A new stand-alone hockey romance from USA Today bestseller Sarina Bowen. On the eve of her thirtieth birthday, sports agent Bess Beringer is ready to make some changes. Armed with a five-year plan—indexed and color coded—she’ll tackle her personal life with the same zeal that she brings to her successful agency. A big, tall, ripped hunk of hockey player who’s just been traded to the Brooklyn … traded to the Brooklyn Bruisers is not a part of that plan. Mark “Tank” Tankiewicz has a lot of baggage. He’s a ride-or-die loner with a bad reputation. He’s on the rebound. He’s also the sexiest thing on two legs, and for some crazy reason it’s Bess that he wants. She knows better. But then she falls stupid in love with him anyway. And for a while it seems like maybe he’ll do the same. Until she asks him for the one thing he can never give her…
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Some days, more than others, one just needs to escape reality. Especially now during this pandemic and forced quarantine. Nothing like escaping into the world of the Brooklyn Bruisers!
sure Shot by Sarina Bowen is the latest installment in this wonderful, fun and lighthearted romance series they revolves around the Brooklyn Bruisers hockey team. In this latest story, readers get to delve further into the background of famed athlete agent Bess Beringer; whose older brother Dave recently retired from the team. Bess is a work-aholic who has come up with her 5 year plan to focus on improving her own life… or to have a life rather.
Mark “TANK” Tankiewicz is the newest member of the Bruisers; recently acquired on a trade. Mark also just happens to be the one guy that Bess has never managed to forget.
In typical Sarina Bowen style, readers are completely entranced by these characters and the scene. The characters are well written and relatable. There is also more to the story than just fluff…a surprise situation that the characters will be for3d to recognize and handle.
A perfect escape read. Can be read as a stand-alone but of course, the entire series is fabulous so why not read them all!
Sure Shot is Bess Beringer’s story. If you’re an avid Sarina Bowen reader you’ve heard about Bess before. She’s a very strong woman, confident in her work – sports agent – and absolutely in love with her little niece. She moved to be near her family.
She’s about to turn 30, which seems to make her reflect her life a bit and trying to get it all sorted out in a five year plan. But nothing ever comes according to plan, right?!
Because Tank happens. And he’s definitely not in Bess’ plan! Tank – Mark Tankiewicz – is the newest player on the team. Traded over the summer break, getting a divorce from his wife, not liked by his teammates… And nobody knows that they had a little affair going on 9 years ago. And the chemistry between these two is still off the charts.
But Bess has a no-sex-with-athletes-policy. Can she hold on to it?!
Sarina Bowen writes books in perfection. Her writing is phenomenal, and I absolutely adore her. This story is all about the feels, the sport, the love, the laughter, the family, the friendship, the team.
4 stars. Aww, this was a good book! Sure Shot is book four in Sarina Bowen’s Brooklyn Bruisers series. This is Tank and Bess’s book. Bess is a professional sport agent living in Brooklyn and working closely with many of the players on the Bruisers. Tank is a pro hockey player. He met Bess years ago when they were both young in their jobs. They had a fun, no strings attached fling, but neither were ready for a relationship and they lost touch. Over the years, Tank left the the state, got married and divorced and has now been traded to the Bruisers. When he meets Bess again, both of them are older and more mature, but they still have a connection that can’t be denied. They begin a sexy, flirty friendship which leads to a serious relationship and love.
This was a great, enjoyable story. I really liked Tank and Bess. They were very sweet and sexy together. The two adored each other and were extremely considerate of each other’s feelings. I never felt like Bess was second best or that his divorce was something he couldn’t move on from. She made him happy in a way that his ex didn’t. When they came back together, they both had some baggage from the past and plans for the future that they needed to figure out together. Bess and Tank had a great connection and chemistry. They were a great couple.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book! Bess and Tank were an amazing pair. I already feel like I need to re-read this one. I am enjoying this series very much and I look forward to more from Ms. Bowen in the future!
Sure Shot was a sweet and sexy second chance sports romance. Sarina Bowen always balances her books so well, adding humor just when you need it, but also pulling out all the feels. The book is the 4th in the Brooklyn series, but it can be read as a standalone. It would be most enjoyed, however, if read in order since many of the previous characters appear.
