I am not okay.Fifteen months ago, my life was turned upside down when the plane I was piloting went down. Injured and trapped in the wreckage, I had to watch my fiancée die a painfully slow death, which is something that can really mess with your head. Since that day, I’ve had little desire to do much of anything. Except play hockey, that is. Because that is the one place where the bad memories … the bad memories are banished and I can escape my pain.
But off the ice, I’m spiraling out of control. Losing the grip on my life and putting myself and my career in danger. Now, thanks to a string of bad decisions, I’ve been ordered to complete therapy in order to stay on the team.
The problem? Nora Wayne, my beautiful and somewhat unconventional therapist. I can’t buy into the brand of happy clappy crap this woman is feeding me. What could she possibly understand about the type of loss that I’ve suffered? How does she know anything about finding happiness after losing the most important person in your life?
Turns out, I’ve got a lot to learn, and she’s just the person I need to break through those walls I’ve erected.
I am not okay.
But for the first time in a long time, I know that I will be.
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Available now from Sawyer Bennett!
He’s a professional hockey player spiraling following the death of his fiancee
She’s the team-appointed therapist tasked with helping him move forward
A forbidden love
A second chance at happiness
Will Tacker overcome his demons and help lead the Vengeance to victory, or will his personal losses put his career on ice?
Incredible sports romance about loss and finding your way back home.
He’s a professional hockey player spiraling following the death of his fiancee
She’s the team-appointed therapist tasked with helping him move forward
A forbidden love
A second chance at happiness
Will Tacker overcome his demons and help lead the Vengeance to victory, or will his personal losses put his career on ice?
I listened to the audio on Audible. Good narration. Male has a nice gruff voice that fits the character. Female narrator sounds a little robotic at the beginning, but gets better as the story goes on. I enjoyed the listening experience.
Really sweet, slow burn romance. A story of healing. Loved the connection between Tacker and Nora. Both are good people and their personalities fit well together.
Tacker’s fiancée died in a plane crash; he had to watch her die slowly, so that’s a pretty traumatic experience. That happened about 18 months ago. He’s been heartbroken and hasn’t been handling things well; he ends up crashing his car into a wall after drinking, so he needs to see a therapist to stay on his hockey team. Nora is a therapist, who has also had some trauma in her life. She tries to help Tacker come to terms with the loss of his fiancée and his guilt. They begin to grow closer. There’s a bit of a forbidden aspect to the romance; doctor patient scenario, but it’s handled well in this book. Liked how honest Nora is; no games for her. Loved the ranch setting.
A little more conflict might of been good to increase the passion, but overall the story drew me in. This type of scenario; the dead fiancée, isn’t one of my favorite things to read about, but I enjoyed Tacker and Nora’s story. They do have some spice and I loved how heartfelt the story is.
This story broke my heart, gradually putting it back together again like a giant jigsaw puzzle with every emotion from A to Z. Stephen Dexter and Lucy Rivers did a superb job of portraying Tacker and Nora and engaging my heart, as well as my mind
The much awaited and highly anticipated Tacker was an incredibly beautiful, heart-wrenching and slow-burn romance. I devoured this book and loved every page of it.
Tacker Hall was a tortured, broken man who shut down and pushed everything away. From the moment he was introduced in Bishop (Arizona Vengeance #1), my heart broke for him. I longed for him to heal, to forgive himself, to allow himself permission to be happy again. But it almost seemed impossible.
Nora Wayne was a determined and talented therapist with a beautiful soul. Her past and all her pain broke my heart too. What an amazing woman she was for having dealt with so much and yet came out stronger.
Nora was exactly what Tacker needed and much more. These two shared a deep bond built on mutual understanding from experiencing traumatic incidents and trust that fostered hope of a happy future. I loved all the issues that was brought up and how Nora tackled Tacker’s trauma during their therapy sessions. It was gritty and real.
Together they were special and their chemistry was proof of that. I’m so in love with their love. Tacker got his HEA with Nora and I could not be any happier.
If you’ve been following the Arizona Vengeance series then you know Tacker‘s story was one that needed to happen more than anything. We get little glimpses here and there throughout the series, so I was beyond ready to dive in and read about his happy ever after.
From the beginning, we knew the surface story of Tacker and what happened to his fiancee. And I cannot even imagine the pain he has been dealing with. I wholeheartedly loved the support he had constantly surrounding him. And the fact that his team, coach and even the team owner never gave up on him!
