Sure Shot

Wow! I went in expecting to enjoy Sure Shot. I love hockey and know this author reliably delivers good characters and great writing, but I found this book incredibly hard to put down. Sure Shot is the fourth in the Brooklyn series and technically the 9th within the expanded Brooklyn Bruisers universe, but it can absolutely be read as a standalone. I’ve bounced around a lot within these interconnected series (Sure Shot is the first of the Brooklyn series I’ve read) and had no problem sinking in and following along even when reading out of order.

I’ll be honest and say the teasers didn’t do this story justice in my opinion. I expected the typical alpha-playboy hero, and while Tank definitely had stubborn alpha moments, he was also a genuinely nice person with a very vulnerable side…and I absolutely fell for him. Similarly, although I knew Bess from another book, I wasn’t expecting her blend of Cinderella dreaminess and fierce, sassy tenacity all wrapped in a bit of a tomboy persona. I also didn’t anticipate the second chance romance storyline, a favorite trope of mine. Suffice to say, I really loved the setup for Sure Shot and I absolutely loved Bess and Tank together- the physical chemistry was palpable, but the emotional connection was a steady current that grew on page and completely hooked me. Add in some surprising conflicts (and resolutions) that went an entirely different direction than I predicted and I couldn’t step away. If you are looking for a romance with great chemistry, strong characters, and a sweet second chance romance, I’d recommend picking up this title.

*eARC received via author’s ARC group. The PA and author had no influence over this review*

This was another great addition to the #Brooklyn Series.

It was a thrill getting to know Bess and Tank, and my goodness I’m a sucker for a second chance romance.

Mark “Tank” Tankiewicz is a new transfer to the Brooklyn Bruisers team and he’s … skeptical about the whole thing. New town, new teammates, oh and finalizing a divorce at the same time.

Bess Beringer is a badass sports agent and she has her whole life planned, or at least the next five years. She’s made up her mind, and she needs to date, get married and have kids.

At a party, Bess and Tank cross paths for first time in years … let me tell you, their chemistry is explosive!

The form a new friendship and this ultimately turns into a beautiful, new relationship with lots of baggage to unload. On their journey back to each other, they must learn to open up, trust each other and hopefully find happiness again.

Thanks to the author for generously providing me an ARC to review.

Bess Berringer isn’t where she thought she’d be in life when she turns 30. Sure her career is really taking off, but Bess wants more. She wants love. She wants a family.

Mark “Tank” Tankiewicz isn’t where he thought he’d be in life either. To top it off, he was just traded to a rival hockey team, has to move across the country, oh and his wife wants a divorce.

When Bess and Tank run into each other at a party, they are both shocked to see each other again. Yes, again.

9 years earlier, Bess and Tank how a sizzly hot friends with benefits situation going on. It fizzled out sooner than either of them wanted it to, but Bess was just starting off as a sports agent, and Tank was a hockey player. Those two things don’t mix well in a relationship.

Soon, Tank and Bess slip into old habits. The sparks between them are just as explosive and just as dangerous. Because Bess now has her own sports agency, and Tank is still, well, a hockey player. But more importantly, Bess wants the happily ever after, and Tank wants the happily no strings attached. Or does he?

Ah, I just loved everything about Bess and Tank! I loved their banter, the chemistry, the friendship. I felt for Bess as she struggled between listening to her heart and her head. As she starts to accept she might not get the things she wants most in life. Tank completely surprised me with all his layers. There is so much more to him than meets the eye, and his story tugged on my heart strings a few times.

Sarina Bowen has such a gift for creating these incredible worlds filled with love and pain and in credible friendship. Failure and triumph. Growth and forgiveness. Romance and swoons. Strong, intelligent, vulnerable women. Men who love and respect and encourage these women. And of course, some hockey 😉

Side Note: Sure Shot is the 4th book in the Brooklyn series. While the books in this series are companion novels, they can still be read as a standalone. You also see characters from her Brooklyn Bruisers series and True North series. Again, you do not have to have read these series before hand, but I highly recommend them.

Since I feel like I’m the CEO of reading books in a series out of order, I’ll say that I have a bit of perspective if you’re truly able to read this book as a standalone. And I say yes, HOWEVER, I think you’ll get the full experience by starting from the very beginning, which I’ll be doing very soon.

Sure Shot jumps right to it in this second chance of sorts and I was here for it. I love that despite both Tank and Bess going their separate paths several years ago, they reunited and the sizzling chemistry is still very much there. With Tank recently coming out of a divorce, I was a little nervous see what possible drama was going to come out of it. But it wasn’t like I thought it would be at all.

I loved that Tank pushed for what he wanted and even though he couldn’t see a long future with Bess, he couldn’t stay away from her. And boy, these two tried, but the pull is strong, so I was rooting for them from beginning to end.

