A second chance may be just what James Steele needs… I might be one of the older players on the Arizona Vengeance, but I like to think that also makes me one of the wisest. Or at least I used to.Turns out, I’ve been a bit selfish. I’ve been married to hockey and my team for years, which hasn’t left much time for my actual wife, Ella. Now I’m juggling a separation I never wanted, the pressure of … of being a single dad to our teenage daughter, and the career I sacrificed it all for. While my game on the ice might be on fire, the game in my personal life is clearly lacking, as evidenced by the fact I just saw my wife on a date with another man. If I have any hope of saving the family I love, I need to re-prioritize, and fast. So it’s time for me to get back to fundamentals, just like I did when I learned how to play hockey. I’ve never backed down from a challenge, and romancing my wife is a challenge I am very much looking forward to. Time to put on my game face, because I’m in it to win it.
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STEELE AND ELLA
We already heard about Steele and how he wants to win his wife back in the previous book.
Now it’s time to get serious. They’ve been in love since highschool. He can’t imagine life without her. And Ella is not the only one he has to win back. Convincing his 13 year old daughter Lucy that he’s changed will be just as difficult.
LET THE FUN TIMES BEGIN…
Another adorable and funny story in this great hockey series.
I really enjoyed reading it.
It was really cute and fun and sexy.
But also a bit too meh. It’s just the same stuff book after book. I like reading them, but it’s never anything new. It’s like we’ve read the exact same book 100 times before – and at least 25 of those 100 were hockey books by Sawyer Bennett. I think there should be a law against book series going higher than book 3 or 5. You just can’t invent anything new in such a world.
But …also… we love those worlds and we enjoy reading these books and seeing all the other players and wives again.
Don’t worry, it was a cute 2nd-chance-romance – I liked reading it! I was just in a bit of a anti-mood today. Lol.
Can we also please get a Sawyer Bennett Hockey Netflix series??
STEELE was another cute little love story in this great hockey series! Run to your nearest amazon for your own STEELE – this one is MINE!
What a delicious and heartfelt story about second chances with the one you’re suppose to be with. Steele has been at the top of his hockey game playing with the Vengeance. His wife, Ella, has always been understanding about it. They were high school sweethearts so she knows what she signed up for. But when he starts putting it before the family, they separate. This is the last thing Steele wants but respects her wishes. It puts a fire under him and he realizes that he was being selfish and vows to win her trust back.
I loved Steele once he got his butt out of his head. He’s caring, a great Dad and a great husband. He truly worked hard at hockey to provide for Ella and their daughter. He never did anything that wasn’t for them. Ella standing up for herself is so admirable. She could have easily went along with and never said a thing. Their story could have easily ended unhappily but it didn’t. Sawyer Bennett brings the heat and heart to Steele.
Second chance romance
Steele is book nine in the Arizona Vengeance series and is all about second chances Jim’s wife asked him to move out and for the last few months has given up hope that they will reconcile until one of his teammates says something to him that lights a fire under him Now, he’s pulling out all the stops to let his wife Ella know that he can be the man she wants him to be – will he convince her?
A wonderful story that I really enjoyed and I’m looking forward to Jett next
You never know what you have until you lose it.
Sawyer Bennett has made me fall in love with this expansion team.
James (Jim) Steele, lost his wife and daughter because he put hockey above his family.
He thought they understood and were okay with it.
They had no problem tearing it up in the sheets.
He missed all the warning signs and now it’s been five months since Ella’s asked him to move out.
Even though they are just separated, Ella has started dating and when Steele accidentally runs into her on a date, he realizes he wants her back and is going to figure out what he’s done wrong and is going to fix it and never let it happen again.
Look out Ella, he’s coming for you and he’s going to bring the romance big time.
Add in their thirteen year old daughter who is smart as a whip and an adorable puppy and you have a winner.
I can’t wait for Jett Olsson’s book.
Wow! I cannot believe we are already 9 books in the series. Since I am super-duper late with my review, it will probably be 10 soon. When I was reading Kane, I was curious about what happened to Steele and what was the reason behind his marriage problems. After seeing his daughter’s attitude towards him, I wasn’t sure who the culprit was, Steele or Ella, I was waiting for a more drama-filled read and my heart wasn’t ready for how amazingly sweet this couple was.
