cold Fury, so he can be closer to his father. This move also reunites him with his first love, the girl he left behind so she could follow her dreams. Calliope or Poppy was devastated when Rafe ended their relationship, but even after eight years, despite the hurt and anger that still exists, she can’t help but still be drawn and attracted to the sexy man he has become. Poppy becomes Rafe’s rock as he struggles to deal with his grief over his father’s terminal condition…he realizes his feelings for her are as strong as ever, but he just has to convince Poppy that taking a chance on him again would not be a mistake. Rafe realizes that life is too short for regrets and he makes the most of his final days with his father as well as building a newer and stronger relationship with Poppy. This novella is an enjoyable yet emotional quick read. Rafe and Poppy have great chemistry that withstood the test of time and the book also includes characters from both the Arizona Vengeance and Carolina Cold Fury series. Highly recommended. Advanced copy provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
4 stars! Rafe is a novella in the Arizona Vengeance series and also revisits the Cold Fury series. Rafe returns to his hometown to play for the Cold Fury and also to be there for his Dad as he is dying of cancer. He reconnects with his ex-girlfriend, Calliope. They were childhood sweethearts and he broke her heart when he went to the pros. Now that he’s home, he has a second chance to rekindle the love that never faded away. Rafe is a sweet, emotional, and quick story. It might be a novella, but Rafe packs a might punch. You won’t be disappointed!
**ARC generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review**
Rafe: An Arizona Vengeance Novella (Arizona Vengeance # 6.5, 1001Dark Nights#122) by Sawyer Bennett. Rafe loves the Arizona Vengeance even though he is second string. They are playing killer hockey now and are on their way to the playoffs. One phone call has changed everything for him. His father is dying from cancer and only has a little bit of time left. Rafe has asked the team owner Dominik to trade him to the team in his hometown of Raleigh NC. A heartwarming story of a son coming to grips with a dying father he has never really felt a connection with and reconnecting with his high school sweetheart that he left behind. Rafe has never gotten over her. Calliope has never gotten over the fact that Rafe left her even after promising her they would be together forever. Now that Rafe is back for his father, she has to deal with feelings that have never been resolved or went away. A story of death and of a love that never really went away. I enjoyed this story. It was sad, sweet and loving. Would have loved for his story to have been more than a novella. I couldn’t get enough of this story. 5 stars
We get to know a little bit about Rafe already in Dominik’s book, and I could already sense that his story will break my heart. Having lost a parent to cancer does that to you.
Rafe is traded to his hometown team as to his request, because his father is real sick with cancer and about to die. So he wants to spend the last days with him and his mom. But also going back home means to meet his Highschool love again. Who he left without a word. That Caliope is still mad at him is a given, right?!
As always, Sawyer Bennett presents us such an amazing book. Her writing always makes me feel like I’m part of the story, and it grips me every time!
Ooh, loved this little novella!
Rafe Simmons and Calliope Ramirez can’t deny the history and deep love that’s between them. In spite of the fact that Rafe totally broke her heart eight years ago, she can’t turn her back on him in his hour of need.
This book had lots of feels, and plenty of highs and lows. Rafe is all sorts of messed up with the massive upheaval in his life. As one door is about to close in his life, another re-opens. This story had a bit of everything – humour, grief, burning desire and abiding love. A fab little read!
I received a complimentary ARC – early release copy of this book in Kindle format from the author for review purposes.
This is a novella story and it follows Rafe, who in the last hockey story got traded to the Arizona Vengeance team so he could spend the last few weeks his dad has to live with his father. His dad has Cancer and Rafe comes back home which also has him seeing his ex Callie.
Rafe when he left for the hockey life he left Callie and this is the story of him getting her to forgive him and fall for him again. Its a second chance story while Rafe also has to deal with losing his father forever.
The author did a wonderful job telling this very heart felt story and I really enjoyed it while it dealt with a painful subject of a man losing his father. A father he had a very complicated relationship with.
This is book #6.5 in the Arizona Vengeance series. This book should be read in conjunction with the authors Cold Fury series to fully enjoy. It is not required, obviously, but will make the understanding easier. It will also stop any spoilers that could occur.
