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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This is the fourth book in the Brooklyn series. But it also brings back a few characters from another series. I love when authors tie their books together in some way. Keeps the books all the books familiar and fresh in your mind. This book is about Bess and Tank. Bess is the sister of Dave Beringer from Bountiful (True North Series). And Tank is the newly traded player to the Bruisers. Bess and Tank have history, but that’s just it…history. But one look at each other many years later kinda blows that history right up. The chemistry between these two is off the charts. But….there’s always a but. Bess is working on her five year plan and Tank is not part of that plan. Tank is just trying to fit in and have some fun. But when Bess explains this to Tank, he cannot be that for her. He has his reasons. And those reasons hit pretty close to my heart. But in time, as with Bess and Tank, the heart can heal. This book has all the emotions in it. Happiness, sadness, frustration, chemistry and in the end, just pure joy! If your a fan of the Brooklyn players, then go grab this book today.
This book made me realize that I haven’t read a Sarina Bowen book for a while and I missed her books. Sure Shot is the 7th book of the Brooklyn Bruisers series. I love this series and it was amazing to see everyone from the previous books.
Bess Bringer is a sweet, sassy, hard-working and strong woman. She is a hockey agent who owns a successful business. Thanks to her new business partner Eric, she accepts to take a vacation for a week. After a well-deserved vacation, now she is back on business. Being disconnected for a whole week was good because it gave her a chance to recharge and make her five-year plan 🙂 Since she missed all the latest news, she is not aware that one of these developments will end up as big shocking, life changing surprise for her. Since the beginning of her career, there is only one rule she follows religiously. ‘Never get involve with an athlete.’ Now 10 years later, the reason for the rule is back into her life. Life hasn’t been easy for Mark ‘Tank’ Tankiewicz since the end of the hockey season. First, his wife kicked him out and filed a divorce and then he got traded to Brooklyn Bruisers. Tank is cocky, grumpy and distant. Him being traded from Dallas, most hated team by Bruisers and all the bad media attention he is getting is definitely not helping him to win over his new teammates. He is still struggling to get his life in order and now the one who got away ten years ago is back in his life. Bess is the only good thing in his life that makes him feel alive. When he is with her, he is a different person, a more likable one 🙂 They are perfect for each other and their chemistry is off the charts. Their secret affair grows to something more, but their past experiences won’t make their relationship easy. It was inspiring to see them overcome their struggles.
Also, it was great to see a bit of the Bruisers gang; Alex & Eric and their baby girl Rosie, Rebecca & Nate, Ariana & O’Doul, Silas & Delilah, Heidi & Castro, Georgia & Leo and last but not least Dave & Zara. Since I read Brooklynaire, I was wondering Dave and Zara and till recently I thought they didn’t have a book but guess what they do 🙂 I still didn’t get a chance to read their story, but now I know their story is part of the True North series so I will be starting the series soon. Since True North has been in my TBR for a while and I never get a chance to start, this is a perfect reason to start 🙂
This story is not all sunshine and butterflies. As always Sarina Bowen includes heavier issues to the plot and I believe these make her stories more relatable, heartbreaking, inspiring and real. Sure Shot is an emotional, captivating and inspiring second chance romance that you will enjoy every second of it.
Would I recommend this book: Yes
Would I re-read this book: Yes
Would I read future books by this author: Yes
A light read with emotional depth — both the hero and heroine are dealing with past trauma, which affects their life and choices, while also moving forward in positive ways.
Also, hockey and enchiladas!
This is a second chance romance that hits the ground running and instantly stole my heart.
I knew I loved Bess before reading Sure Shot but I don’t think I was prepared for how much I would relate to her. She was such a balanced heroine fiercely independent, owns her own business, confident, handles professional athletes better than any man. She is also honest with herself about her personal goals and making space for them in her professional life and is vulnerable with her friends and Tank.
What can I say about Tank? I love a hero who is a little damaged and has lived and learned from his mistakes. There is something so desirable about the way Tank is healing or maybe running from his divorce and trade and the reasons behind both. He’s just so dreamy and masculine and hurting and healing and it is everything.
