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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Have you read the other books in Arizona Vengeance Series? It isn’t required to have a full, emotional experience with Tacker but if you have, well you might have had some teasers to this guy’s backstory as I did.
Umm to be perfectly honest this author always has me at, “Hockey Romance”. Having said that, my anticipation has been even higher for this story. Boy I was not disappointed either.
Tacker has experience some real heartbreak and he has spiraled out of control, ALMOST ending his hockey career. From page one you can feel this guys pain. Sob!
When Nora is introduced to this story, I had so many questions. You get some basics like she owns a ranch, is a therapist, and uses equine therapy to help others. She takes on Tacker to help him deal with his grief. Yikes, as her childhood is revealed, you have a heart of stone if your eyes don’t at least well up.
What a beautiful story about overcoming trauma, dealing with loss, and learning to live your best life. Oh, it doesn’t hurt that Tacker and Nora spice up the page when they take their relationship to the next level. Yum.
The bonus for me with this read is all the supporting characters from the other book’s mingling in and out of this story. Sigh! So Good!
Happy Reading Everyone!
Oh how I love these Arizona Vegeance men! Tacker’s story has been highly anticipated from the beginning of this series, and Sawyer Bennett delivered a beautiful story of healing, growth and second chance at happiness.
Tacker is dealing with some deep rooted emotional pain from the loss of his fiancee 15 months prior. He is lost, heartbroken, and angry. From the start of his time with the Arizona Vegeance team, he has been pretty disconnected from his teammates and has been mandated by the team owner that he complete therapy in order to continue with the team.
I love that the therapy provided was different than an office setting. Nora is the owner of an Equine Therapy Ranch and has suffered a tramatic past as well. Tacker connects with Nora immediately once he realizes that she has overcome a really painful past too and this gives him hope he can as well.
Nora is just the sweetest. Her outlook on life after suffering the way she has is very inspiring. She is thoughtful, encouraging and supportive of Tacker as he navigates his way through his therapy and recovery.
The few flashes we get into the past we know that Tacker adored his fiancee MJ, and you quicky get to know that Tacker has a huge heart and is really a sweet guy that deserves a second chance at love and happiness.
The romance between Nora and Tacker is a slow burn. Nora knows a relationship with Tacker is forbidden as he is her client and does not want to cross that line. They eventually realize they cannot fight their attraction and give in and when they do, the chemistry is explosive.
Although you absolutely can read this book standalone I recommend reading the other books in the series to fully appreciate the whole story.
Sawyer Bennett writes hockey romance like no other, and I cannot wait for the next book coming in February where we get Dominik and Willow’s story.
4 stars. I received an advanced reader copy in exchange of an honest review.
This is such a highly anticipated release. I have been dying to hear Tacker’s story since he was first introduced in Bishop. So was it worth the wait? Abso-freaking-lutely.
Chapter 12 will gut you. Just be prepared. Have the hankies ready and be in a place where you can ugly cry. But I also found myself seeing Tacker in a whole new light. For someone who was closed off from the world, he is such a very caring and compassionate person. There is one additional scene in the book that got to me and made me tear up a little. You’ll know it when you read it. And I hope you have the same feelings I did.
Now I can’t wait for Dominik. Another highly anticipated release. These hockey players are the BEST.
All through the Vengeance series, you get a little of Tacker in each one and you know he’s had a heartbreaking experience. Finding out Tacker was getting his own story, you now that his special someone really needed to be special to help break down his walls, earn his trust, and help him heal from his worst nightmares. Nora is his special someone and she truly is a patient, loving person who cares about understanding Tacker.
Loved this story! So happy for Tacker and the rest of the Vengeance family! In Tacker’s story, you’ll get an update on the rest of the Vengeance families… weddings, future endeavors, etc.
I received a review copy before release for an honest review.
I am a HUGE fan of the author and I love her hockey series. LOVE!! So when I heard the author was writing Tacker’s story, I was not sure how she could redeem him and well color me impressed because I LOVED this story. So much. Its probably one of my favorites that the author has ever written and it brought some tears to my eyes but also a lot of joy and we get to see what an incredible character Tacker is.
This story takes place after Tacker drunk drives and the team gives him a bunch of requirements to stay on the team. No one really knows how to help him, but team owner, Dominick, really goes to bat for him and he finds Norah to help him.
