He’s a professional hockey player that lives on the edge. I prefer to play life by the rules. I’m the personal assistant at a sports agency that no one notices. Unless they need coffee.I don’t like sports and I like professional athletes even less. I’m indifferent to the mostly male clientele, except for one.Mica “the savage” Petrov. When it comes to wild antics, Mica is the biggest offender of … antics, Mica is the biggest offender of them all.
He’s reckless, wild and carelessly charming.
I’m mortified that I find him attractive.
But it doesn’t matter because the guy hasn’t taken a second look at me.
Not once. In two years.
Mica’s career jeopardizing situation requires drastic measures to be taken to keep him in the game.
He’s got money, I’ve got debt and my boss has a crazy idea.
Which is how I found myself stepping up to save him from himself.
But at what cost?
How long can I keep fighting my attraction?
What ghosts from his past is he brawling with?
All I know is that I need to defend my heart before this big defenseman steals it away.
Can we win this game? Or is it too late for either of us?
The Penalty Box: Fighting Love Has Consequences
Read all the Vancouver Wolves Hockey romances:
1. Puck Me Secretly
2. Home Game
3. The Penalty Box
Read all the Guilty Series Navy SEAL romances:
1. My Fiancé’s Brother: Book 1
2. My Fiancé’s Brother: Book 2
3. My Fake Fiancé: Book 3, standalone
4. My Donut Princess: free novella
more
Odette Stone out does herself again with The Penalty Box, book three in her Vancouver Wolves series!
As heroes go Mica was deliciously bad. Full of abundant charm it was hard not to initially be taken in by Mica, but what kept his allure going was Ms. Stone’s adroit incremental exposure of the man behind the high profile escapades. This character had lots of depth and integrity that never let up allowing those willing to look to see both his value and his potential. Charlie’s strength was her core goodness. Yes she was able to face her obstacles like a boss, even when it seemed like they would never let up, but it was her ability to believably not succumb to defeat and become cynical that made her a really well written heroine. Sometime it takes a while to see the connection between a hero and heroine but that was not the case with Mica and Charlie, their relationship had many layers that went beyond the physical from the start. When this couple had their attraction breakthrough the sexual tension that was set off from that point on was excruciating, exciting and full of powerful feelings that could be felt vicariously.
Support characters such as Krista, Ryan, Zoey and Mica’s mother punctuated this work with a mix of fun and touching moments. This author used her secondary characters fantastically. Ms. Stone’s inclusion of an intriguing subplot gave added appeal.
Odette Stone is the kind of writer where you pick up one of her books and disappear into the pages. Engaging, she instinctively knows what her characters need to say and what her audience wants to read. This writer has a natural flow to her work that shows in how effortlessly she appears to relate her stories. Don’t miss out on The Penalty Box, it is everything you could ask for in a good story!
*I was given an advanced copy. All opinions expressed are my own.*
*This book can be read as a standalone.*
I absolutely loved this book and need more. I am not usually a fan of the fake marriage story line but this one caught me hook, line and sinker. Mica is a yummy alpha Russian hockey player who has to marry Charlie to keep his hockey contract and clean up his image. His character is very well written and I loved his strength and his background. Charlie is the sports agency assistant who marries him to help clean up his image. The author did an amazing job with this story and the development of their relationship as well the little twists and turns built in that kept me on my toes.
Highly recommend this author who was a first for me but I will definitely be going back for more reads now.
I enjoyed this slow-burn romance between Charlie and Mica. He was a bad boy hockey star who was in jeopardy of being kicked off the team. His agent felt that a fake marriage between him and his assistant would be just the thing to save his career. They are both likable characters who are well developed. The storyline was fun to read and their back and forth banter was fun. Plenty of drama, twists and some demons from the past to muddy the water. A good book that was fun and easy to read. I read an arc and voluntarily chose to review.
Pretty good read. Hot sex and hot hockey players so lots of steam!
