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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I have been eagerly waiting for this story since Tacker first showed up in Bishop’s book. Sometimes when a book is this anticipated it can almost not meet your expectations but Sawyer knocked it out of the park. I loved every minute of this book! I was scared that I was going to be super emotional through out the book but there were only a few parts that really got to me. I would recommend this book to everyone but even though it is a standalone, I would start at the beginning since you learn so much about Tacker’s journey along the way.
Tacker has taken the top spot for the best story in the Arizona Vengence series! When you find a story that you do not want to put down, you know it’s gonna be good and this one is definitely all that and more.
Sawyer Bennett has taken us on a ride of healing, love and hope as you experience a rollercoaster of emotions that will bring you to tears and then have you smile.
Tacker has been living with so much guilt and self blame and now Nora his therapist is showing him how to deal with and face his demons. She has him opening up and finding himself again but what neither of them see coming is a bond, friendship, chemistry and so much more.
I have had wonderful experience of listening to the audible version of this story and the narration only added to the beauty and emotions that this story holds.
This was one of my most anticipated books of 2019. Since the first time we met Tacker I knew his story would be an emotional one. Sawyer Bennett wrote an exceptional story of loss and hope with lots of emotion and heart. If I thought Tacker’s story was going to be heartbreaking it had nothing on Nora’s story. Both were just as excruciating to hear. To say these two needed each other was an understatement. They were meant to find each other at just the right moment to heal each other.
Stephen Dexter was perfect for Tacker. His voice was smooth and had me feeling every emotion Tacker had. Lucy Rivers was amazing and as she spoke of Nora’s tragic past I could feel it as my heart broke for such an innocent Nora.
As always I loved seeing the other Vengence players as they interacted with Tacker and Nora and even seeing some on ice action. This book gave me all the feels and Sawyer couldn’t have done Tacker’s story any better. I look forward to more in the series.
Arizona Vengeance center Tacker Hall’s life has been spiraling for the last fifteen months—since the plane he was piloting went down and he got stuck in the rubble leaving him no choice but to helplessly watch his fiancée die a slow, painful death.
A series of bad decisions led him to getting an ultimatum from team management—go to counselling or he’s off the team.
Therapist Nora Wayne is no stranger to the pain of losing loved ones. She and Tacker grow closer as she helps him heal and make peace with his past, but how close is too close?
Tacker’s story has been built up from the very beginning of the series (though I’ve only listened to books 1 and 2 so far) and I was expecting to be gutted by what he went through, but the story has the perfect balance of hope and despair. I also like how the ethical issue of counselor-client relationship was handled.
The narrators complemented each other well. Stephen Dexter was excellent as Tacker. There were instances where Lucy Rivers sounded robotic, but she also did a great job for the most part.
Tacker is a slow-burn, contemporary sports romance written and narrated in dual first person POV. It’s a standalone that ends with a HEA. No cliffhanger, no cheating.
I received this audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this unbiased review.
This is the fifth book in the Arizona Vengeance Series, a Sports Romance. This Series is amazing. Tacker and Nora’s story is emotional and beautiful. I have loved Tacker since the first time I heard about him, so I was happy to have his story. His past is heartbreaking. They are both great character. Nora is a lovely character, caring and loving. Tacker is a handsome, but broken character. The secondary characters are great. I like these Series with characters intertwined. Stephen Dexter and Lucy Rivers did an amazing job with the narration. They are both a great choice as Tacker and Nora. I enjoyed listening to this beautifully written story, and I highly recommend it.
I love a great hockey player story. This was my first book in the Vengeance series and I did not feel as if I missed anything. Tacker is definitely a heart wrenching story with all the feels and an HEA. I cannot even imagine the grief and guilt Tacker felt about the death of his fiance, but with Sawyer Bennett’s writing, I felt every emotion, every struggle and every victory. Tacker has trouble dealing with his loss and numbs it rather than facing it. But he finds out, that is just destroying everything else in his life. As in real hockey families/teams, they do everything they can for their teammates. I loved the support Tacker had through every step of his recovery and even his misery. The team gave the book a real life feeling. Be prepared for an emotional rollercoaster. I was not expecting such intense feelings when I started this book. I loved every page and turn that got Tacker closet to healing.