I was elated when he finally got his wake-up call to deal with his grief. There are definitely a lot of heartbreaking moments, but I cherished those moments where I was so inspired by his story to move forward.
And that’s where Nora came in. I couldn’t have thought up a more perfect heroine for Tacker, they both understand devastating loss. When we learn what she’s been through, my heart broke all over again for her. She understood Tacker more than anyone.
Their love was a slow burn and I don’t think Sawyer could have done it any other way. We know how deep Tacker’s love was for his fiancee. And he needed to take everything slowly.
Loved this story so much and it was written so perfectly! So happy that Tacker got his happy ever after and I can’t wait to see more glimpses of them in the books to come.
**I RECEIVED A COMPLIMENTARY READER’S COPY FROM THE AUTHOR FOR AN HONEST REVIEW. THIS DOES NOT AFFECT MY OPINION OF THE BOOK OR CONTENT OF MY REVIEW**
Sawyer Bennett
Is it weird that I want to give this book a standing ovation?
It was just…so perfectly done. So beautifully written and so emotionally fulfilling. It was absolutely everything I was hoping for and my heart is overflowing with feels.
Sometimes it happens, when you get to the most anticipated book of a given series, that the story doesn’t live up to the hype. My heart wrapped itself around Tacker over and over again as I encountered him in each of the previous Arizona Vengeance books. I ached for him and rooted for him and could not wait to get my hands on his story.
And for me?
It absolutely lived up to the hype.
I fell hopelessly in love with Tacker’s beautiful, tortured soul. I cried for him as he slowly came back to life. I adored the nature of his relationship with Nora and how it moved slowly as she earned his trust and then stood steadfastly in his corner as he confronted his demons and clawed his way toward her light. And she was a light. Her awe-inspiring strength, and limitless heart won me over immediately. She was perfect for Tacker and the story Ms. Bennett bestowed on them could not have been more satisfying. I loved every minute.
While there is a lot of emotion packed into this book, there are also pockets of lightness and heat (hoo boy *fans self*!). The banter is on point and there were some moments that had my heart swooning like crazy – even outside of the romance itself. The bromance was so rewarding, and so were the moments spent with the larger tribe of Vengeance players and their partners. If this is your first one? You’re in for a real treat. If you’re a loyal reader of this series, you’ll walk away feeling like you’ve been given a little gift with the way this whole thing plays out. At least – that’s how I felt. Like this story was a gift to my heart and now my heart is so so happy.
So good. So satisfying. Seriously, bravo! Standing ovation delivered (even if it is weird)!
Available now from Sawyer Bennett!
He’s a professional hockey player spiraling following the death of his fiancee
She’s the team-appointed therapist tasked with helping him move forward
A forbidden love
A second chance at happiness
Will Tacker overcome his demons and help lead the Vengeance to victory, or will his personal losses put his career on ice?
4.5+ stars
Tacker Hall has recovered physically from the plane crash that killed his fiance only weeks before they were to be wed, but his mental recovery is stalled. After crashing his truck into a cement barrier at the arena, team management has put some requirements in place for Tacker to remain a part of the team. If he doesn’t get help and work through his grief, he is off the team.
Nora Wayne is an equine therapist, using horses to help her clients work through their own issues. She has her own history of pain and anguish and learned the healing value of horses during her own healing process.
These two build a shaky relationship as Tacker learns to trust and let people in again. He has spent so much of the previous 15 months shutting everyone else that he isn’t sure how to be vulnerable, how to share with another person exactly what he is feeling and thinking. Nora is the perfect match for him, challenging him to think further than himself and reflect on what is truly important. But I also spent a good deal of the story worried about how they would be able to really have a relationship with their start as therapist/patient. As Tacker grew attached to her, I couldn’t help but worry about how their working relationship would impact anything personal that was developing.
I’ve been waiting for Tacker’s story since we met him at the beginning of the series. His pain is palpable and his teammates are supportive, allowing him to have his moments as he deals with his grief. But they are also aware he needs help, and we have long seen them all at a loss as to how to help him. The Arizona Vengeance team is really gelling into a family unit, but Tacker’s problems needed outside help. I loved watching as the entire organization rallied with him, trying to find exactly what kind of push he needed to find peace. There is still more to come from this team and I can’t wait to see what’s next!
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
“Two people who weren’t looking for anything, yet found something anyway.”
Tacker…sigh. He’s so broken. I’ve been waiting for him to get his own book, so drawn to him, feeling his pain. And yeah, I kinda wanted to spend some more time with the rest of the Arizona Vengeance family as well.
