Allison Titov and Asher Brooks have been best friends their whole lives. Brought up together as part of the Assassins family, they might as well be related. But… Ally has never felt anything sisterly toward Asher.
In love with Asher since she was a teen, Ally has gone pro at keeping her feelings a secret. It’s been easy…as long as he’s stayed halfway across the country at college and she has a … she has a volleyball to slap her frustrations out on. But now, he’s home. And having his quick wit, heart-filling laugh, and adorkable smile so close is going to test her like never before.
After being dumped by his fiancée, Asher is at a loss what to do next. He craves stability, but with an unexpected kiss, Ally might as well have spiked Asher in the face with a volleyball. Now he’s faced with the dilemma of his life. Does he keep Ally in the friend zone, or does he take the ultimate risk for love?
If they’ve learned one thing growing up in the glow of hockey greatness, it’s that you can’t win it all if you don’t play the game. And by serving one hell of an ace into the middle of Asher’s safe little life, Ally is ready to claim victory.
STANDALONE!
Friends to LOVERS
Nashville Assassins: Next Generation folks at Bellevue Bullies
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4 Ally T & Asher B Stars
Spiked by Love is the sixth book in the Bellevue Bullies Series by Toni Aleo, it also has a tie-in with the Assassins Series. It is a friends to lovers story and I haven’t read all the books in this series but you really don’t need to. Allison Titov and Asher Brooks have been best friends their whole lives. Everyone thought they would get together before now and that they would be perfect for each other. But Asher doesn’t want to face up to his feelings for fear he will get broken and Ally wont make the first move for fear of being rejected.
“All women should be treated like queens. Life is hard, and it’s our job as men to care for, provide for, and love a woman good and hard so she knows she is invincible. That nothing can tear her down.”
Spiked by Love was well written and very well developed, at points it was a little draining but I see where Aleo was going with it. I think that we have seen this story before in her previous books but in saying that it was very enjoyable and entertaining. Her secondary characters are all amazing and make her books excellent. There were a few things that wrecked my head but that’s just my personal opinion. Those few things aside, a very entertaining read.
You really cant go wrong with a Toni Aleo book! I loved this book. This is a great friends to lovers. For me it was a bit of a slow burn. I loved Asher and Ally together. I was hooked from the very beginning and couldnt put it down!
Received an arc for a honest review
I absolutely loved this book… I just can’t get enough of these two and how the act with each other.. and yes it did drive me crazy with how long it look them to FINALLY make that first move.. best friends to lovers …yes it’s scary but Worth It in the end.. great book
Allison Titov and Asher Brooks have grown up together in the Assassins world where their fathers played hockey together and their mothers are best friends. Growing up Ally and Asher became best friends and they are determined that is a friendship they won’t lose. This causes the two of them, who tell each other everything, to keep a big secret…their feelings for each other. It was so easy to keep these feelings to themselves until Asher moves back to Nashville then it becomes hard to stay silent when they are dating others. Asher is licking his wounds from a broken engagement and always feeling second best to his brother, with all this insecurity he doesn’t know how he would survive if he lost Ally’s friendship but he does know that he has feelings for her. Ally thought about leaving school and following her boyfriend Taco to Texas, but she decided to stay in school and now Taco is back to rekindle what they had. The problem is although Ally has been in love with Asher since they were kids, she’s afraid to tell him and lose their friendship. Asher will have to put his insecurities aside to show Ally his heart and fight for not only their friendship but the forever kind of love.
Toni Aleo thank you for Asher and Ally’s story it was definitely a hat trick!!!
Read: 4/4/2020
Spiked by Love was the sixth book in the Bellevue Bullies series by Toni Aleo. The series was a spinoff from the Nashville Assassin series. Although I’ve read all the series books in order (Assassin’s, Bellevue Bullies, and Nashville Assassin’s Second Generation), each series can all be read as stand-alone series with full enjoyment and understanding.
We’ve heard about best friends, Asher Brooks and Allison “Ally” Titov for awhile now. Everyone (the whole Nashville Assassin gang) thought they should be together, but they both continued to chant, just friends. Asher was the son of Lucas and Fallon Brooks (Assassin’s book two, Trying to Score) and Ally was the daughter to Harper and Jacob Titov (Assassin’s book seventeen, One-Timer). Ally was a few years older, but they grew up together.
Spiked by Love was well written and well developed. I like a best friends to lovers theme and I liked that Aleo didn’t follow the typical path like a fake relationship, fake engagement, friends with benefits, etc. With that said, I wasn’t sold on their mental path. I did; however, like their path to the end. No spoilers, so no elaboration, but I couldn’t relate mentally and I think that’s why it wasn’t my favorite. But it could very well be your favorite and a path that clicks for you.
All in all, it was well written, well developed, great characters, great secondary characters with the entire Assassin series gang, fun and humorous. I love the series and I can’t wait to see who’s next.