I think it is actually the 10th Brooklyn Bruisers book if you add in Bountiful and Moonlighter and I feel like Sarina Bowen really had fun with this one There were references to many of the previous characters and even a cross series reference that was a super fun Easter egg!
This book hit me right in the feels. I found a deeply personal connection to Tank and Bess’ story and their experiences. Sarina Bowen addressed what can be a sensitive topic with compassion and kindness. Like all of Sarina Bowen’s books I could not put it down, I completed the whole book in less than 24 hours, reading between my other adult responsibilities. I tried to read slow, I really did, but Sarina Bowen writes stories that I have to keep reading and worlds I never want to leave.
I received an ARC of this book and voluntarily give my review
I have been loving the Brooklyn series by Sarina Bowen and was very excited when I learned a new story was coming. In Sure Shot we meet Mark “Tank” Tankiewicz and Bess Beringer. Tank has just been traded to the Brooklyn Bruisers and Bess is now back in NYC. Perfect timing? Their attraction and chemistry is instant and undeniable as they share a bit of history. As a sports agent, Bess normally stays away from athletes, but Tank is different. For Tank, Bess makes him feel again. I loved the characters and their journey so much. Sure Shot by Sarina Bowen was a steamy and emotional read that dealt with some serious subjects that makes you feel. A definite must-read second chance romance!
Read and reviewed for Sultry Sirens Book Blog.
Happy reading!
Holy heart wrenching ! Just when I think the previous book was my favorite, Sarina just goes and outdoes herself again! It was absolutely adorable, sinfully sexy, and completely angsty. Sure Shot was the fourth book in her Brooklyn Series. Like all the others, it can be read as a stand-alone, but come on – hunky hockey players!!!
Bess was getting ready to turn the big 3-0! She decided she needed to start planning her life out just like she does with her clients. She wasn’t getting any younger and she needed to take control of her future. What she didn’t account for was Mark to walk back into her life. Would he fit into the plan or throw her completely off track?
Mark was not having the best year – two dreaded words back to back – divorced and traded. How much worse could it get? He knew better than to ask that question, because of course he was traded to a team that hated his guts. The only bright side to his new life was having Bess in it again. He never understood why they ended all those years ago, would he be able to convince her they deserved a second chance?
Swoon!! What an amazing journey! Mark and Bess were the perfect couple. They made my heart melt for all the good they were doing.
There’s something magical inside every Brooklyn Bruisers book…and I could certainly take the time to dissect each one to figure out what it is. But I don’t want to. I simply want to crawl inside these stories and enjoy the romance, the friendships, and the happiness. Each time I pick up one of these books I know that I’ll come out smiling…and that’s such a rare gift. Ms. Bowen’s writing is my happy place and her characters are like friends I can count on to provide me with a few hours of fun, laughter, tears, and entertainment.
Bess Beringer and Mark Tankiewicz (aka Tank) are meant to be. Even if the obstacles are many and the risks are high, their romance is one that needs to happen. Bess is strong, successful, and determined to follow her 5 year plan. A plan that doesn’t include Tank, a grumpy yet charming hockey player with whom she had a short-lived fling in the past. But, alas, the heart wants what it wants and these two are powerless to fight the pull towards each other. And, for every step forward they seems to take two back…but that’s what makes their story so charming. As their hearts and their minds war over the practicality of their potential relationship, the universe keeps putting them in a position that makes it impossible for them to fight the inevitable.
Bess and Tank had true chemistry and brought all the feels. I couldn’t help but root for them to find a place where both were comfortable moving forward. Their ups and downs felt very real and their ultimate HEA was everything I wanted. I loved these two. But, also, I love this group of hockey players and strong women who feel like a true family and who’s friendships are the strength that binds these stories. Ms. Bowen has a way with words but she also has a talent for developing a true family feel within each of her series. And, as a reader, no world is more real than that of friends and family…the romance is just the icing on the cake! I can’t wait to see what happens next in the Brooklyn Bruisers universe!