The only way Tacker can shut out the pain is to shut out everything else as well. Everything except hockey. When he’s on the ice is the only time he’s free, focused on something other than his loss. But, if he doesn’t comply with the team’s directive, he’ll lose that too. They want him to see a therapist. Like he’s not already reliving his worst nightmare every time he closes his eyes, he’s supposed to talk about it too? That’s the last thing he wants to do… but hockey.
Nora is exactly what Tacker needs, he just doesn’t know it yet. Thankfully he’s smart enough to show up rather than risk his career. He has his doubts about her ability to help him. He’s just being compliant without really believing until she shares her own loss with him. He finally realizes that she really does understand and if she can survive and find hope maybe he can too.
I was a hot mess while reading this emotional story. I felt more than I wanted to, hurting right along with Tacker. I can totally understand his need to close himself off in an attempt to stop feeling. But that doesn’t mean I wanted that for him. Nope, I dusted off my magical matchmaking wand (aka my unicorn pen) and waved it over my Kindle in the hopes that those two broken people could heal each other’s hurts.
I met a new character that I’m excited about, anxious to see what kind of woman it will take to cure him of his manwhore ways. And then there’s the team owner, Dominik. Excuse me while I fan myself. When he finally catches up with the woman he’s after I’m gonna need to crank up the A/C to sub-zero. I can’t wait! The line forms here…
4.5 Stars
TACKER!
FINALLY!
We’ve been waiting to hear his story since we first met him in book #1. But he had a lot of grieving and healing left to do. He still has. Which is how he finds himself at an Equine Therapy Ranch! LOL!
The poor guy. He’s been sent there by team owner Dominik. Tacker has to attend two sessions each week and the team wants to see progress – otherwise he’s out of a job!
Nora – the ranch’s owner – has a dark past of her own.
But she is now a über-happy person trying to help others – Tacker has a long way to go until he can forgive himself for what he thinks was his fault … can she help him???
WHAT WiLL HAPPEN TO TACKER & NORA??
WiLL THERE BE A HAPPiLY EVER AFTER?
READ THE BOOK TO FIND OUT!
FINALLY TACKER’S BOOK!!!
Ugh, I feel like we’ve been waiting years for this!
And it was adorable and heartbreaking!
I love that we don’t get millions of back-in-time moments to make us fall in love with MJ. We just get a few little scenes. We need to fall in love with Nora – which we do. She’s so happy and positive and just what Tacker needs.
It takes them a while to get together – she’s his therapist after all!
But we enjoy every moment of their story.
Adorable horse moments, funny hockey player moments. Heartbreaking therapy moments. Sparky moments.
It was a very sweet and cute hockey-horse love story.
I can’t wait to get Wylde and Dominik’s books next!
I didn’t like the parts where they were praying and talking/thinking about faith and god and whatnot – you can grieve without being religious. I just hate religion in my books, but it wasn’t mega bad here – but it was in here so I need to mention it.
Another little thing about the story… I was expecting a tiny bit more. Something a bit more … spectacular? More … epic. We were waiting for Tacker’s story for so long and it was a bit slow and tame. It was totally okay the way it was – he’s not the type for explosive excitement, but a tiny little bit more of .. something would’ve made his story amazing!
TACKER was an sweet & heartbreaking hockey-horse love story!
Run to your nearest amazon for your own Tacker – this one is MINE!!!!!
3
Style: Contemporary Romance (Sports)
Story: 3.5/5
Enjoyment: 3/5
Dark Level: 1/5
Sexual Level: GOOD
Triggers: Yes
Violence:
Male: Lost & Scared
Series: Book 5
Pages: 348
Audio: GuyV: Ok & GirlV: Ok
Kindle Unlimited: No
STORY:
We have seen Tacker’s drama played out a bit through the 4 previous books and had no problem with that. I felt as though I have mixed emotions with Tacker’s story. Rating his emotional journey easily 5/5 stars. I just felt the romance was short and took a while. I do understand that what Tacker was going through, he couldn’t dive in with sex and romance. I just felt that it took too long considering his story was playing out through 4 different books. I love Nora, her background may be a trigger to some. I love her approach with Tacker and their relationship.
CHEMISTRY:
Their chemistry was good together enjoyed it.
SECONDARY CHARACTERS
Loved seeing as usual all the familiar faces from the hockey team and Tacker’s reconnection to his team.