James Steele, aka Jim or Steele, was traded from Quebec Royals to Arizona Vengeance. He is married to his high school sweetheart Ella and has a 13-year-old daughter Lucy McKenna Steele. He had no idea that there were problems in his marriage until his wife asked him to leave the house. At first, he was shocked, and even though he was in love with his wife, he didn’t do anything to win her back. Months after he left home, he runs into Ella and his date during lunch and that lit a fire in him and he decided, he is going to fight for his family. I loved Ella. She followed the love of her life and did everything to support him. When an unplanned pregnancy happened, she didn’t complain and became a stay home mom. But don’t let this make you think that she gave up everything. She finished college and also find a job that allows her to work from home. She is ambitious, smart, and full of love. She did everything for Jim and Lucy, but it came to a point that she felt invisible and always the second-best after hockey to her husband that is why even though she was still in love with Jim, she decided breaking up was the only option. After months of minimal contact with Jim, she decided it was time to give a chance to dating once again. She wasn’t expecting to catch Jim and Kane stalk her date and Jim declares he will fight to win her back. OMG! Steele was in it, to win it. I was swooned by the things he did. He was tentative, sweet, and super romantic. I already gave too much away so what he did to get his second chance is for you to find out but get ready to swoon. I cannot pass without saying, I really really really didn’t like Lucy from what I saw from previous books. Her outburst and attitude towards Jim was annoying. However, this book made me understand what lies behind all that and towards the end I adored her. Lucy is super lucky to have parents like Jim and Ella.
It was also great to see a bit of the leading characters in the previous books. I am always looking forward to seeing how they are doing so it was a delight. We are also introduced to newer members that we don’t know much about and I cannot wait to read their stories. The next book of the series is Jett Olsson and the new VP of Digital Marketing and Analytics, Emory Holland. I am looking forward to that story, but I am dying to know more about what will happen to Baden? and what is Riggs Nadeau’s deal? Steele was definitely the sweetest, drama-free second chance romance I ever read. If you enjoy second chance romances and looking for a sweet, drama-free, fast read, this book might be just for you.
Would I recommend this book: Yes
Would I re-read this book: Already did 🙂
Would I read future books by this author: Yes
***** AUDIOBOOK REVIEW *****
Sawyer Bennett’s Steel was just amazing! This was a truly unique storyline, one that you don’t see very often. Actually, I can’t recall if I’ve read something similar. That in itself is a difficult feat. In every marriage, spouses make mistakes, we are just people after all. Jim is no different. He’s made so many that his wife actually separated. Ella has been playing second fiddle to hockey for way too long. She’s ready to be someone’s number one. It takes this move from Ella for him to see what has been there this entire time. Jim is determined to win back his wife’s heart and he puts it all out there. I love how he accepted everything he did or didn’t do. He’s determined to change and do better. He’s putting forth the effort but is it a little too late for Ella?
Brian Pallino has been a huge favorite in all narrators, male or female. He just has this voice that works for me. He brings out the emotions to words and gives I all. Pallino brings out the heart that Jim is openly giving to Ella. He’s in this relationship and you can feel the desperation he has to keep this relationship. I wasn’t certain but I went and look, I hadn’t listened to Jill Redfield narrate previously. That isn’t to say she hasn’t narrated other books, she most definitely has, but they aren’t the types of books I generally listen too. However, she was on par with Brian Pallino. She brought Ella and all her confliction to life. She was really uncertain and hurt. Redfield did a fabulous job.
4.5 stars
I don’t come across many of them, but it’s nice to read a romance where the couple is already married. In this case, Jim (Steele) and Emma have been separated for a bit. But they’re still married and neither has really done anything to move their separation forward to an actual divorce.
From previous books in this series, we’ve seen Steele mope around a bit but keep to himself about his marriage and what actually went wrong. In the last book, Kane, we see him finally jump into action. Like a smack upside the head, seeing Ella out on the town with another man had Steele realizing that she is serious about moving on from him. It seemed he felt she would eventually ask him to come back home with him not having to do any work at all.
To be fair to Steele, once he realizes he has to fight for Ella he fights hard. Not just by putting himself in her path more and even trying to sabotage her dates. He also takes a hard look at himself as a husband and understands he was lacking. Not only that, he works to change those inadequacies. Steele is actually a good guy, he was just clueless. He got married young and, being a doted on pro hockey player, never really matured into the role of husband. He didn’t put his marriage first, he put hockey first. He didn’t truly listen to Ella when she tried to tell him she was not happy. Just because you are desperately in love doesn’t mean you are happy. Something Steele had to learn the hard way.
These two gave me so many warm-fuzzies and I was all in on them getting back together. Of course, I wanted Ella to be seen in their marriage. I didn’t want them together if she was just going to disappear again. She deserved so much more than a part time husband. Thankfully, Steele was able to give her that in the end.
As usual when it comes to this series, I thoroughly enjoyed this story. There were many gut-punch moments while Steele and Ella worked their way through their issues. All evened out by the very obvious love they had for one another.