I love a good hockey story, and Sarina Bowen writes the best ones. Sure Shot is about Bess, the sister of former Brooklyn Bruiser Dave Beringer. Dave’s story was told Bountiful, which is a crossover between Sarina’s hockey books and her True North series. It’s my favorite of that series, and the audiobook is excellent.
Bess is a sports agent, and she meets, or should I say becomes reacquainted with, Mark “Tank” Tankewicz when he’s traded to the Brooklyn Bruisers, just as Bess herself comes back to New York for the start of a new Five-Year-Plan for her life. Of course, Tank doesn’t originally fit into that plan. But he and Bess have a history that can’t be ignored.
This was a good book. It was well-written, as all of Sarina’s are, and took some twists and turns that I didn’t expect. I like reading a book that is part of a bigger series, because all of the characters from the other stories show up, and we get to see how their lives have continued on since we last heard from them. It made me realize that I’ve missed a couple of books along the way, which is always a good thing to discover.
4.5 Always More to The Story Stars
* * * * 1/2 Spoiler Free
I always know when Sarina Bowen decides to write a story, there will be more than what is teased in the blurb. Sure Shot is so much more than a romance novel about a couple who meets, has chemistry, may have a minor hiccup, and then miraculously have their hea. If this was just that, handled by Bowen, it would have heart, humor, sexy times, and readers would be totally satisfied.
But Bowen doesn’t settle. She looks at plots, personal relationships, today’s worries, and other cultural issues and weaves them into a story that will make the readers see and experience more than surface emotions. Her focus and the ways of expressing real-life situations make us take a moment and truly feel what we are experiencing.
This ability is SPECIAL. It takes sports romance and takes it to another level. It explains why Bowen has had such an impact on this genre. But to be clear, it not just this genre where Ms. Bowen excels, it is whatever she attempts.
So with all of that said, Sure Shot is about two people who have had a past many years ago. Their time together was one of those experiences that make an impact, the kind that is ingrained, and will be remembered over the years.
Ten years later, Bess Beringer is now a very successful sports agency owner. She worked as a young woman with the groundbreaking sports agent in NYC and he took her under his wing. She learned from the best and when she had a little personal time with an up and coming athlete, she was warned off, as being a woman in a man’s world means appearance is everything. Bess decided she needed to let go of a possible real relationship in order to be believed as capable.
This changed her ideas about relationships, whether she could even have one and with who. As the years went by, Bess was devoted to her career, and there never was anyone who measured up to the man she had cut loose so many years ago.
Now Bess is at the stage where her career is set, she has figured out what is personally important and has come up with her five-year plan. Her brother is part of the Brooklyn Bruisers and with Mark “Tank” Tankiewick being traded to the team, Bess will be crossing paths with the one man she has never forgotten.
This cannot be happening.
Mark sees Bess and is hit with every memory he has ever had of her. The good, their incredible time together, the smell of her, the way her lips were so soft, all of the things he has thought about over the years. He also remembers the horrific pain…of being cut out of what could have been something. To be tossed aside almost ghosted before there even was ghosting. Seeing her in front of him makes all of these thoughts come rushing back.
Now the story has these two Trying to stay away…of course, they can’t. And the times they do spend together are something I would like to experience personally, please…
But there is so much more than that in this love story…and it tackles serious issues that people have and from a very different perspective. Something I haven’t seen before. Was I surprised…nope, because you see, that is the Sarina Bowen way. She will take a standard concept and digs deep, flips it, turns it, dissects it, and make you look at it with new eyes.
Bess and Mark are amazing people. Both have gone through things that would bring others to their knees. There is no doubt they belong together but the deep dark demons Mark has will make him think he hasn’t any right to be with Bess. Bess’s strength and ability to keep bouncing back is commendable. You rooted for her and wanted him to be able to break through the obstacles they had put up.
This book had so much going for it. I liked the people I spent time with, got to see those I already knew, and wanted to be right there in Brooklyn with them. I always do…
So take a moment and let Sarina Bowen take you to a place where you will love all the characters, feel the chemistry between two people that jumps off the page, and have life lessons that are worth holding on to.