Norah has a very sad history. She is a refugee from Kosalov and I am not spoiling her story. Now some years past that, she owns a horse ranch where she counsels patients and uses horses in her counseling practice.
In sharing her past she really helps Tacker deal with his pain in a constructive manner and get him to move past the way his life was destroyed and the pain he deals with each day. I loved the relationship and trust and honesty of their relationship and I loved how honest they are with each other in all their feelings and thoughts.
In a way this is a story of how Nora saves Tacker and she absolutely saves him. But also his team saves him as well and we see how strong they are and how much they want to be there for Tacker and make him the strong man he is inside. We see a lot of the players and their women and even their family.
the author did an amazing job in writing the story and in building Tacker and Norah’s characters and reaching in depth who they are and their motivations and feelings. This was a sweet, sexy and romantic story and I truly loved every second of it.
I’ve been so looking forward to Tacker’s story and the author did not disappoint!
“I wonder about things. Like what her skin fels like – silky, I’m sure – and how her kiss would taste – bold and sweet, no doubt.”
Tacker is an absolutely broken man and one desperate action on his part leads him to Nora Wayne. From sneering at her happy aura and attitude to letting his walls down completely with her, Tacker is shocked to find himself wanting more than a therapist-patient relationship with Nora. And, the feeling is mutual.
The author delivered a credible story that was emotional, sensitive, and beautiful. It dealt with survivor’s guilt, grief, pain, anger, and the process of moving on from loss and beginning anew. It’s about discovering new life and love when all seemed dark and lost.
“You’re my truth, Nora. And I’m f*cking dazzled by it.”
Nora Wayne is one stunning woman, inside and out. She seemed to know exactly how to treat Tacker and draw him out. In turn, she found someone new to lean on and share her life with. I loved that once Nora gave him her trust, Tacker was all in and willing to take the painful journey to come out of the darkness and start living again. Gah! This was such a fantastic, life-affirming story!
We see bits and pieces of Tacker throughout the Arizona Vengeance. We know enough about what has caused him so much pain and a specific incident that left us anxiously ready to find out more about Tacker. He has suffered a great loss and isn’t sure how to come up from the rock bottom he has hit. The Vengeance organization refuses to give up on him but there are now ultimatums. Therapy is not something he is ready to explore but he is ready to try anything to finally move forward in life. When Nora shows him what the other side of tragedy can look like, he is hopeful. Nora will walk Tacker through the process of healing and finding normalcy again. She is exactly what Tacker needs as this time and they complement each other in so many ways.
There are plenty of tears and heart melting moments but most of all this is a story that is ready to be told and shared. My heart still aches thinking of Tacker and yet smiles at the same time for who he is becoming.
Tacker can be read as a standalone, but I strongly recommend you read the previous four books because you will be completed invested in these hockey players and their stories. I enjoy that Tacker is told in dual points of view as well. Hockey is not a sport I follow but this author has brought life to it with this family of teammates. The struggles, the support and the unconditional love is evident throughout this perfectly written series.
OMG I knew that once we got Tacker’s story it would be amazing and heartbreaking and it was that and so much more. Between his heartbreak and redemption, we also get to meet the amazing Nora who heals him and most importantly allows him to love again.
If you have read the first 4 books in the Arizona Vengeance you have some insight on Tacker and his history. Lost his fiance in a horrific plane crash one that he blames himself for he has only found solace on the ice. After a series of events, he is given an ultimatum to get help or never play hockey again. It’s with that allows Nora to enter his life. I don’t want to give away any more than that but know that Sawyer Bennett takes the reader on an amazing journey that in some cases lead me to tears. Tacker is worth the effort to find and devour you won’t be disappointed.
I’ve been looking forward to Tacker’s story for quite a while and I was not disappointed. I anticipated that this one was going to be an emotional read and and it certainly was. Tacker just really gets under your skin and his journey was lovely to follow. Nora was simply perfect for him and they had great chemistry. Whilst Tacker’s journey was really emotional, the Arizona Vengeance first line were there to break the tension and bring some real humour to the story. Overall a really enjoyable read. Bring on Dominik’s story which is coming up next!
I was provided with a copy of this book from the Publisher; there was no inducement or obligation and I opted to leave a review.