I was a bit of a mess because some of the their story hit close to home and it just made it very easy to relate to them, not just individually, but a couple as well. More than anything, I loved that they were both willing to work through everything together especially with so many unknowns with the future.

I can’t recommend this book enough and it’s easily added to my faves for 2020!

**AN ARC WAS PROVIDED IN EXCHANGE FOR A REVIEW**

Sarina Bowen

I just loved this second chance romance and it had all the things I love in a sports romance – great characters, wonderful dialogue with a good helping of witty banter, and two characters who can’t help themselves from falling in love with each other.

Beth and Tank were such a great couple. They have a past, so when Tank comes back into Beth’s life it’s no surprise that their attraction has a pull that can’t keep them apart. I loved Tank – even though he’s coming out of a crappy situation, he’s so honest about what he feels for Beth. He never thinks twice about letting her know he wants her, even though he’s convinced himself that he’s not a long-term relationship guy – which is an issue since Beth is looking for long-term – the fairy-tale romance, the family, she wants it all. And even though she knows Tank can’t give that to her, the heart wants what the heart wants.

These two together brought all the feels. I loved the banter between the two – it definitely served as foreplay – and their chemistry was off the charts. There was a lightness about their relationship, even though the emotions between these two ran deep. They both had some issues to deal with and it was frustrating to see these two erect walls and barriers around themselves, but I don’t think they could have found their happiness together without dealing with their own issues like they did.

This is my first book by Sarina Bowen (and I have a few on my shelf – shame on me!) and it’s clear after reading this one that this world she has built is full of characters that have their own stories to tell, and I can’t wait to get to them. I loved how she blended such a diverse group of characters together and was able to create friendships and bonds that felt real. Becca and Georgia were the perfect friends for Bess and I loved watching these three do their girl bonding. Tank’s struggle to find his place with the Bruisers had me rooting for him on the ice. I just loved Henry and his wisdom and how he helped shape both Bess and Tank over the years. Eric was awesome – I loved his unconditional support of Tess and his desire to see her happy. As I said, I can’t wait to read more of the stories in this world and get to meet each of them with their own stories.

This book had just about everything any romance lover would want and shouldn’t be missed!

Tank & Bess bring it and make it a Sure Shot at love! Elizabeth @ Carolina Chic’s Read

In this story Mark “The Tank” Tankiewitcz was traded to a team that hates him and he is sent to New York City to play hockey ! His story is a second chance romance for two people who never really fell out of love with each other! It is filled with so many obstacles but a happier deeper love is found.

Bess is a successful sports agent and she has one rule.. don’t date the players! When she sees Mark again she knows she must hold fast to that rule… but should it count if she loved him and was with him before she adopted that rule? He isn’t represented by her firm.. it’s ok right!

These two find so much happiness and pure love!

5 Happy Stars

NO SPOILERS!

Sarina Bowen did an amazing job with Sure Shot, and I absolutely loved Tank and Bess’s sexy, funny, and swoon-worthy story!

The storyline was excellent and very entertaining. I didn’t really know what to expect for Sure Shot’s plot, but it was even better than I anticipated. Sarina Bowen wove a fantastic and truly enjoyable love story for Tank and Bess, and I couldn’t have loved it more. The ending was especially amazing and made me so incredibly happy.

The characters were absolutely wonderful. Tank and Bess were phenomenal in every way, and I honestly adored them. They were completely lovable and relatable, and I just loved them so much. Tank and Bess were definitely perfect for each other, and it was a pleasure to experience their journey with them.

Sure Shot was a sexy, entertaining, funny, swoon-worthy, and MUST READ standalone sports romance in the Brooklyn series, and I would highly recommend it! Tank and Bess’s love story has been one of my favorite romances from Sarina Bowen so far, and I can’t wait to devour whatever she releases next!

This book is everything!! It is one of my top reads of 2020! So full of emotion that hits you in the feels. Mark “Tank” Tankiewicz and Bess Beringer have a history. They met 9 years prior and had a night that neither could forget. Bess decides that she can’t date athletes and try to make it as a sports agent so she tries to forget about Tank. A lot happens in 9 years however like marriage, divorce and being traded to a team you are not so fond of.

Bess has moved to Brooklyn and started her own firm as a sports agent. Things are going great until she sees her kryptonite in the from of Mark Tankiewicz. Seeing him brings back memories of their night exactly 9 years ago. History has a funny way of repeating itself but Bess keeps telling herself she does not date players. Tank however wants to keep having fun with her until feelings and life get in the way.

These two characters are perfect. I love their story of how they met and eventually get together. Their pasts make them who they are today and have you rooting for them to have a HEA. This book was one of my favorite hockey romance books. It has some of my favorites….Texans, Tex Mex, queso, hot hockey players and cute babies. This book and the whole series is a must read!

I don’t know if I’ve ever wanted to hug two characters more. Like, there I was – reading this incredible, heartfelt love story – and it was all I could do to keep from squeezing my Kindle tight because Bess and Mark were utterly huggable.