The Penalty Box is Mica and Charlie’s story. Mica is a Russian born NHL star whose off ice antics and association with a childhood friend threatens his career. Charlie, his agent’s assistant, is attracted to Mica but treats him with disdain whenever the paths cross to hide her feelings. Mica finds himself in a place where he must settle down and toe the line or he’s no longer going to be a Wolf. His agent insists that a year-long marriage of convenience is the only way to save his career and decides Charlie is the perfect candidate for the role. Both are reluctant but enter the marriage in spite of their concerns. They begin the relationship as platonic roommates but as they get to know one other, their physical attraction grows until they can’t fight it anymore. As their relationship blossoms into something real, someone from his past tries to use Charlie’s insecurities to break them up and Charlie’s dog-walking friend tries to step in the breach. In the end, they faced their greatest fears, healing one another and were stronger together.
I enjoyed this book from start to finish. Mica was definitely the prototypical playboy pro athlete, but he didn’t come across as a total jerk. I loved Charlie and how she knew what wanted and wasn’t going to settle for less. The slow build of their relationship allowed for a lot of character growth. All in all, The Penalty Box was an enjoyable read in a great series.
I was provided an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I love a hot hockey player and Mica, the Russian defender, sure filled that role. Mica had a player reputation and seemed to find trouble and bad press without even trying. Charlie, the PR assistant, has been eyeing Mica for a couple of years but has secrets, hates hockey, hockey players, and has no time for any kind of relationship. Mica needs good press and to settle down. A bad childhood with tragic events has scarred Mica against love and marriage so a fake marriage is agreed to by this hot couple. Their relationship grows amid lots of suspense, drama, and danger. Lots of hot steamy scenes and feelings they both have to explore. Great book.
The Penalty box was such a great sports romance. Charlie is working for the PR company that is trying to clean up Micas image when things go south and they decide he needs a fake marriage to help save his career and keep him from getting traded. Mica is a hot Alpha Russian hockey player that never wants to get married but Charlie gives him a run for his money. Charlie is the down to earth sweet sassy sexy woman that tells Mica like it is and then some. It was very entertaining. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review after reading this arc.
I picked this book up in the evening before bed and couldn’t put it down until I finished! Odette Stone’s Vancouver Wolves series just keeps getting better and better!
Mica and Charlie were both interesting characters, each dealing with a difficult situation. Mica finds himself in trouble when spending time with a friend of his from his childhood in Russia. Charlie is working as hard as she can at two jobs but finds herself saddled with a debt that wasn’t hers to begin with. They find themselves in a marriage of convenience to try to salvage his career and solve her problems.
Mica and Charlie had great chemistry and I liked the evolution of their relationship from work acquaintances to friends to more.
The story moves at a good pace and has a suspense element that I thought was well done. It added to the story without taking away from the romance.
The Penalty Box can be read as a standalone, but I recommend reading the other books in the series first as those characters do appear in this book. I cannot wait to read the next book in the series and the new spin-off standalone that the author has announced!
Thank you to the author for providing an ARC for an honest review.
I knew I would love Mica after meeting him in “Home Game.” The way Odette brought him to life and showcased the heat and love between Mica and Charlie had me finishing the book in a day. The twists and turns she takes you on will have you hooked. This is much more than a fake marriage turned real love. Odette Stone is my spirit writer. She knows how to make you laugh, cry, and gasp in both excitement and suspense. I love her comment to not only alpha men but supporting their strong independent women as well. I would 100% recommend. Read the other two books in the series as well.
Loved it, this book was amazing! This series started off strong and the book 3 only keeps delivering. I love hockey romances but this is much more, a funny, crazy, steamy read that you won’t be able to put down.
Simply Superb! I fell in love with Mica when he appeared in Home Game, the 2nd book of this addictive series. He is a big strong Russian teddy bear who quickly metamorphosizes into a raging grizzly bear when he or his loved ones are threatened. Odette Stone has written another steamy, romantic, suspenseful winner and I anxiously await the next book in the series.
Impossible to put down from the very beginning, a suspenseful, sensual story full of twist and turns. Great romance read; I can’t wait for the next one! Wonderful story absolutely amazing from beginning to end!
This is well written with engaging characters that have loads of chemistry right from the start. The storyline flowed smoothly making for an enjoyable read. The author blended sports and romance in away gave you inside into hockey.