A gifted copy was provided by author/publisher for an honest review.
Oh, how I enjoyed Bess and Tank! They brought me so much joy! Bess Beringer’s name may seem familiar to you, and it’s because Bess is David Beringer’s sister, who stars in Bountiful! I love when authors do crossovers like these.
Last time Bess lived in NYC, she had a fling with an unforgettable man. Fast-forward to the present and Bess encounters Tank, her former fling, and he’s the new trade from Dallas to the Brooklyn team.
“I can’t stay away from you. I don’t even want to try.”
As the quote says, they couldn’t stay away from each other. The sexual tension and the chemistry was so high with this couple. Tank just couldn’t get enough of Bess. And he was so amazing with her! Bess, on the other hand, still can’t resist Tank, but she has a rule: no dating athletes.
“My no-sex-with-athletes policy is looking a little foolish right about now.”
I really enjoyed this new addition to the series. I had some problems with the first 41% of the story, mostly because I wanted to see or feel a connection between the characters, and I couldn’t find it. Their relationship during that time was purely sex and no talking about anything else, which frustrated me a bit. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy reading these scenes, but I also want to feel that what they have is genuine. Thankfully, this got fixed and some heavy issues were discussed.
“I’d forgotten how this feels, holding someone you love in silence, just because they need it.”
Speaking of heavy issues, my heart was torn! Reading about Tank’s experience with something he had to deal with broke me. I’m so glad that Bess handled it all like a pro! These two couldn’t have been more perfect for each other.
“Bess makes me want to get up and hike back to the top of the mountain.”
I was so happy to see the OG gang back in this installment! We have Leo and Georgia (Rookie Move) and Patrick O’Doul and Ariana (Hard Hitter)! My heart almost leaped out of my chest to see them again, even more so on this one than the previous book.
“My motto is simple. In any situation I just ask myself, what can I get away with? And then I do that.”
Overall, Sure Shot is a quick, entertaining, and steamy read, that also touches on some heavy issues, which will squeeze your heart.
Yay! Another Brooklyn Bruiser. I loved this book and I love any time we get to visit the boys in purple.
There are a lot of reasons why Sarina is one of my all time favorite authors, but number one is the world that she has created. Almost every time I open on of her books, I know I’ll get to check up on some old characters.
What’s even better is that the visits from previous characters just make you want to read her works all over again.
Tank and Bess we a great couple and I’m so excited that Bess got her HEA. Their love story had a decidedly different vibe from the rest of the Bruisers though. Tank and Bess are a more mature couple, and while they still had their moments of avoidance, it was because their topics were heavy- not because of misunderstandings. As a 32 year old romance reader I really connected to Bess’s freak out about turning 30, her HEA felt more real to me than some of the endless swooning Sarina gives us with her younger characters. (Not that I am ever opposed to endless swooning!) I just felt mored connected to Bess; she’s the ultimate girl boss and you can’t help but root for her and Tank was really her perfect match.
What I also really enjoyed about this book is that it gave us a lot of insight into where our Brooklyn boys and girls are now. It almost felt like we were saying goodbye to that cast while getting teased with a future cast of hockey players; but you’ll need to read and find out! I really have no idea if that’s true or not, but it’s the vibe I was getting.
If you love getting folk rock songs stuck in your head, girl bosses, trips to Vermont to visit lumberjacks, and the antics of a hockey team, you have to read Sure Shot.
Sarina Bowen has once again hit it out of the park with Sure Shot. I am always drawn into her books and have a difficult time putting them down to do anything else.
Mark and Bess have some history together and meet again when he is traded to the Brooklyn Bruisers. The chemistry between them is still strong, but both are dealing with big issues in their lives. There are some real and emotional moments, and I came to love both of them as they try to figure out if they can overcome everything to be together.
The storytelling here is fabulous and as I said before, I love Sarina’s writing style. It was so much fun to jump back into the Brooklyn Bruisers world. After finishing this book I wanted to go back and read the entire series through all over again.
Thank you to the author for providing an ARC for an honest review.