Stephen Dexter and Lucy Rivers are a great team for this book. Stephen has the rough and tough voice that a hockey player needs. But when it came to Tacker’s emotions and struggles, Stephen narrated them flawlessly, bring Tacker to life. Lucy Rivers is a wonderful Nora. Nora is kind and caring by nature and profession. But she has a strength that Lucy Rivers brought out. I enjoyed this narration and look forward to more from this team.
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~~ 4 #TEAMTACKER STARS! ~~
I have honestly fallen in love with each and every player in the Arizona Vengeance series, but one character in particular has always had a special place in my heart. TACKER. Anticipation for this woefully tortured soul’s story has been building from book one, and I am happy to report that Sawyer Bennett scored a winning goal with this long-awaited AV book!
THE PREMISE:
Fifteen months earlier, Tacker Hall’s life imploded when his beloved fiancé, MJ, perished in a plane crash. And since he was the one piloting the aircraft, the paralyzing grief, crushing guilt and terrifying nightmares have been eating him alive. The only place where he feels good is on the ice but he’s even in jeopardy of losing his spot on the Arizona Vengeance team after his destructive actions landed him in a heap of trouble. Now he has been given an ultimatum: Seek therapy and get his head back in the game or be kicked off the team forever. So, what’s this moody, broody, star NHL player to do? Grudgingly comply of course! But Tacker had no clue that his exotically beautiful therapist, Nora Wayne, a kind, compassionate woman who’d also suffered unbearable losses, was about to not only help banish his demons but give him a new lease on life! Can these two kindred spirits unshackle the burdens of their past, fit their shattered pieces together and forge a beautiful future together?
MY MUSINGS:
Wowza…THACKER slayed my heart and healed my soul! Sawyer Bennett hit us hard on the feels with this book. It made me smile and swoon and cry and gave me a whole new appreciation of the true meaning of love and surviving unfathomable loss.
I love a book that pairs a H&h that just CLICK instantly, and that’s what we got with Nora and Tacker. Plus since Nora is his therapist, their union has a forbidden love twist which makes it even more tantalizing!
When the book opens, our angry, bereft NHL player is still reeling from his downward spiral and truly has little hope of ever recovering from the crushing weight of guilt and recrimination that have swallowed him whole. And while Tacker knows he cannot continue on this self-destructive path, to say he’s pessimistic about the mandatory grief counseling working is putting it mildly. But then he makes the trek down to the Shërim Ranch and comes face to face with his pretty therapist, Nora Wayne, who runs and operates the ranch and uses some rather UNCONVENTIONAL treatment methods to help her patients heal and recover.
Sighhh…if you thought you adored Tacker before, you ain’t seen NOTHING yet because as his hard outer layers are peeled away you will fall head over heels for this sexy, caring, noble hearted wounded soul who, as it turns out, is NOT broken beyond repair! He originally enters therapy because he does not want to let his teammates down and forfeit his hockey career but along the way through his journey of self-discovery he realizes that hitting rock bottom and seeking help rather than wallowing in his suffocating pain and staying closed off from the world was just the wakeup call he needed to begin to BREATHE again. While at first he is not overly receptive to this “hippie horsewoman’s” psycho-babble, once he finally allows her to help him, he eventually regains his footing and begins to feel TRUE JOY again!
Nora too is the sole survivor of an unspeakable tragedy that gutted me but her kindness, compassion, resilience, her shining spirit and her beautiful inner light were remarkable! Not only did she use the restorative powers of equine therapy and her own counseling education and experience to help reach all kinds of lost souls in ways traditional counseling could not, but I found it particularly inspiring how she was able to channel the pain she felt in her own life to make a positive mark in the world!
Via Tacker’s sessions with Nora, we gain even more insight into the chain of events that transpired that fateful night where his whole world crashed and burned, so brace yourself for some major turmoil! But against all odds, Nora manages to help break down his walls of self-inflicted torment…and gives him the strength he needs to push past his fears.
From start to finish, this sweet, slow burning, powerfully poignant romance is beautifully crafted and wonderfully paced. Due to their circumstances, jumping into the sack would not make sense for Nora and Tacker, and I think that Ms. Bennett’s vision for these endearing, immensely empathetic characters and their evolving love story was spot on! And as their professional relationship slowly morphs into friendship and then over time evolves into a soul burning love, the deepening connection between this duo was a joy to behold. I was fully engaged and completely invested throughout as they slowly but surely found sweet solace together. And while it takes a while for these two to steam up the sheets, when their passion finally ignites, its “absolutely f*king perfect”!