Wow!! I became so wrapped up in this book from the very beginning! I loved both Mica and Charlie! Their back and forth banter, how he loved to get under her skin, I loved every second of this book! It was difficult to not fall in love with both of them. There was humor, steam, suspense, and heart wrenching emotion. This book had everything that makes a PERFECT book! And the chemistry….ho-lee sugar honey iced tea!!! Off the charts! Now I can’t wait for Krista’s book!
I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.
To say that I’ve been bouncing in my chair waiting for this book to be released is an understatement, and wow, Odette did not disappoint! Mica Petrov is a swoony swoony man *insert image of me fanning my face*. Throughout Mica and Charlie’s relationship, you as a reader feel all the feels and emotions. This was the first book I had read in over 2 weeks, because I’ve been in such a slump, but this book Odette, pulled me out of it. It had me up until 4:30AM, reading because I couldn’t stop. I couldn’t possibly recommend this book more, I wish I could turn back time and read this book all over again with fresh eyes!
Romance and mysteries
I loved this very good romance, very well written, sometimes hot and steamy, with a hint of mystery, very good characters and well-crafted intrigues.
Mika, a Russian-born hockey player from the Vancouver team, is arrested by the police for his distant connection to a childhood friend who became the leader of a gang. To improve his image, his agent offers him to improve his image by getting married so that the boss of his team lets him play back. The best choice seems to be Charlie, the assistant of his agent. Feeling an attraction to Mika, she avoids him or does not hesitate to argue with him for 2 years and she hates hockey.. However, she herself is in a bad position because of a debt of her brother with a gang, which continues to take money from her while she has already paid for everything. After being assaulted, then unable to live at home, she moved to Mika’s home. Their relationship tends, because of their proximity, the entourage, the past of Mika, the attentions of the neighbor, a Mika’s ex girlfriend, repeated degradations and threats, police harassment, without always knowing where the blows they received come from.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book
A wife who doesn’t want to fall for her husband, a marriage deal to keep NHL star and team bad boy Mica Petrov from being traded out of the Vancouver Wolves. A fake marriage with a roommate becomes a real marriage with an expiration date and the best inconvenience of their lives.
Add in a dirty detective, Canadian sects of Japanese and Russian gangs, a stalker ex-girlfriend and a neighbor lusting after said wife. One heck of a great read that was hard to put down.
I was provided an ARC of this book for an honest review and enjoyed every minute of it.
Mica is in trouble. Adrift in life, his actions off the rink might mean he may no longer get to be on the rink.
Charlie has no life. Between working two jobs to try to pay off her brother’s debt, she doesn’t have time to deal with Mica’s shenanigans.
She’s his only hope. He’s her longtime crush. Sparks ignite when their platonic agreement starts developing into something more. Steamy scenes, suspense, swoon worthy moments and cameos from our favorite Vancouver Wolves as well as scene-stealing newcomers make this book one I’ll happily take my book hangover for.
After reading Ryan and Zoey’s story in “Home Game” I was forever hooked on Odette Stone’s books and could not wait to read Mica’s story and this book did not disappoint. Mica is sexy as sin, loyal to a fault and confused as f*ck when he’s forced into a marriage of convenience to save face with his team. Charlie is a headstrong independent woman who has secretly been crushing on Mica. When he needs a wife she agrees to do it even though she knows her heart is at risk. Watching them both fall in love is a bittersweet ride peppered with entertaining characters like Mica’s fashionable chain smoking mother and of course Zoey and Ryan. As a fan of hockey romances this one ranks easily in my top 5. I highly recommend this book.
I’d like to thank Odette Stone for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Having a fake marriage but acting like it’s real!
Mica has messed up once again and is close to being taken off the team by the owner. His PR team come up with a plan to make things better. The owner likes family oriented players and they want his to have a fake marriage to calm things down. His PR man wants his asst. to be his fake bride since she has a lot of financial debt. Charlie has had a secret crush on Mica but doesn’t like his playboy ways. They go into their fake marriage and as times go by they both get their eyes opened by the other. They have people throwing obstacles in to try to cause trouble but will they see what’s right in front of them? I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.