From the best selling series, Something So comes the spin-off Series This is…ZoeWhen you grow up surrounded by hockey players you know one thing for sure, I was never going to settle down with one.Heck, I didn’t even know what icing was. I was too busy climbing the corporate ladder, becoming one of the most successful realtors in New York City.I wasn’t interested in dating or anything that got … dating or anything that got in my way.
First, he was my client and then he became my friend.
Viktor
My parents told me I skated before I walked.
When I was eighteen I was drafted into the N.H.L third overall, playing in Los Angeles—the city of dreams.
What more could I ask for? I played hard, but eventually, I partied even harder.
Five years later I was traded a week after I entered rehab.
There was no time for anything except my health and making sure I’d come out on top. I had to be better.
There wasn’t another option.
One of the rules of recovery was ‘don’t fall in love’ and I made it a top priority. She was off limits in every single way.
Until it was too late
One night, one decision, one act can derail everything.
When push comes to shove, I’m only certain that, This is Wild.
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VIKTOR IS EVERYTHING
I really loved the journey between Viktor and Zoe. This was a more emotional read than some of Natasha’s other books and let me tell you, she hit the mark on this one! Viktor and Zoe are such beautiful and pure characters, I didn’t know if my heart could take the pounding it received.
Zoe is selfless and fierce in the way she loves. She doesn’t judge and that’s exactly what Viktor needs in his life. I admired and loved Viktor’s dedication to beating his addiction. He was all in and it showed every step of the way. These two stole my heart and their journey is one of the best I’ve seen.
Out of this series this is my favorite book!!! I fell hard for Vik and I will not recover because le sigh.. he is the perfect broken hero that will make you swoon so hard, you will forget to breathe!! I don’t want to share it with anyone else! I’ve claimed him as mine!!!!
I loved this book! Viktor’s fight to stay sober and his love for Zoe got me all in my feels!!
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book (given by author)…
4.5 stars
This book was just… wow, I can barely describe it, but it was just so good and beautiful. I loved everything about Viktor and Zoe, from the moment they met to the epilogues. I didn’t want the book to end because I was so enamored with their journey, please don’t misunderstand me, their story wasn’t pretty and fluffy, but it was beautiful and it had it’s share of hilarious moments, come on, we know this family after all. Viktor is working on himself after a life altering situation and Zoe is dealing with her own reactions to Viktor and his past; there is a lot that goes on, but it was just spectacular to read and enjoy.
I can’t wait to see what lies ahead for our dear Vivienne 😉
I loved Viktor and Zoes story. Such an emotional and heartwarming story! I think Madison touched on addiction so sensitively and it pulled on my heartstrings a few times.
5 STARS
I am still sitting here after eight hours, trying to find the right words to sum up my emotions for This Is Wild. I have never had such a tough time writing a review, until this one. Viktor and Zoe’s story is anything but average, it is not a mushy gushy romance novel that makes your heart giddy from pure happiness. In turn, This Is Wild – HURTS down to the core. I am being completely honest when I say, my heart physically hurt, that I was nervous wreck and my stomach was in knots. My heart was in my throat through out the book, the WHOLE book, from the pure devastation of a recovering addict trying to find himself, to the love that was so clearly not enough. To me, It was an emotional debilitating – authentic read that touched every part of my soul. And damn this author for making me feel like I lived a thousand lives while reading it as well. Natasha Madison gave meticulous attention to detail when it came down to the specifics of what all recovery entails. Not only that, but how it affects everyone around you. You see we get both sides, from the addict and the ones willing to do anything to make sure you stay on track. I felt like I was right there along the way, because her writing can put you in places you could never imagine. That is pure talent, pure brilliance, and I can say without a doubt, this is why this author is my go to. Viktor and Zoe had more character development in this book, than most do in three. Their story developed in such a profound way, no it was not easy, and it was really damn hard but in the end it happened the way it was meant to. This Is Wild has me all up in my feels right now, but I could not be happier that this author took a chance on such a book. It is a life changing MUST read.