Since they had so much trauma in their pasts to overcome, the lack of romantic angst, OTT drama and discord between this duo I think also made organic sense. And rest assured that despite the heavy circumstances that brought Nora and Tacker together, this book is NOT maudlin. It’s emotionally raw, hard-hitting, and yes, incredibly heartbreaking at times, but it’s also uplifting, cathartic, highly entertaining, deliciously sensual, and has many moments of lighthearted humor, pure joy and panty melting hotness! And when all was said and done, it resonated DEEPLY.
It also goes without saying that Tacker’s close-knit comrades—the AV players —were there every step of the way to support their wounded teammate through thick and thin. Plus, it’s always so gratifying to get updates on all the couples that have been featured throughout the series. And the interaction with Blue’s disabled brother, Billy, and Raul—Nora’s tough, tender-hearted ranch manager/father figure–were personal highlights for me!!
Ultimately, Tacker’s road to HEA has been a long time coming and I honestly could not have been more satisfied with the way this story played out!
BOTTOM LINE:
TACKER scored bigtime! This swoony, sexy and searingly emotional novel about hope and healing, overcoming unspeakable loss to embrace a second chance at a beautiful new future, is NOT TO BE MISSED. Cannot wait for book 6!
Tacker….I’m sure ALL of us have been waiting for his book! I really liked it. Tacker finally finding his way through his guilt and Nora helping him out. I can’t wait for the next one.
Stephen and Lucy did a great job even with the accents!
I received this book at my request and have voluntarily left this unbiased review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Tacker
An Arizona Vengeance Novel
By: Sawyer Bennett
Narrated by: Stephen Dexter, Lucy Rivers
Give me a book with substance and I am hooked. Sawyer Bennett has come through with the highly anticipated story of Tacker keeping our emotions high and our hearts in tact. After a horrible tragedy, Tacker is on a downward spiral. Depressed and uncaring, he gets himself into a predicament, but is given the chance to go to a therapist chosen by the Vengeance team owner. Now meeting his therapist, Nora, on her horse farm leaves him with doubts of her ability to help him. But her unconventional methods, their immediate connection and chemistry has him quickly thinking differently. Nora is quite a woman. She has a past that most would never overcome, and her ease with Tacker only goes to aiding in her fighting her own demons. With cameos of the other players, the relationship she has with her ranch foreman and this emotional story of healing and hope, we find ourselves feeling a little of everything. Tears and grief slowly become a shining beacon and help us all through Tacker’s story and fall in love with this wonderful couple.
Tacker needs someone who can portray his grief and a better choice of Stephen Dexter to narrate him could not have been made. He has a rawness too his portrayal that lets us feel all of Tacker’s emotions as we go through his story. Nora is a little tougher, so giving Lucy Rivers the chance to do this performance is perfect. Lucy has a little edge, very confident and always is able to give that slightly vulnerable feel to her characters. She is the best choice for Nora! These two compliment each other well and really bring the emotions to the table for us.
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I had hoped to read the first four books in the Arizona Vengeance series before picking up Tacker, but unfortunately I ran out of time. As a member of Sawyer Bennett’s audio review team, I had to read and review Tacker as soon as it came out.
However, I was able read Bishop, Erik, and Legend (books 1-3) prior to reading Tacker and in the first three books in the series, Tacker is a recurring secondary character who we got to learn quite a bit about. About a year prior to the Arizona Vengeance becoming an expansion team, Tacker was in plane crash (a plane he was piloting) and lost his fiancee, MJ. Since the accident, he’s isolated himself from his teammates and because of his guilt and grief, he’s just sort of stopped living life. The only thing that keeps him going is hockey, but after purposefully driving his truck into a concrete wall after getting drunk the night of MJ’s birthday, the team management issued an ultimatum: during his suspension he must seek therapy or he’s out of the team. So, Tacker reluctantly started working with psychologist Nora Wayne, who he soon finds out also suffered a great loss. Nora opening up to Tacker about her past really helped him also open up and start facing his demons.