No one does romance like Sawyer Bennett! She can make it angsty, or funny, or just plain sexy. But you always get a well rounded up story with great characters. This was a second chance story and it involves a marriage that was on the rocks.
Jim and Ella have been together for seventeen years and have an 11 year old daughter, Lucy. They fell into the pit of routine and lack of expectations, and Jim started to take his wife for granted. He gave more priority to his hockey, and although some of it was warranted, he did spend more time with his hockey buddies than with his family. When his wife asked him to move out, he didn’t fight for his marriage until six months later when he saw his wife dating another man.
This story chronicles how Jim woke up to the reality that he could lose the woman he loved more than anything. Watching Ella with another man was like having his heart zapped with electroshock. He woke up, he manned up, and he listened to what was up.
Although the story is simple and predictable, the sentiments within are stellar and the story exquisitely written. The truths presented are true to any marriage that falls into the trap of living a busy life without thought for keeping the romance and the communication running. I loved that neither accused the other of anything heinous, just that Jim stopped seeing Ella and just saw a wife who was there as a prop, not a spectacular woman who was the center of his life. This was a sweet and simple read, an eye opener for any man who would brave to read a romance book. Lucy was an awesome character, full of wisdom and sometimes she seemed more mature than her parents.
It was also great to visit with the other guys of the Arizona Vengeance hockey team and their wives. Looking forward to more stories of the remaining single guys. Very enjoyable!
There was something about this book which resonated with me more than the regular romance book. I loved the premise of a married couple who had somehow lost each other along the way finding their way back to each other. The emotions and feels in this book were all too relatable and left me with baited breath hoping and hoping they would be able to find each other again. The characters were beautifully written and filled with so much passion for each other and their family unit.
As to the narration – there couldn’t have been two better picks to bring these characters to life. Their voices were soothing, passionate, emotional and so realistic.
I think my favorite part about this series is how they are all built upon each other and characters from the other books make appearances.
“ ’ ℎ ℎ, ℎ. ℎ, ℎ.”
Steele is a second chance hockey romance in the Arizona Vengeance series.
Jim Steele was loving his life and hockey career until his wife asked him to move out. Ella was feeling neglected and as if she was second to Steele’s hockey. After seeing Ella on a date with another guy, Steele made it his mission to win back his wife.
I have read and loved all of Sawyer Bennett’s hockey books but this one just did not do it for me. I did not like Ella and felt that she had too much of a “poor me” attitude especially since she knew what she was getting into all the way back in high school. I did love Steele and his daughters relationship. I am still looking forward to more from the Vengeance in the future.
Steele is the ninth book in the Arizona Vengeance series but is most definitely be read or listened to without having read the prior books. Just be aware that there may be spoilers to those books but you do not need those books to understand what is going on in Steele’s life.
I did find this book didn’t focus as much on the team and the other players as the prior books in the series so I was missing getting to catch up with what is going on with them. This book focused on Steele and his marriage. It had its ups and downs and was more of a mellow book with not much in the way of twist or turns. That small shock or major drama didn’t occur which was different and a surprise to this listener. Don’t get me wrong, things happen in the book and you will be yelling at the characters for what they are or are not doing. I also enjoyed what I am assuming will be the next player on the team to have his own story. Both narrators are new to me and it did take a few chapters to get into their narration but they did a great job in bringing the characters to life. They are narrators I will listen to again.
Audio Review
I absolutely love this series and this one just warmed my heart in so many ways. This book is about Jim Steele and his wife Ella and their daughter Lucy and how being a pro hockey player has effected their family. We have seen Steele in previous books and knew he and Ella had been separated for months but when he sees his wife out with another man he decides he is willing to fight for his family and he pulls out all the stops. It was great seeing them struggle with real life issues and get to the other side. There is also the dynamics of their teenage daughter that adds to the story. I loved this real life love story that shows what love can be.
Brian Pallino and Jill Redfield were both so good narrating this book. Loved listening to them.
This series are all stand along books that intertwine the characters throughout. You don’t have to have read/listened to the others to enjoy Steele but I have loved them all and recommend them to you. I loved this book and it was 5 stars for me.
Steele is second chance romance filled with hilarious banter, romance, passion, and the team work between both parents trying to work out the way to gave their daughter the chance to prove she’ll be able to take care of a puppy on her own.
This story is about family, love, understanding, priorities and respect. I absolutely love it, and right now getting emotional at listening to the amazing performance of one of my top favorite voice authors who recently passed away.
The audible version was phenomenal. Brian Pallino’s performance was brilliant, just perfection. He always make feel as if I’m part of the story. Both narrators did an excellent job by bringing the story to life.