Tracker was everything I expected and so much more. I knew going into this it would be emotional, and boy, was I right. Sawyer Bennett is a master at giving up a beautifully emotional story that captures your heart, keeps you intrigued, breaking you, then putting you back together again, then you are left with a warm and happy soul. I absolutely loved, adored, and admired every moment of this book.
This book.
If you’re an Arizona Vengeance Hockey Fan, the you’ve been privy to some of Tacker’s emotionless appearances in some of the other Player’s books. We have been patiently waiting to read Tacker’s story to get some insight into his lonely, self-depreciating life outside of the Hockey Rink. And oh; did we get what we asked for…
Tacker is a ticking time bomb, who continues to berate and punish himself for the death of his fiancé, who died two weeks before their wedding. Though it was proven to be an equipment failure, Tacker solely blames himself for her death, as he was the one piloting the plane that led to their accident. He relives the plane crash each & every night in his nightmares. It has gotten so out of control, that on the anniversary of her death, he drives his pickup truck (while drunk) into a cement barrier, right outside of the hockey rink.
The Staff & Owner of the Arizona Vengeance give Tacker an ultimatum. Get counseling, don’t drink ever again & they’ll agree to keep him on the team. Tacker knows that Hockey is all he’s got left in his life, but is not at all thrilled about talking to someone about his “feelings.” He knows he must agree because he can’t live without Hockey in his life too, so he agrees to start seeing a therapist.
From here (after the first psychologist was a bust), we meet Nora. She’s definitely not what you’d consider a normal office-visit-type therapist. She’s got a very unique approach in trying to get people to open up and talk about their problems. Tacker can’t see how this woman could possibly understand anything he’s gone or going through, but that’s the beauty of this story. Assumptions based on looks are very deceiving & given time, some people’s stories can really shock you back into reality.
This book was everything and more. It’s full of emotions that run you through the gamut. I knew that this would be my favorite Arizona Vengeance book & Sawyer Bennett did not disappoint. She certainly knows how to pull you into a story so you’ll never want to let go!!
I have loved all of the Arizona Vengeance books and Tacker has been a broody mystery throughout the series. This book has been one of my most highly anticipated reads of the year and I could not wait to get my hands on it, and let me tell you, it lived up to every last hope and expectation I could have had for it.
Tacker has been living in utter agony, if you can even call it living, for the past fifteen months following the death of his fiance in a plane crash that he was piloting. Since then he has retreated from all facets of life, aside from his time on the ice during games. His relationships with his teammates are nonexistent, and he is forced to choose between getting counseling or leaving the team following an alcohol related driving incident.
While taking the steps to piece back the pieces of his life, he finds peace in unexpected places and in uexpected people. It was truly beautiful reading about the team coming together and having Tacker’s back and working together to bring him out of the darkness, and the team coming together to help out Nora with her ranch. I really enjoyed Nora as the other main character of the story. She was exactly what Tacker needed. And the scene with MJ’s parents….ALL the tears….utter perfection!!!
I have loved every book in this series but Sawyer Bennett did an amazing job with Tacker’s story. I felt all the emotions through each page as Tacker tried to find the light and absolve himself of all his guilt and feel worthy again of happiness and love and peace. A definite must read!!!!
Tacker Hall has been on my mind since the first installment in this series introduced him to us, a man weighed down by grief over the death of his fiancée in a plane crash. His grief was compounded by the fact that he was piloting the plane and had to watch helplessly while she died when help was slow to arrive. Everything came to a head recently though with him deliberately driving his vehicle into a cement barrier while drunk. The fallout from that event is what drives this tale and filled my emotional cup to overflowing as a therapist with her own painful past helps him find peace while giving him a reason to start over.
From the start Tacker’s a truly likable character whose grief is palpable, as he hurt so did I. It’s clear that he’s not coping well though, separating himself from his best friend and teammates to wrap himself up in a blanket of guilt and sadness. The ultimatum from management to stay with the team may seem cruel at first but it’s just what he needs to get him to embrace life and love again. Tacker’s quiet when we first meet him, rarely cracking a smile, on edge and ready to blow. Management forcing him into therapy forces him to start talking about things and gets him to stop hating himself for surviving. When it came to therapy though it took an unconventional woman to break down his barriers and doing so had them making a surprising connection that warmed my heart. Therapy had him bonding with Nora as friends first, had him reaching out to her to help make things easier on her ranch. Attraction snuck up on him and had him doing and saying sweet things before turning up the heat in their slow burn romance that put a smile on my face.