Prior to picking up Tacker, I was worried about how the romance was going to play out because from what we’ve learned about Tacker in the previous books, he was deeply tortured about the accident and losing his fiancee. How is a new woman going to plausibly come into the picture and he falls in love with her? But, I knew that Sawyer Bennett will deliver on the romance and she absolutely did! And, of course, we got some signature Sawyer Bennett smexy times too, but Tacker is more serious and emotional than the previous books in the series.
I felt so bad for Tacker, and I knew it’s going to take a special woman to help him heal, and Nora was just that woman. The way their relationship blossomed from friendship to something more was beautiful. Despite the short amount of time, their romance worked because the two of them communicated so well with each other. And there was a foundation of mutual respect and trust and genuine friendship between them right from the beginning. I guess my only issue was that the “I love yous” came a little too soon. Tacker and Nora were definitely on their way there, but I think they just needed a little bit more time.
Like the other Arizona Vengeance books, I listened to Tacker on audiobook and it was great! I like Stephen Dexter for Tacker, and I thought he did a good job capturing Tacker’s tortured voice. Lucy Rivers did the narration for Nora’s chapters, and there were a few instances when the intonation of her voice sounded kind of robotic and took me out of the story, for the most part she also did a great job.
If you’re looking for a steamy, sexy hockey romance series to read, the Arizona Vengeance series is fantastic! However, all the books can be read as a standalone so you can jump in with any of the books. I do highly recommend listening to the audios for the Arizona Vengeance series–it’s how I’m reading the series and the narrator’s performances really add to the story and characters.
I love Tackers story. I was waiting to see what his story was and if he would be able to be happy again. I love this series and seeing all the different players and their family interacting. I love the team dynamic and how they all get along. Sawyer Bennett did not disappoint in this story. One of my favorite scenes where Tacker meeting with MJ’s parents. I cannot wait for Dominicks story.
Tacker’s fiancée died in the plane that he piloted. He started down the road of self destruction until he was given an ultimatum to clean up his act. That’s when he met Nora, his therapist. Tacker and Nora both learned from each other on healing.
The story was the most emotional of this series. Since Tacker’s situation was first mentioned early on in this series, I couldn’t wait for his story, it was well worth the wait. Excellent story.
Review copy was received for a honest opinion.
Healing can happen with love. WOW this is such a great story. Very emotional at times with lots of tragedy that both Tacker and Nora have to deal with. Tacker is a star hockey player and his life was on a fast track to having it all when suddenly tragedy hits and his world is turned upside down. Tacker has so much guilt that he won’t allow himself to be happy or move forward. That is until the owner of the team he plays for, Arizona Vengeance, forces him into therapy. When he meets Nora he finally learns to let go of his guilt and sees it is ok to be happy again.
Nora is an amazing woman and has overcome so much in her life. She shouldn’t have feelings for her patient, Tacker, but she does. When he is finally progressing in the right direction she is determined to keep things professional, that is until he changes the rules.
Stephen Dexter and Lucy Rivers do an amazing job telling this emotional story. Loved listening to them.
I loved this audiobook and highly recommend it.
This is a highly emotional story! We have been getting glimpses of Tacker and his heartache through the series. Now it’s his turn and boy does he bring the water works. The guilt is enormous! When he meets Nora I thought what can she do. But she did what needed to be done and the changes are amazing! I almost don’t recognize this man from the one we have known. He even crashes a woman’s party and helps them bake cookies. It was hilarious! But he did it so well!
I loved catching up with all the other boys and their women. Plus we get to see more of Dominic and listen to him whine and complain….wait what?! Dominic doesn’t do that right?! Right?! Well I guess you’ll have to listen or read to find out.
I listened to this on audio. Stephen Dexter and Lucy Rivers Did a wonderful job! I mean they played the two main characters perfectly.