THIS IS MY MOST FAVORITE STORY BY FAR FOR MANY REASONS, AND I CAN’T HELP BEING EMOTIONAL WHILE LISTENING TO HIS UTTERLY AMAZING STORY!
Second chance at its finest!! This is the ninth book in the Vengeance Series however they can all be read as a stand-alone since they each focus on a single couple. The author does a wonderful job, it’s a sports romance.
This is Steele (Jim) and Ella’s story they are married but have been separated for awhile because what seemed perfect to Jim was lacking for Ella. At the time when they were together hockey came before Ella or his daughter. However now that Ella has begun to move on Jim begins to notice things he overlooked before. He wants her back but she’s not going to give in just because suddenly he’s interested been there done that and if he truly wants to win her back he’s going to put forth effort and try harder than ever before, he shattered her heart once she’s in no rush to let that happen a second time.
Overall, I’ve loved this series and this book was just as amazing as the others. The characters were great! Steele the pro hockey player having to pull out all the tricks to try and win the love of his life back. Ella the strong heroine that’s not going to be pushed into anything she doesn’t want. It keeps the reader interested and engaged throughout the story.
This book… was so good! I loved that this whole book was about Jim realizing his mistakes, bettering himself and winning his wife back. It is a refreshing concept that the man is willing to fight for his relationship while being understanding of his wife’s position on the issues in their marriage. Even if you don’t read the rest of the series, I’d recommend giving this book a chance!
An emotionally charged reunion story! With book nine in her Arizona Vengeance hockey series Sawyer Bennett brings us a love story like no other. High school sweethearts who made it to the top only to begin to crumble with their teenage daughter looking on. This book brings it all. Pain, love, laughter and so much heart. Loved their story!
Jim Steele is a hockey powerhouse, but a great husband, not so much. If you read the previous book in the series you will be familiar with the storyline somewhat. Jim accepted the separation his wife demanded and is just sitting back watching his life pass him by … until he sees her out on a date with another man and realizes he hasn’t seen that smile and laughter on her face in such a long time.
Ella is easy to sympathize with. She loves her husband just as much today as she did when she fell for him all those years ago, but she can’t take the invisibility and loneliness of being his wife for one minute more. She needs to be seen and cherished again.
I highly recommend this book as well as the entire series to anyone who enjoys a pulse pounding hockey series that rewards you with lots of game action, but also brings love, turmoil and heart to every single book.
I loved Steele! It is a fantastic addition to the Arizona Vengeance series and a wonderful second chance romance. Steele and Ella have only been separated for six months after Ella asked for a separation, but this time is a chance for them to reevaluate, rebuild and reignite their relationship!
James(Jim) Steele has been juggling his family and his career for years but in Ella’s eyes his team was more important. She finally had enough but he wouldn’t give up on them. Their love was never lost, just their connection and now they have another chance grab onto the love and future they always thought they would have.
This story will warm your heart and make you believe that true love and soul mates really do exist!
I had the opportunity to listen to the audio version and the narrators definitely added to my enjoyment of this story!
5 Emotional Stars! Elizabeth @ Carolina Chic’s Read
Steele and Ella’s story is seriously my favorite story thus far. This story is about a man wanting and fighting for a second chance with his wife. This story is filled with love right out of the gate. They are obviously in love with each other but are needing more than they have in their marriage. This is how they get there. Such a great story!
5 Emotional Stars!
Sweet, steamy hockey romance…
I LOVED Jim and Ella’s story! Married for years, with a teenage daughter, their marriage hit a railing. It really seemed like it was over. Months later, however, Jim had a wake-up call. If he did nothing, all would be lost, and he wasn’t ready for that. That’s when things got really, really interesting…
Facing hard truths, making a plan and letting it all play out meant Ella and their daughter Lucy saw a new, improved Jim and wow… He was sexy seriousness of the best order! He put himself in Ella’s shoes and wasn’t that the biggest incentive of all. With Lucy and puppies added to the mix, this second chance romance was steamy, loving, hockey-infused reading goodness!
*Reviewed for 1-Click Addict Support Group
Not my favorite in the series. I mean Steele is no Tacker but still I loved the story. This was a very sexy and sometimes sweet second chance romance. This story was all about learning from your mistakes and putting family first. It was all about family and I could swoon at how Jim tried his hardest to make things right for Ella and Lucy.
Brian Pallino was phenomenal voicing Jim and I’ll be sad not to hear him voice anymore. Jill Redfield was good but not my favorite. Some parts were just flat the way she voiced them but still overall a great listen.