Nora Wayne’s had her own painful past as a young girl caught up in the war in Kosovo, watching her family be murdered and her sister raped, with her finally escaping when a caring woman adopts her and brings her back to America. Years of therapy have turned her into someone that’s inspiring. Instead of rage she’s a breath of fresh air, always looking on the bright side while pushing Tacker to do the same. Her methods may seem hippy-dippy but the results had me cheering. Nora’s a kindhearted character, always worrying about others first, and it took her gentle hand and bright personality to bring Tacker out of his dark feelings. I liked her and she fit in beautifully with the player’s significant others courtesy of her down to earth nature. I especially enjoyed her interactions with her ranch’s long-term employee, Raul. He was a friend and a father to her and seemed to be the only one in her life until Tacker and his teammates came into the picture. The attraction between her and Tacker was slow to develop but very worth the wait as it was a powerful connection that grabbed my heart and didn’t let go.
From the first page to the last this was a straightforward story of overcoming the past to make a fresh start. There was virtually no angst to get in the way of Nora and Tacker making a connection and from me rooting for them every step of the way. It was a relationship both sweet and sexy and it had my emotions running the gamut. At times though I felt things were almost moving too slowly which made the earlier part of this story a bit draggy. Surrounding this unforgettable couple were the men and women of the Arizona Vengeance, a group who have come to feel like family. They’re supportive of Tacker from the start but unafraid in calling him out on his behavior that’s been detrimental to the team. I enjoyed getting updates on past couples, particularly Blue and Erik with her disabled brother, as well as Dominik’s attraction to Dax’s sister which will likely take center stage in the next installment. I also found myself drawn to Tacker’s best friend, Aaron, his new teammate who’s popular with the ladies but who showed a kinder side when learning about Nora’s past. On a whole this was another winner from Ms. Bennett and it has me counting down the days until we rejoin the Vengeance on the ice and off!
4.5 STARS!
I loved this emotional, heartwarming story from Sawyer Bennett. Following Tacker through his journey of rediscovery was an absolutely pleasure.
Sawyer Bennett pulled all the stops writing this beautiful, emotional story.
This book is the story of a man who went through something that completely changed his life, a man that suffered a loss that affected who he was to his core. Tacker lived with a self imposed guilt, self destroying and going through life surviving instead of living. That is, until an incident changed the path he was walking and he’s giving the choice to get help or lose what he worked so hard for, his hockey career. Enter Nora, a therapist who uses unconventional ways to help her clients. At first sight Nora looks like a happy go lucky woman, but as you get to know her you see a woman with a tragic past who chose to live life to the fullest and help people like her who have been through tragic events in life.
Little by little Nora helps Tacker to understand that life sometimes happens and is no ones fault, just events that we have to go through to grow, to learn. Nora helps him to start feeling joy again, to live life to the fullest, all this while reviving her own personal story and letting the last of her demons come to the surface while healing her soul.
This story is simply beautiful, touching, heartbreaking, soul soothing. Bennett addresses some heavy subjects in this book, but the way the story is written gives the reader understanding of each and every one of them and to feel empathy for those who suffered similar losses.
Tacker will make you cry, will make you laugh, but most of all it will teach you that there’s always light at the end of a dark tunnel and that sometimes it’s ok to relay on others to help you alleviate the pain inside.
If you have been reading the Arizona Vengeance, you know that Tacker has some emotional issues due to how his fiancé died. I was so looking forward to this book, and it did not disappoint me. It always amazes me the gift that Ms. Bennet has in telling a story. The emotions she can bring out in me is such a sign of a good writer. This book has anger, forgiveness, camaraderie and love. I was so glad the team and owner did not give up on Tacker. (They have the best owner in the league that stands behind his players.) I was so glad to see the owner force Tacker into getting help from a professional. Nora is so different from other psychologists in a good way. It is amazing the ways she has of getting Tacker to open up without him realizing he is talking sometimes. I know it helped that Nora had gone through some horrible experiences that Tacker could connect with her. I loved Raul Nora’s ranch hand and pseudo father. I loved how the team, especially his first line and their significant others stood by Tacker and wanted to help as much as they could. There was definitely some laughter with the women of his teammates. This is a very heart touching book that I strongly encourage you to read. I was given a copy of the book and voluntarily wrote a review.