Overall, another likable read. Love the storyline but not the progress of the story.
***I don’t equate these stories to real life. It’s about personal taste and what you would or want to tolerate with the books you read. I know we all have different opinions and preferences with what we read and hope this review was helpful.
Fifteen months ago, my life was turned upside down when the plane I was piloting went down. Injured and trapped in the wreckage, I had to watch my fiancée die a painfully slow death, which is something that can really mess with your head. Like everyone else who has been reading this series I too was waiting for Tacker’s story and wasn’t disappointed, a broken man living with deep regret finds help to mend his broken heart. This was a lovely sweet romance, the story line was iteresting and engaging.
What an incredibly well written book! I loved every page of Tacker. The coming together of two souls that have each suffered extreme tragedy in their lives is an emotional ride I won’t soon forget. The portrayal of a team of hockey players as caring men was a welcome treat. I’m going to go back and read the series from the beginning. Loved it!
Absolutely loved the storyline between Nora and Tacker. A brilliant story well written about the hardships of hurt some people suffer but are not able to express their feelings.
Loved the storyline, the characters and the connection between them all.
This book is in a series, but stands alone. Plot is slightly different from most romance novels, but predictable. Consider it a good read because of author’s ability to weave a story, it’s worth your time, especially if you like sports romance.
Tacker: Arizona Vengence was a great read by Sawyer Bennett. Tacker was involved in a plane crash that he was piloting, fifteen months ago that claimed the life of his fiance. Unfortunately he had to watch her die slowly as he was trapped in the wreckage. He has no desire to do anything except play hockey. Unfortunately a bad decision on his part is threatening his playing. He is ordered to do therapy where he meet Nora, a beautiful therapist who he knows is hiding something dark. I really enjoyed reading Tacker and Nora’s story and can’t wait to read more by Sawyer Bennett. Stephen Dexter and Lucy Rivers did a great job of narrating this book and sucking you into the characters.
Tacker is fighting some seriously deep-seated demons ever since the plane crash that killed his fiancé MJ on their way to her final dress fitting just weeks before the wedding. Tacker blames himself for the crash. After a drinking binge and smashing his truck into a concrete barrier, Tacker is told by team management he needs to quit drinking and take therapy if he wants to stay on the team. Nora has had an extremely painful past which she was rescued and brought to America for a better life. After years of rebuilding her life, she now owns a ranch where she offers horseback riding lessons and therapy. When Tacker is sent to her ranch by Dominik Carlson, the team’s owner, she is not sure she is going to be able to help him but then when she starts to fall for him she has to decide if he is ready and if her therapy licence is worth the risk.
Tacker is the fifth book in the Arizona Vengeance series which can be read as a standalone or as part of the Arizona Vengeance series. This book is told in the dual POV of the hero and heroine. Tacker is a story of heartache, grief, healing and happiness. Tacker and Nora were perfect for each other and I feel truly helped each other heal. I was happy that Tacker was finally able to be the friend and teammate that the Vengeance knew he could be.
This is book 5 in the Arizona Vengeance and I would absolutely read the previous books before reading this one or you won’t understand the backstory of what happened to Tacker or certain events that are spoken about in this book. Tacker is having a harder and harder time dealing with the death of his fiance and after what happened in the previous books, this is his last chance in order to change things around. He has to either stick with the terms laid out for him by the not only the owner of the team but the coach or he will just keep sinking and not even have hockey to distract him. Nora is a therapist who has known her own loss but has come to terms with it. Now she spends her time trying to help others in need in her own unique way. The attraction between them is there from the beginning but can either of them accept what they could be for each other, or will they let what should be the “rules” hold them back along with their own pasts.
I have been extremely impatient for Tackers story since the very first. And I absolutely loved it!! Tacker has so many things to work through-and when you hear the exact story of what happened? It will break your heart! I can’t even imagine what he went through and was still going through. Nora also went through something completely traumatic that I never even expected. But it made her this beautiful soul who finds the beauty in every day things. They are perfect for each other. Not only does Nora show Tacker that it is ok to still live and have a life but they are just on the same wave lengths in general. This story was excellently written! Stephen Dexter was the perfect voice for Tacker for me. His tone of voice and just the emotion he can convey was perfect. I had a little bit of a problem with Lucy Rivers narration though. It just seemed like there was no emotion or depth to it. Her tones were fine-it just seemed to be more of a monotone than anything. All in all though, a very enjoyable listen!