I really loved Bess and Mark together. Second chance is always a tricky trope to pull off, but it worked perfectly for them. The instalove was strong in this one, but I felt like Mark and Bess were older and more mature, so they didn’t need a lot of time once their minds were made up. There wasn’t a ton of drama and I liked how well they complemented each other. Some more serious topics were addressed in Sure Shot, but they were handled honestly and with care. I do wish that the story would have wrapped up on a slightly different note, but it didn’t diminish my enjoyment of the story. Seeing all the Bruisers again and catching up with them was a real treat too. I especially enjoyed seeing Castro again, even if he was extra prickly in the beginning 😉 Overall, a great addition to the series!
*I voluntarily read an advance review copy of this book*
This is book #4, in the Brooklyn series, & #7, in the Brooklyn Bruisers series. This book can be read as a standalone novel. For reader understanding, and to avoid spoilers, I recommend reading these great series in order.
Bess is coming back to live in New York. She had been here before for a brief time. Where she met the sexiest man she had ever met. Now, her plans are her focus. To build hre business and keep her future on track.
Mark AKA “Tank” has come back to New York as well. He has not planned the messes that keep him following him. Newly single, he has to get used to a new team, and try not to feel like his reputation is falling apart.
This story was full of surprises. I would read, turn the page, and be surprised again. With an incredible series to keep up with, I was overjoyed this was a book that moved me deep down to my soul. I loved the banter. The friendships are sold, and the pace was nice and steady. All around a solid and great read.
***This early copy was given in exchange for an honest review.
I loved this book. Hockey romance is a favorite genre of mine, and Sarina Bowen has created a wonderful world with the Brooklyn Bruisers. Sure Shot tells the story of their second chance, because the chemistry between Bess and Tank is still strong – but several years later they are both carrying baggage that leads to conflict that they both have to resolve.
This story had great characters – both the main characters, and the supporting characters – and an interesting and believable story line. I especially enjoyed the appearances of so many favorite characters from earlier Sarina Bowen books.
I highly recommend this book to all romance readers, not just the hockey fans. It was exactly the engrossing, easy read that I needed!
**4.5 Stars**
I am always excited to dive into a Sarina Bowen book and right about now a sports romanc sounded like the perfect escape. Sure Shot is the story of Tank, whose life is uprooted when his wife files for divorce and he is then traded to a new team.
Bess is a sports agent and trying to find someone to settle down with so she can get started on the many dreams she has for herself in terms of marriage and children, but she is having no luck.
Bess and Tank had a brief fling nine years earlier when Bess was just starting out as an agent, but it ended when she was told it wouldn’t look good for her career. Now they find themselves back in the same place and the chemistry is still there…maybe even stronger.
I loved the chemistry between Bess and Tank. I loved the banter and just the ease of their interactions. I liked that Tank had a vulnerability about him and it was clear throughout the book that there were issues in his marriage that hurt him and troubled him, but he still didn’t go a vengeful route. He had character and I think he was a great match for Bess. I loved that Bess was strong and independent, but also willing to fight for what she wanted. Sarina Bowen is a definite go to author for me and Sure Shot did not let me down!
This is the best book of the series. It is a second chance romance and for that I applaud Sarina Bowen for writing such an amazing story, their second chance in love is more a second chance in life.
Bess is reaching the dreaded 30’s and decides to make her life over. After spending years building her career and business, she is adamant to developing her personal life, meet someone and have a family after all her hard work. Tank is a hockey player in his 30’s that has been traded off and recently divorced, he is not bitter, but not happy either… Their meeting is pure combustion but at the same time they are in opposite sides in their personal life.
Sarina Bowen has written a book about mature adults that is so delicate, so loving, so emotional, and so true. This book is wonderful, and I truly recommend it.
Loved it!
I love sports romances that take place in the ice hockey universe. I had a great time reading this book and getting to know Tank and Bess. We can get some news from the characters presented in the previous tomes but don’t worry this novel can be read as a standalone.