Viktor was drafted into the NHL at only 18 years old. Hockey was his life, and partying goes hand and hand with being a professional athlete. He was sucked into the rabbit hole of what is known as drugs. Now trying to climb out of the rubble, he is faced with the fact, that once an addict, always an addict.
Not only that, he has to learn how to find himself. He is strong, but fearful. Determined yet uneasy. I am not going to say more, because along with you, he finds out things about himself as well.
Zoe’s job is her top priority. Being a top player in the realtor business is all she has time for. Her twin sister Zara is her best friend, and they are more often together than not. Zoe is a social person that can make jokes on the drop of a hat. She enjoys kickboxing, and is known as a hard ***. She is loud and proud and has the best sense of humor.
Life brings you challenges when you least expect it. What starts as a business relationship quickly turns into a friendship, from there the feelings only grow, but rules are there for a reason.
*I RECOMMEND THIS BOOK
This Is Wild is about overcoming addiction and about the best support system you could have. It’s about love and self love. It’s a book about struggling every day to become a better person.
Zoe has seen every one of her family members fall in love. She’s a hard worker in real estate and knows that she doesn’t want to fall in love with a hockey player.
Viktor, he’s a broken soul looking to start over after just coming out of rehab and his team trading him.
Zoe and Viktor’s book is phenomenal. Viktor’s struggle with his addiction, Zoe being the friend he didn’t realize he needed. This struggle with 12 step program and the support he got from his “new family” was just beautiful.
This story was beautiful written.
Wow.
This book will have you feeling all the emotions you can possibly think of. It is so heartbreakingly beautiful. I wanted to devour it but not at the same time as I was enjoying it so much. The feelings between them felt like you were living it alongside them. There isn’t adequate words to describe how brilliant this book is. My advice is to read this for yourself.
This book is part of a great hockey themed series. However, you can read it as a stand-alone, but I don’t know why you wouldn’t go get the other books too. Anyway, Zoe and Viktor’s story is not an easy one for us. This book is a bit different than the other books in the series, as it the storyline is more intense than some of the others. You read and read and read to see when that big moment is going to come. The story flows. Dual point of view. No cliffhanger.
Natasha Madison you really did it again lady. I knew I was in for a wild ride when I saw this was Zoe’s book. And it did not disappoint. But there was so much more to this book than what I thought it would be.
Zoe is the twin sis of Zara and when you read her in the previous books she was the wild one. Take no prisoners but she is hardworking and a successful estate agent and loves her family fiercely. When she met Viktor she knew that it couldn’t go anywhere. First of all he was a hockey player, and secondly he is in rehab. But she also sees a struggling guy who is hurting and maybe he needs someone like her.
Viktor just got out of rehab, and was surprised that Matthew Grant wanted him to play for his team. What he didn’t expect was to meet Zoe and everyone else that comes with her. A support structure. People that actually cares about you and your wellbeing. He knew this road wasn’t going to be easy but he didn’t think it would be so hard either. So when he meets Zoe he knows that he is just out of rehab and he couldn’t get involved with anyone. Even though the attraction is is totally there they decide to be friends instead. Its fun and sometimes a bit flirty, and he can’t deny that she somehow becomes his light in this dark tunnel that he is in. But is it what he needs right now?
From the moment we were introduced to Viktor I was in love. He was broken, he hit rock bottom and he is dragging himself up one day at a time. And I admired him for that. He knows he made mistakes and he was trying to find the man he’s suppose to be. Zoe, I think she was exactly what he needed. She was thoughtful and she was encouraging and she was helping him even when she didn’t know it. Everything about this story, was just on point. There was sadness, anger, heartbreaking, hilarious, LOL moments and most of all there was love. I think this one is my favourite one so far.
4.5 stars for this heartfelt, slow-burn romance.
“Every single time our hands touched, it was like an electric shock to the system.”
Viktor Petrov is a drug addict who has just finished rehab and about to start playing for the hockey team who took a risky chance on him. The road to recovery is long and arduous, and there’s no room in his life for a relationship – least of all with the off-limits sister of his boss.