5 STARS
Every time I pick up a book in Sarina Bowen’s Brooklyn Bruisers Hockey Series I know I’m going to love it. These characters, their love interests and families are so deep in my heart. These books have so much humor and heart. I devour every single word and Sure Shot was no different. It exceeded all my expectations and more.
It’s been 9 years since Tank and Bess had engaged in a friends with benefits sexual relationship. Bess is a sports agent and Tank has just been traded to Brooklyn from Dallas and are shocked at being thrusted back into each other’s lives. Neither are ready for the other and they have some seriously intense chemistry.
Tank is everything I love about a hockey hero. He is a broody, confident and sexy. He goes after what he wants and I immediately loved the connection between him and Bess. The texts back and forth, their witty banter and the way he shows up for her and doesn’t relent in his pursuit of her I loved. On the team Tank has his work cut out for him. He is not so welcomed on the team and is also going through a divorce.
Bess, I adored. She is the sister of Dave Beringer who we met in Bountiful. Bess has worked hard. She is focused and career driven. She has made it in a man’s world and I loved her feisty, heartfelt, protective side towards her players.
I really loved the emotional side of Sarina’s writing in this book. I didn’t expect it and adored it.
Pick this one up ASAP. You won’t be disappointed.
*ARC received in exchange of an honest review.
Sarina Bowen is like my sports romance fairy godmother. Whenever I’m feeling down, she is there to wave her fictional magic wand and — poof! — I’m transported to a wonderful place where hockey players have soft hearts and and the women who love them share a tight bond. Sure Shot is exactly the sweet escape I needed.
Bess Beringer is a sports agent with a solid reputation and one firm rule: never date athletes. With a successful business well in hand, Bess decides it’s time to pursue a fulfilling personal life. She is on the right path to making her dreams a reality until a blast from her past threatens to derail her plans.
Mark “Tank” Tankiewicz is disillusioned with life. Following a sudden trade to a rival hockey team and an acrimonious divorce, Tank finds himself alone in a new city. An encounter with Bess has him finally feeling something other than anger or apathy. Although he’s a hockey player, he is determined to be the exception to Bess’s rule.
Bess and Tank have explosive chemistry, but it is clear very early on that their attraction is more than just physical. Bess helps Mark shed his grumpy persona and gives him a sense of optimism. Tank shows Bess what it means to be desired and respected. He is 100% #husbandgoals as far as she is concerned, so it’s heartbreaking for her that he isn’t in the market for a long-term relationship.
I was caught up in Tank’s struggles to bond with his new teammates as well as Bess’s efforts to find close girlfriends. I loved their romantic journey and the fact that major conflicts aren’t drawn out or resolved in predictable ways. One resolution seems overly rushed, though, and I would have appreciated lingering on the moment longer. The story, while lighthearted, also touches on the important issues of gender equality and stereotypical masculinity. Sure Shot has the sweet, sexy, and sentimental combination that make it a very refreshing read.
*Sigh* I needed this book. With everything that’s going on, it was nice to be able to reach for a new release from Sarina Bowen in one of my favorite series. Sure Shot was everything I’ve come to expect from the Brooklyn series. This hockey romance had it all: sweet, sexy, funny, a tiny bit of angst. It was contemporary romance perfection.
Bess Beringer is a character whose book I’ve wanted for ages. She’s a tough sports agent who has put her career first until now. I loved how she wanted more balance for a her life and was determined to make the right decisions for herself. It was fun watching Tank derail her plans in the best ways.
Tank was a “bad” guy hockey player who was actually more of a sweetheart. He had some issues to work through. The more I discovered about him, the more I liked him. Tank and Bess were perfect for each other in the best of ways. I even liked their drama.
I don’t want to give away the big problem in this book, but I do want to say that I felt like it was handled really well. There wasn’t a magic fix, but a well talked out one. Communication is key, and I loved that is was actually used in this romance.
Another great thing about this book and series is that there are so many characters from past books that make cameos or are a large part of the story. I loved seeing them all again and how they interacted with Bess and Tank. It was like a big party.