I adored them!

This story starts with a blast of physical chemistry before that gets set on simmer while the emotions build. And holy emotion explosion — these two completely rocked my heart. The bond that Bess and Mark formed was a thing of absolute beauty. I loved that they were given room to explore a friendship, peppered with exquisitely tender moments, and a whole lot of sweetness. Theirs was a bumpy road and my heart ached for them – but it was so worth it. SO worth it.

With Sure Shot, Sarina Bowen tackles some sensitive subjects. There are issues addressed that I felt on a deeply personal level. However, the perspective she gave was new, thought-provoking, and took the whole story to an emotional place that wholly encompassed my heart. As usual, the writing was smart and snappy, and the storytelling was crazy compelling but done with a delicate touch and a respectful tone. And the things it did to my heart y’all, I can’t even…

I feel like there is no trope that Sarina Bowen can’t master, but there is something special about her hockey romances. Each new one is like falling back into a circle of old friends. I enjoyed catching up with the characters from previous books and – while the romance is front and center here – I also enjoyed watching Tank fumble his way toward friendship with his new teammates. These lovable lunks provided hours of entertainment and I don’t think I’ll ever get enough of them.

There was nothing about this book that wasn’t 100% satisfying. The story sparks with chemistry, it set my heart aflutter with swoons, and then made it overflow with emotions as these two insanely huggable characters found their happily ever after. I am so crazy about this book! 1000% recommend!

4.5 stars

Wow, I loved this book! Of course, I was thrilled to be back in the Brooklyn Bruisers world, but we also get a strong heroine, a brand new, incredible hockey god to drool over, steamy sex, heaps of swoon, and an intense, realistic and functional romance. I loved Bess and Tank’s story!

Bess Berringer is the younger sister of Dave (Brooklyn Bruisers hottie and hero of the Bruisers/True North crossover Bountiful), and is a sports agent, representing many of the boys of the series. She has worked hard to get where she is and has achieved great success and now she’s now moved her business to Brooklyn as part of her new 5-year plan to achieve her life goals.

Mark ‘Tank’ Tankiewicz has just been traded to the Bruisers from their nemesis team, Dallas. It’s not a move he wanted or was expecting, and it comes on the back of his wife ending their marriage. It’s a rough move, with Tank dealing with baggage from his marriage and struggling to fit in with the Brooklyn boys, but he’s determined to make the best of it.

Bess and Tank met 9 years previously, and they had a short-lived fling that rocked both of their worlds. It wasn’t the right time for them and they haven’t seen each other since it ended, but now they are both in the same city, and their chemistry is as hot as ever – even if Bess has a rule against dating athletes and thinks she can ignore Tank.

“Just in case you’re lost,” I tell him, pointing back the way we came, “your hotel is in the opposite direction.”
“I’m not lost. I’m following you home.”
“Why?”
“Why,” he scoffs. “Because neither one of us can stop thinking about it.” He stops, and when I stop, too, his piercing eyes take in my low-cut top and the flush on my neck. “You know you’ve been thinking about me. And I sure as hell can’t stop thinking about you.”

Bess and Tank are fantastic characters who are completely upfront with each other, and I love that! They tease, bicker and flirt, but they don’t play games, and there is this delicious sexual tension that constantly sizzles between them. God, the connection between these two is electric! The sexy time is seriously steamy, but they also have this fantastic dynamic that is fun, playful and open, and I loved their interactions.

“Tank: …I would have liked to say a proper goodbye. It’s not often that we’re in the same state.
Bess: You might be surprised. But I couldn’t take the risk of waking you up. After all, you got me naked about four minutes after arriving in your room. So I have no idea what “a proper goodbye” might mean to you. Restraints, probably. And a safe word.
Tank: That sounds about right. Next time, then.”

They have some hurdles to overcome and their love story doesn’t unfold without some drama, but it’s realistic to their situations, it doesn’t overshadow the whole story, and it’s handled honestly and functionally as they talk through their issues and make mature, sensible decisions. They’ve both changed so much, are in different places in their lives, and they’ve experienced difficult times, and there are some really emotional moments as they open up and deal with it all. They have ups and downs, but they clearly belong together, and I loved watching them work through it all to figure it all out.

“I can’t stay away from you. I don’t even want to try. Maybe you’re embarrassed to be seen with a bitter, rebounding hockey player with anger issues and a shitty reputation. You probably deserve better. But I’m a greedy asshole. And I meant it when I said you’re the best thing to happen to me in a long time.”

The rest of the Bruisers crew are along for the ride, and I loved seeing them all again. Most of the characters that we’ve met so far have a presence in this book, and from the boys’ camaraderie to girlie nights and family time, I loved catching up with them all again.

This is such a gorgeous read. It’s a beautiful, honest and passionate love story that is funny, exciting, swoony and heartfelt. I absolutely loved it – 4.5 stars!