FINALLY GETTING TACKER’S STORY AND WE AREN’T READY! After getting bits and pieces of the surface story for Tacker in the previous books in this series, I was so crazy happy to finally get his story but was not ready for the range of emotions it brought! After his life is turned upside down and he gives up the willingness to live after the death of his fiancé, Tacker is finally given an ultimatum from the team’s owner and decides to take it since hockey is all he has left. Through that ultimatum, he meets Nora, a therapist that focuses on unique therapy approaches versus a standard one. As Tacker starts to tackle the feelings and the accident with Nora, he starts to actually have a break through, but at the same time starts to have a connection with Nora. But Tacker’s guilt of moving on holds him back and threatens the progress he’s made. These two are perfect for each other, with both of them going through very traumatic experiences and also living with survivor’s guilt. While Nora was way ahead on the progress and handling of her grief, I loved how she was able to understand exactly what Tacker needed to help with his. Per usual, I love Sawyer’s books and can’t get enough of them and the storylines that she provides. I can’t wait for the next book in this series!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
I have been waiting for this book ever since meeting Tacker. It’s been 15 months since he was in the plane crash that killed his fiancée. He’s been having trouble overcoming his guilt and grieving in his own way. After the events in Dax, Tacker is forced to finally go to therapy so he can stay on his team. After the disaster of seeing his first therapist, Dominic gives Tacker the information of an alternative kind of therapist, Nora. With Nora, he finds he can connect to her and really start to heal. She has her own tragic history in which she also had to learn to grieve and move on. Of course he also ends up falling for her as well. I liked this book. I loved watching him fight his guilt over the accident and coming to terms with his grief. This book is about learning to live with a death of a loved one and being okay with moving on and enjoying life. I’m looking forward to reading the next book in this series.
The latest Arizona Vengeance hockey book was the journey of heartbreak and redemption, fear and guilt, and the love that brings it all around. Tacker was such a sorrowful character, sad, depressed and overwhelmed with guilt. Nora starts as his therapist, but this relationship bloomed with the trust that these two characters were able to give each other. It was sweet and romantic. Loved visiting all the Arizona Vengeance team members and significant others. Although this book is definitely a standalone, I think the overall book is enhanced when read with the rest of the teams’ stories.
Heart-hitting romance…
I have been waiting impatiently (I admit it) for Tacker’s story since he was introduced to the Vengeance hockey family. The short glimpses of him painted a picture of a man in pain, lost in grief…
Tacker had pulled away from everyone and everything. He had to face his loss, his past, or his future was very much in jeopardy. Hearing his voice, feeling his pain, meant I felt everything right along with him as he worked hard to get it together. Nora came into his life at precisely the right moment….
And Nora? Well, she was the right words, the healing touch, he needed to put it all in perspective. It was okay to hurt and still live… And Tacker, well, he was everything she didn’t realize she was missing…
This one-sitting read had me glued to the pages, smiling, misty and even laughing as Tacker and Nora reminded me that life was full of pain but also sweet love and hope… So, so good!
*Reviewed for 1-Click Addict Support Group
I absolutely loved this poignant story of healing, hope, and love. After watching Tackers’ downward spiral throughout this series, I could not wait for his story, and it did not disappoint! After suffering from a horrible and gut-wrenching tragedy, hockey is all that Tacker has left that makes him feel alive, and he is about to lose that if he doesn’t get professional help immediately. He is sent to a horse ranch to meet his new therapist, Nora. At first he is skeptical about her unusual approach to his treatment. But he soon realizes that Nora knows more about pain and loss than anyone should. They connect intrinsically, and he starts to feel like his life has purpose again. Nora is so strong, perceptive and loving, but she also has her own demons. Tacker fights through the guilt he was suffocating under to appreciate his second chance at life and love. He now must convince Nora, that they were always meant for each other. This was a raw and heartbreaking story that took my breath away. I loved Tacker and Nora together, as they helped each other find true healing, love and family. I loved all of their family and friends who supported them unconditionally and helped to bring fun back into their lives. This is a great series with a group of swoony hockey players who are essential in each others lives. I love how each story gives us a new perspective on events from past books while pulling us in deeper to this intriguing team and the women who challenge and love them. The team owner, Dominik, demonstrates how much he cares for his team, and I am so intrigued by him. I can’t wait for his story next!
Stephen Dexter, and Lucy Rivers narration was completely breathtaking! They really embodied both Tacker and Nora with such raw emotion and passion and then able to switch to light and fun moments so effortlessly. I loved this story so much and they made it even more amazing!
Why the over of a very sexy dude ? Has nothing to do with the book other than asa come on .