Bess Beringer was always part of the ice hockey universe since not only her brother Dave is a hockey player but also because from the age of 21, she became a sports agent. She excels in her job and she has decided that somes rules should be enforced and she refuses to violate them. However, she can’t forget her birthday party and her night with Tank, who was not her client at the time. When 9 years later, their path crosses again, she will again have to resist this persistent chemistry between thm both. She now has her own agency with her own athletes to manage so she is even less entitled to disrespect her ethic code. I liked Bess’s character because she feels torn between listening to her heart and following her rules She doesn’t really have a friend to talk to even if she is very close to Henry Kassman for whom she worked or even Eric Bayer but nothing can stand for a female presence and wise advice. She will need it because passion could be overule rightessness.
It is true that xhen around Tank, she will lower her guard and leave him in control. She can’t resist him because he tickles something inside her. He makes her a sensual woman who has desires and who assumes them when they are only the two of them. However, Bess dreams of a family life, of a prince charming who will come to save her and love her against all odds. We also see it when she is playing or cooing with her niece or her friends’ children . it’s obvious that she wants to be a mother and Tank isn’t likely to be the ideal candidate. In addition, she is a woman who evolves in a professional world dominated by men and I loved what she plans to launch for female hockey players because it is true that in our romances, the heroes are men and not women who play hockey and it is a fair reminder of today’s society. Bess will therefore be an engaging character with whom we can identify and we are dreaming her happiness will soon be in her life.
Mark “Tank” Tankiewicz is a hockey player who has too often be under the limelight not for his sporting exploits but for his private life. The journalists speculate on his transfer to New York and his teammates are not the most welcoming persons in the world. It’s thus difficult to find your way in a new life with game-changing codes. Hockey is a team sport but when everyone does as they please, success cannot be expected. Tank does not have to worry about anger control but his teammates will take time to accept him as their teammate. No stability either on an emotional level since his divorce with Jordanna left traces. He no longer wants to get involved into a relationship and we can understand him. He can no longer stand false rumors when his behavior towards women has always been correct. He does not have stability in his everyday life either because he first lives in a hotel which seems to suit him but which at the same time keeps him away from his teammates. Many barriers to overcome, but we feel that his tie to Bess is not fake and that he could have found someone who understands and accepts him just the way he is.
To recap, Sarina Bowen offers us a sports romance that I liked a lot . There are endearing characters for whom love and friendship are two important things. I like these book series where we discover new characters while having updates from former heroes. Sport is also at the heart of romance and allows us to have a good time.
I started my Sarina Bowen binge with the True North series in early 2019. I loved Dave Berringer and he led me the Bruisers. I have been waiting for Dave’s sister, Bess, to get her HEA for what feels like forever.
There’s something about a fierce female character killing in a male-dominated field. Bess is a goal setter, a chaser of opportunities, and a boss at the negotiating table. She’s one of my favorite characters of all time. Tank is such a sweetheart, even though reconnecting with Bess couldn’t have come at a worse time for him. He’s finalizing his divorce, he was just traded, and his teammates definitely don’t seem to be getting on Team Tank.
When I started this book, I just knew in my soul that there were going to be parts that absolutely broke my heart. I shed more than few tears reading this story but I loved every single second of it. I’m also keeping all my fingers crossed that there’s more to come from the fantastic lady bosses from this story. I really can’t wait to see what comes next!
I love every single thing Sarina Bowen writes. Her Brooklyn Bruisers series has had a special place in my heart for years and she has outdone herself with Sure Shot. It really is Sarina at her best, and quite possibly my favorite of hers. This story was hockey perfection, an emotional yet steamy romance and wonderful characters. I loved everything about this story.
The chemistry between Bess and Tank was just explosive. But what was even more beautiful was the deep friendship that developed between the two and the way they learned to trust one another. They were perfect together and I absolutely adored both of them. It was a pleasure to experience their journey with them. I felt deeply connected to Tank and Bess’ story and their experiences and it really gave me all the emotional feels. And Sarina Bowen addressed sensitive topics with compassion and kindness.
Sure Shot was the perfect blend of lovable characters, passion, humor, emotion and plenty of hockey all wrapped up in one amazingly written story. I absolutely loved being back in this world and seeing old faces and new favorites. Tank and Bess’s love story has been one of my favorite novels from Sarina Bowen, and I can’t wait to devour whatever she releases next!