Tacker Hall has been living in his own personal hell for the last 15 months ever since he lost his fiance, MJ, in a plane crash that he was piloting. Tacker has been stuck in the past, refusing to move forward. After purposely crashing his truck into a wall after he had been drinking because it was MJ’s birthday, the team orders Tacker to seek counseling and deal with his issues if he still wants to keep playing hockey. Tacker decides hockey is the only thing that brings him any comfort and decides to try counseling.
Tacker finds himself at Sherim Ranch meeting with Nora Wayne, the owner and therapist who may just be able to help him with her unconventional ways. Slowly over time, Nora is able to get through to Tacker and for the first time in 15 months he actually starts to feel hope. He also is starting to feel something more towards Nora than just a professional relationship and that scares him. As Nora and Tacker spend more time together, they start to realize that they have a lot in common and that they share a bond from things that they both have gone through in their pasts. This bond has both Tacker and Nora realizing that maybe they were meant to find each other so they both can finally heal.
Wow…this one was an emotional one. Just reliving both of their pasts is gutting, but then you get to watch these two very broken people find something that neither of them thought they’d ever have again…..complete happiness. Nora’s approach to the past comes with a positive attitude way of processing things and that was hard for Tacker to handle at first. Our big, tough, alpha man doesn’t agree with all that happy stuff but slowly Nora does break through to him and together they find a perfect happy ending. I really enjoyed the additional story involving the ranch and it was fun seeing all of the hockey team together. I also can’t wait for Dominik’s story! Dax’s sister is going down hard because he is a determined man!!!! LOL
An engaging and entertaining story
Book 5 in the Arizona Vengeance series, while you could read this as a standalone, there are several very sweet moments with characters from the previous books, plus there are teases in those books helping to set up Tacker’s story, so to have the full background and richest experience, I’d suggest reading the series in order.
Sucker that I am for damaged characters, I (and, I suspect, a lot of other readers) have been waiting for Tacker’s story since meeting him in the first Arizona Vengeance book. I loved finally getting his side of things, and the full story behind the airplane crash that killed his fiancée. I also loved that he was an adult and took responsibility when needed—and also sometimes when it wasn’t; my heart hurt for him, for what he went through, and for his survivor’s guilt.
As for Nora, I enjoyed the setup of using horses for therapy, plus she has her own background of pain and grief, giving her a lot in common with Tacker. I liked that she was tough when she needed to be—I literally laughed out loud when she handed a shovel to Tacker early on. The author did a great job handling the therapist/client issue; Nora and Tacker both dealt with it in an adult, believable way without that artificial drama that makes me roll my eyes at some books.
There are plenty of great secondary characters around, too. Besides the chance to catch up with all the team members and their ladies, I’ve been intrigued from the start by owner Dominik. Here, I loved how supportive he was of Tacker, and laughed at the subplot with Dax’s sister. I also loved new team member (and Tacker’s best friend) Aaron, and Nora’s ranch manager Raul (his tiny sub plot with MaryBeth was funny and cute).
An engaging and entertaining story about two people moving on from their pain. I’m looking forward to reading Dominick’s book, and maybe Aaron and Rafe will each get one, too? 5 stars
B2B Kelly
I’m always surprised and delighted by the details that SB puts into her stories: Tacker’s slow immersion into healing is as interesting and complex as he is and Nora is nothing like I expected her to be—in the best sense. Still waters run deep, and Nora connects with everything Tacker has experienced (the pain of losing his fiancé) on a very personal level.
Tacker is everything I’ve been waiting for and more! So much more! His story, as well as his struggle to get out of the fog of trauma, was definitely worth the wait.
I am sorry that I can’t give more than 5 stars!!!! Tacker’s story will show you the turmoil and sadness surrounding him after the loss of his future wife in a plane crash he is feeling responsible for. This picks up where we were left off and the team management will throw the gambit and force Tacker into mandatory therapy, a stiff fine and no alcohol. After considering his options, Tacker will try to get better. Dominick sends him to a ranch where the therapy is a little unorthodox but works. The therapist Nora treats her patients with some regular therapy as well as equine therapy. Tacker will slowly start to heal and his survivor guilt starts fading until he is happy. The story will take you through his journey of healing and opening himself to happiness and love. A beautiful story of hope and love. I volunteered to review this story. I can’t wait to read Dominick and Willows story next!