Today was a wonderful reunion day with characters from the Assassins and the Bellevue Bullies. Oh, how I have missed you all. There is just something about Toni Aleo’s writing that makes me feel like the characters are friends and family. I have welcomed them into my home and never want to let them go.
Spiked by Love is Asher and Ally’s story. They have yet to accept what everyone else knows–they are deeply in love and meant to be forever. Denial was easier when Asher was in California and living with Jasmine. Now he is home and she is no longer by his side. Will Ally finally be at his side??
Spiked by Love voices what many young people question. Spiked by Love examines the question of males and females as best friends. Spiked by Love shows how we might think families are up in our business but they actually do have your best interests at heart. All the characters have to do is take the step but then what?
Spiked by Love is a journey though all the emotions. I laughed–pirate jokes are the best. I cried–sometimes bad things happen. I celebrated—because love needs to be celebrated. Buy the book and escape the terrible things that are happening in the world and fall in love with the characters created by Toni Aleo.
*I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review*
What do you do when you are in love with your bestfriend and everybody knows you are in love except you and your best friend.
Ally Titov and Asher Brooks have been friends since they were little and are in love with other but the other one doesnt know. Now that both ofthem are going to be living in Nashville as adults because Asher Brooks has moved back after ending his engagement. All of their friends and family all say the say thing that they should become a coupe but which saying should they believe that you are in lve with your best friend or that if they have relationship it will end their friendship.
Will Ally and Asher cross that boundary and let each other themselves fall in love as friends and lovers. Will they be afraid to try because they don’t want to lose their best friends?
Spiked with Love is another well written book with wonderful characters who are so strong as adults and yet are not afraid to let the world know what they want. I would love to leave a spoiler but this bobyok needs to be read so that the reader will fall in love with Ally and Asher like I have.
What is there not to say! I love these families. Having read the stories of their parents and friends and then getting to read about the children now is awesome. I recommend this series and the other two series that play along with this one to all my booky friends. I have all the audible books available so that once I’ve read them I can go back and listen to them and reacquaint myself with each family. These are a must have to any romance reader. Looking forward to the next book. I’m curious as to what book Ally and Ashers wedding will be in or will they crash Shelli and Aidens? A Brooks double wedding? Hmmm Bridezilla Shelli would never agree but papa Sheas wallet would to have Jakob help pay for it. curious about the weddings now.
I love this spinoff series and the story of Ally & Asher is super-sweet AND smoking hot. Ms Aleo intertwines the stories of her previous novels – so if you’ve read the others, you’ll be anxiously awaiting this one! If not, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?!?! Seriously, you don’t have to have read the others in this or the Assassins series, but there are so many characters from the other novels that you should at least read the Bullies series to get the backstory.
Asher & Ally have known each other for most of their lives and they’ve spent the time since their teens denying the attraction between them. They are best of friends and are anxious about not losing that special connection. I guess that is my main complaint – it just seemed to take a little too long to resolve this. I was so damned frustrated, especially with Asher, about the lack of communication between two people who know each other longer and better than almost anyone else. Please… It was painful to see them screw up by the numbers. I was literally yelling while reading. But when they are on, it is so super heart-meltingly wonderful. When Asher defends Ally from Taco, I thought it was so hot and then the humor when he gets a pirate patch was side-splitting. Asher is not as smooth as some – and his geeky awkwardness only makes him more endearing. The ending was perfect. I am looking forward to more – I am sure we’ll be seeing Stella’s and Emery’s stories and Angie’s as well since she’s back in Icecat territory. I can’t wait to see the tender stories that are coming our way!
This book brings you all the feels. Spiked by Love gave me nostalgia for seeing their parents but it’s beautiful to see all the kids. It reminds you of how beautiful it is to grow up with someone you love and to have a good tribe.
The book focuses on Ally and Asher. The pair have been best friends since childhood but Ally has always been in love with Asher. As life and insecurities force them to deal with their emotions both are forced to make some hard decisions about their relationship.
For me, this is another perfect book by Toni Aleo. I don’t know how she manages to constantly knock it out of the park but she does. It’s sweet and perfect. Five stars for my girl Toni.
Toni Aleo can really write! Her sports romances have not left me wanting a single time…I loved Spiked by Love so much! Asher and Ally are very easy main characters to love.
I adore best friends to lovers books. They always deliver fun tunes, emotional times and tons of feels!
I love Ally, her strength and resilience shine through. I adore strong female characters!
Asher grew on me quickly, his charm, his looks, his need once things became clear to him.
If you love sports romance with tons of feels like I do. I highly recommend this book and series!
The truth is, friends to lovers is not my favorite troupe, but I was enticed by the promise of volleyball and more of the Assassin family. I also thought that if anyone could change my mind about friends to lovers, it would be Toni Aleo, and I was not wrong!