The Brooklyn Bruisers are back baby!!! I freaking LOVED this story. Sorry for the shouty caps, but it’s so needed for Sure Shot. This is a must read 5 star read that should be on everyone’s TBR shelf. Seriously, hot hockey players, a second chance romance, hockey and did I mention hot hockey players??
If you have read any of the series, you should be hitting refresh on your ereader at midnight so you can dive in immediately totally forsaking sleep. Trust me, you won’t care about something as paltry as sleep once you start Tess and Tank’s story!
I was hooked from the opening scenes to the last words where I closed the book with a huge goofy grin, opened it back up and re-read the last chapter and epilogue again then again. Yes, it’s that good and when you read it, you will totally understand.
My best recommendation is this, read the book! You won’t be sorry.
Note: If you haven’t indulged in this series 1. WHY NOT, you have been totally missing out and 2. It can totally be read as a stand-alone but it will no doubt leave you craving more of the Bruisers. Or craving a re-read of the whole series. Well played Sarina Bowen, well played indeed.
Bess and Tank had history but no one knew; it was their secret. She was a rookie agent and he was a rookie hockey player at the time. They enjoyed each other for couple months and then suddenly stopped everything and broke off with him. Fast forward 9 years and they meet again unexpectedly but this time things are different. At first Bess acts like she doesn’t know him but few hours later all of that is changed; he makes it his business to make she remembers. They start getting reacquainted with each other but it’s not that easy. They have their ups and downs and lots of hurdles to jump over for their HEA. Tank has underlying issues that continues until the very ending that has Bess worried but then she’s surprised by his reaction. These two were good for each other and deep down had beautiful hearts.
Bess was an interesting character. She has a color-coded binder containing her five-year plan. I just…feel that, pretty hard. But when Tank walks back into her life, she just can’t resist him. He’s a big enough force that she deviates from the plan.
Bess and Tank had a fling nine years ago; back when Bess was a young professional, just starting out at a sports management firm and Tank was a young and cocky hockey player. It fizzled out as both began to focus more on their own careers, but neither ever forgot the other.
Sure Shot (Tank’s hockey nickname, by the way) went far further emotionally than the sweet little blurb implies. Some sensitive subjects were discussed between the two, and I appreciated how well they communicated.
Sure Shot was heartfelt, sexy, fun, and a sweet story.
Can’t stop re-reading. Wonderful romance and terrific characters
Sure Shot by Sarina Bowen is one of those books that I simultaneously read super fast and then slowly … devouring the words to get to “what’s next” while realizing that that the faster one reads, the faster the ending comes….and what an ending!
This book is the latest in the Brooklyn Bruisers series, but can be read as a standalone. If you haven’t read anything in the series, you can read this book, but you’ll want to read the whole series … immediately.
Ms. Bowen’s writing style is superb. Sure Shot is another example of how she masterfully weaves the storylines and books together in a way that they slightly overlap more so than books that occurs in sequential order. When I read them, I often pick up on a hint or tip from another book that sends me on a journey to find the passage in another book.
But the best part about her books, and Sure Shot as well, are the characters. They are well developed and realistic.
Tank is overcoming a life blow with the loss of his marriage as he trades into the Bruiser’s hockey organization. He is honest and knows he needs to make up a lot of ground as he joins a team where there is animosity towards him. He becomes singled minded in his pursuit of Bess, which leads to heart pounding scenes and dialogues. Bess is an agent who represents several Bruiser players. She’s got a 5 year plan that she’s trying to put in action. Familiar characters from previous books abound … all of them … which is one of the great parts of this book and the series.
When I finished this book, I was in a complete funk and couldn’t stop the re-read … it’s like moving away from a place you love with friends you love … you can’t believe it’s no longer there.
Sure Shot has romance-laced dialogue that will have you sighing out lout and sizzling scenes that will melt your e-Reader! … but it’s more that that. Serious issues such as infertility, family, and life goals are woven in.
This book gets 5 stars from me because it’s terrific and I immediately started the re-read.
I received an ARC; this is my honest review.
Sarina Bowen