Rafe comes home to Raleigh under the most dire of circumstances. His father is dying and there is nothing he can do about it except be there. He chooses to move himself to be with family. While there he meets back up with the love of his life, Calliope.
Calliope has not been waiting for Rafe. He hurt her so badly the last time they were together that she believes there is no going back. While watching his family slowly fall apart while holding it all together simultaneously, she realizes she did miss him.
Not as long a story as we may be used to. However, this book packs a mighty punch. Both emotionally, and characteristically. These are solid MC’s with a clear history who love one another. I enjoyed reading this. Even with the dark story theme, it was still one of the best this author has to offer. She shines when the subjects are those that seem difficult.
***This ARC copy was given in exchange for an honest review made up solely of my opinion.
Rafe is a wonderful Novella about family, love, forgiveness and second chances.
While playing hockey for the Arizona Vengeance (who’s poised to make it to the finals), Rafe asks the owner of the hockey team, Dominik, if he can be traded to the Carolina Cold Fury team so he can get back home to be with his Mom & Dad, as his Dad is dying of cancer & doesn’t have much time left.
After arriving at the airport, an unexpected person from his past is there to pick him up. Calliope (Callie) was Rafe’s next-door neighbor, best friend, first love, first everything. They had planned their future together after High School, only to have it crushed when Rafe left her for his hockey career. Callie is still bitter about it when she sees Rafe, but because she kept up her relationship with Rafe’s parents, even after he left, there isn’t anything she wouldn’t do for them (like pick his butt up from the airport!!).
What happens throughout this story is hearing about the characters coming to terms with their regrets, old wounds, and maybe even new beginnings by saying the words, “I’m sorry” and “I love you.”
I thoroughly enjoyed this book!
Rafe is an emotional but cute read. Obviously it’s gonna be sad because of what is happening with Rafe’s dad. It made it slightly less sad because I was expecting it. Rafe is a great guy with a big heart. Calliope is a caring woman who still has some problems with how things ended 8 years ago. They’re a cute pairing and are there for each other, especially in this hard time. I enjoyed the novella. I especially enjoyed being back with the Cold Fury, even if it’s only for a little bit. *I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.*
I love a second chance romance. In the story Rafe, a player for the Arizona Vengeance, asked to be traded to the Carolina Cold Fury when he discovers his father is terminally ill. Going back home not only gives him a chance to be with his dad, but also to reconnect with his first love Calliope. She has remained close to his parents and is willing to be a support for Rafe but nothing more. Years ago Rafe made the lamebrain decision to leave Calliope behind ”for her own good”. Needless to say, he thought he was doing the right thing but she was crushed.
This story was really about closure in mending relationships on so many levels. Although Rafe loves his dad, his father being a workaholic meant he wasn’t there for a lot of Rafe’s athletic career. Rafe also had to work out his feelings for Calliope and come to terms with what his rash decision caused in her life and his.
Although the theme of the book is sad, it was enjoyable to see the Cold Fury players back in the book. That is not to say that the Vengeance players didn’t have their part too. This is especially true of Wylde who had some surprisingly emotional advice for Rafe. All in all, a small book with big feels.
Rafe Simmons was happy in Arizona playing for the Vengeance, but when he learns his dad has months to live after a cancer diagnosis, his team works a last minute trade so he can move home and be close to his dad. He and his dad didn’t have a great relationship when Rafe was a boy, but he knows he needs to be there, if only to be with his mom. But returning home to North Carolina lands him living right next door to his high school flame, Calliope Ramirez.
These two have some misunderstandings to sort out, and though Callie doesn’t want to let Rafe back into her life easily, she can’t help it knowing what he is going through. Their families have always been close, so staying away is nearly impossible. As they sort through the pain in their past, I loved watching Callie be there to support Rafe as he navigates the waters of hospice, medical information, and hockey pressures.
For a short story, this had so much heart and emotion. Novella don’t usually pull strong emotions from me, but this one hit all the best emotional buttons. Forgiveness, hope, grief, and enduring love flow through all aspects of this story. I loved watching Rafe settle into North Carolina, even as he was counting the end of his father’s days. This brings the worlds of the Cold Fury and the Vengeance together in the best way possible!