Sure Shot was a fictional coming home. I loved everything about. I hate that I’m done reading it and have to wait for another Bowen book. I’m hoping we get more in this series.
Another great story from Sarina Bowen!
I do love me a good second chance romance and Bess and Mark’s was something special, once they were able to move past Bess’s initial hesitancy. They had such great chemistry, both in and out of the bedroom. I liked how comfortable they were with each other, thanks to their past relationship. I really enjoyed seeing them reconnect and build a strong foundation- even if they might not have realized that’s what they were doing at the time, considering they each had a different end game in mind.
Bess was such a strong character. I loved that she knew what she wanted and had goals set for herself. But you know what they say about best laid plans- a Tank will roll right over them. Okay, that’s really not what they say, but that’s what happened to Bess, when he showed back up in her life. Mark’s going through a rough time when he and Bess cross paths years after their short-lived affair. Traded to a rival team, served with a divorce, anything more than a good time is not on his radar. He may want Bess, but he’s not willing or ready to be all that she needs.
Mark’s story really tugged at my heart strings. There’s a lot more to him than the grumpy hockey player with the bad reputation. I loved how Bess was able to bring out the best in him and show him what real, true love could be like. In the end I really liked how they fought for each other.
Every time I think Sarina Bowen can’t get better, she does. Sure Shot is pure, sexy fun, with enough heart at its center to be swoon-worthy and satisfying. I loved every page of this book!
Sure Shot by Sarina Bowen
Sure Shot is the second chance romance Bess Berringer and Mark ‘Tank’ Tankiewicz didn’t know they needed.
Having just spent the last week off the grid and working on her five-year plan, Bess is stunned to see Mark at a Bruisers get-together especially given that he’s arrived from a rival team and his wife is nowhere to be seen. Bess is no longer the newbie sports agent she was nine years ago and she’s made some huge decisions with both her professional and personal lives.
Mark has just arrived in Brooklyn where he simply does not want to be. His wife has asked for a divorce, his teammates don’t trust him, and he’s living in a hotel. The one thing going for him is that he’s back in contact with Bess Berringer and he’s not willing to let her push him aside.
These two have a lot of issues to work through and a lot of heartache to deal with. I did feel that things sort of started up a bit too quickly at the beginning of their reconnection but having said that, I quite enjoyed the serious turns their relationship took. Overall, this was a welcome addition to the Bruiser family and I loved seeing more from past characters.
*I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.
**Reviewed by Melinda for Joandisalovebooks Blog.
Do you ever feel like everyone around you have their life figure out? if it`s marriage or a family or even at work, somehow you look around and you are the only one who is lost at some way?
Then you decide to make a plan, to change what is bothering you. And you are committed to it.
But the thing about A plan like this , is that you never know what life will bring you.
Bess Beringer had A plan, A really good five year plan, she knew what she wanted and worked hard for it.
Then life got in the way, and Bess found herself facing different choices.
A big, tall, ripped hunk of hockey player who’s just been traded to the Brooklyn Bruisers is not a part of that plan. Mark “Tank” Tankiewicz has a lot of baggage.
what should Bess do? should she risk her five year plan in order to have some fun ? or she will try to keep her distance ?
You should to read to find out.
The thing about Sarina`s books is you never know what life issue you are going to read about.
it`s never just a love story, for me when I read her books I can relate to them. I always find myself wishing I could sit down with the characters and just be best friend with them , because they are that real for me,real life problem, real life hurt.
so yeah I love this book, like most of her book.
and hey !!@! i`m in this book !!!! yey
*4 Stars*
ARC kindly received in exchange for an honest review.
Another great addition to this series. I enjoyed getting to know Bess and Tank, and go along with them on their ride of getting to know each other in the present day.
I wanted to know what had gone wrong in Tanks marriage, and it wasn’t what I expected at all. At least not at the start. Bess is well loved and looked up to by the players and her friends, and I love that she knows what she wants and she strives for things. She works hard and is just a really lovely character.
Lots of fun moments in this, and some more serious ones too. Enjoyed this and look forward to more from this series.