We are introduced to both Asher and Ally in previous books, and while I already loved Ally, I wasn’t sure how I felt about Asher. However, as soon as I started reading this book, I fell in love with not only his nerdiness and vulnerability, but also his cockiness. He has it all! That’s not to say I didn’t feel frustrated by him being hesitant to make the jump with Ally, even though I could understand his reasons why.
Ally is a bad a**, even though she has a habit of dating guys she is too good for and you want to scream at her that she knows better. I love that when she finally does figure out what she wants with Asher, she is the one to take matters into her own hands to make things happen.
These two have basically known each other from birth and have the best relationship even before they start to come to terms with their deeper feelings for one another. I love how funny they both are individually but they are at their funniest when they are going back and forth with one another. Add that to their undeniable chemistry, it made for some really hot scenes between the two of them. I’m still fanning myself over their first time together!
This is definitely a must read, whether you could use a perspective on what can happen with love when you let go of your fears, or you just want to get lost in a great book
And we are back at Bellevue!
Allison Titov is a star volleyball player for the Bellevue Bullies with less than steller taste in men.
Asher Brooks is recently heartbroken, a recent college graduate and has returned home.
Their futures are in a state if limbo… their love lives pretty nonexistent. But what happens when childhood friends are finally ready to express their long held feelings for each other?
This is Toni Alex’s first friends to lovers story and as with all her books it is written beautifully nuanced and from the heart. Unlike other books in her series this story has a slow burn and build up.
The character development and backstory adds to Spiked at Love without leaving you wanting more or less. It is perfectly written.
I loved this book. Asher and Ally have been best friends their entire live, they both have secret feelings for each other that they don’t won’t to let out, Friends to lovers is absolutely one of all my time favorite troupes and the author didn’t disappoint.
You don’t have to read the other books in the series if you don’t want to, but if you’re like me, you’ll want to. Spike By Love ties into the Bellevue Bullies and the Assassins series, you get to see the Brooks and Tivot parents and their stories along with so many others that are mentioned in the book. I love everything about the sports romances that the author writes.
Friends-to-lovers has been, and always will be, one of my top favorite tropes. Ally and Asher grew up together, always joined at the hip. They’ve always secretly been in love with the other, but rather than risk their friendship, they bury their feelings and move on, always keeping their close friendship. When Asher comes home after a failed relationship, it’s as if no time had passed. This is definitely an emotional story, but absolutely worth it. I have loved every book in this series, and I can’t wait for the next one.
Allison and Asher have grown up together as their parents are friends. Allison has always had a crush on Asher since she was a teen. She got really good at hiding it while playing volleyball as a distraction. Asher has been away at college but now he’s back after his girlfriend left him. A kiss will turn things in Asher’s world upside down. Does he keep Allison as a friend or move over into something more?
Ive been waiting for this book. Friends to lovers genre is my fave and these 2 characters WOW!
Asher and Ally have known each other their entire lives. Their dads played for the Assassins and they grew up best friends. Through everything(failed relationships, moving away, tacos) they are always there for each other. The only issue? Ally is in love with Asher and he seems to be the only person in the world who doesn’t seem to realize they are perfect for each other.
I loved the walk down memory lane of past characters. I love books that do that so I can know whats going on in the lives of my faves. Also getting to know some other characters better(Ashers sisters need their own books just saying they are so funny).
5 stars really wasnt enough for this book! I need 10
Spiked by Love
The Assassins’ kids are back and another Brooks boy is going to make you fall in love. Great story that makes you laugh, cry, and want to punch a Taco, also to continue to get glimpses of the other Assassins families is always a treat that I want more of.
Asher and Ally’s suppressed feelings for each other makes them make questionable decisions in their love life ( WOW “love life” was hard to write.It’s like when you kids first tell you their in love eek!). Those feelings were easy to live with when they lived in separate states but now with Asher back home life is going to be interesting. When their families get involved it’s just gets crazy.
I totally recommend this book.
4.5 Stars
I love this series to pieces. This is a book I’ve been looking forward to. I love a friends to lovers romance so this one is right up my alley. Ally and Asher have been friends since they were young and they’re both denying any feelings for one another. They don’t want to ruin the friendship that means the world to them. I love watching them slowly see what is right n front of them. This series always makes me laugh and a time like now I could use all the laughs I can get. I love visiting with the families. They’re all intertwined and it’s truly a beautiful thing. I would highly recommend this one. You’re going to be hooked right them beginning and you won’t want to put this book down!
A broken engagement, an ex that keeps lingering around, chemistry for DAYS, a bridezilla, a family emergency, a super sweet first date and an over the top sweet gesture of love seals the deal for me!
I feel like Asher and Ally’s story has been a long time coming but since friends-to-lovers is sometimes a hard line to cross. Not to mention how intertwined these Assassin’s families are, all growing up as one larger than life huge family (think My Big Fat Greek Wedding)
I absolutely love the layers and chemistry between Asher and Ally, all of the characters Toni creates really, they are simply some of the best!