“I’m thankful that whatever happened led you here.”
Zoe Stone has a rule – she doesn’t date hockey players. She doesn’t even like hockey, considering her whole family are in the hockey business. However, there’s no denying that the beautiful, broken Viktor gets under her skin. No matter how much she tells herself that they’re just friends, her heart knows the truth.
“I don’t know how it is going to go, but I know that I didn’t go through the hell I went through to not have you in the end.”
This was a gorgeous, slow-burn romance. Viktor and Zoe had great chemistry. They skirted around one another, whilst trying to keep the other at arm’s length – or, at least, convincing themselves that that was best. I loved the humour and oftentimes flirtatious banter between them. Viktor is strong yet vulnerable. I loved the support he had from the Stingers family and team. Zoe is a tough cookie, yet when her soft spots are revealed, my heart really ached for her. A fantastic story about struggles, second chances and love.
Never has a book taken me so long to be able to write a review, it’s been months since I first read this book and I still can’t put together the right words to tell you how phenomenal this story is.
Natasha Madison took a subject most would shy away from and not only did it justice, but knocked it out of the stratosphere. She wrote a story that is captivating with characters that you immediately fall in love with, and give you all the feels. It’s an emotional rollercoaster of epic proportions, I laughed, cried, had my heart ripped to shreds, but in the end, as with all her words, gave a happily ever after that not only fixed every broken piece, but made my heart feel more full than when the story started.
Viktor is a recovering addict, after making mistakes on the ice whilst under the influence, his former team is happy to be rid of him. During a stint in rehab, Matthew Grant takes a chance on Viktor bringing him into the New York Stingers family fold and setting him up with a fresh start away from his old demons. As part of starting a new life in New York, Viktor decides, is buying a house, so Matthew introduces him to his sister, Real Estate agent, Zoe Stone. As soon as the pair meet there is undeniable chemistry, but rule one of his 12 step program is not to fall in love in the first year, something Viktor takes seriously.
Zoe Stone is NHL royalty, along with her twin sister Zara they are the princesses of the NHL, with their father, Cooper Stone being the King, and their brother Matthew and brother in law Max being the Princes. Zoe hates Hockey and has one rule of her own, she doesn’t date hockey players. With the ground rules firmly set, the pair become fast friends, and for a struggling Viktor, Zoe becomes someone he relies on, but with each interaction they get closer, until demons from his past show up to spoil everything.
If you’ve read the Something So Series or book one from this series, the This Is Series, you already know and love these characters, and you get the comedic elements, along with the family love and relationships you’ve come to expect from Ms Madison’s writing p, along with something new and fresh. I also can’t wait for you to meet Vivienne’s other half, who you get a sneak peek of at the end of This is Wild.
This book has firmly set itself in my heart and it’ll be a while before I move on from the book hangover it has left me with.
I can’t recommend this enough! I would give this story a million stars, but this only allows a maximum of 5, so as always with Natasha’s story’s, I’ll settle for 5 gold stars.
This Is Wild was exceptional. Natasha Madison gives us a riveting story that gave me all the feels. Viktor gets a second chance in his hockey career and at life. As his story unfolds it shows his everyday struggles with being an addict. Can he stay sober or will he be tempted to fall into the sins of his past? Zoe is the sister of his new boss that he befriends. As they grow closer in the coming months feelings ensue. Will their burgeoning relationship become a problem with his recovery? Through the highs and lows these two constantly gravitate toward each other. Will Zoe and Viktor get their happily ever after? This book was heartfelt, emotional, captivating, seductive and sensational. It made me laugh, cry, smile and my heart throb through out. A must read for slow burn romance lovers.
The book hangover is real!! This is Wild months was pure magic…. but after a re read I’m in awe with Natasha’s words.
The story of Viktor and Zoe is nothing but epic. Natasha has poured her heart out writing this story and I loved it from beginning to end. This is Wild left me breathless.
This Is Wild scored a winning goal in my heart! A beautiful story about overcoming your past mistakes, even though you still have to overcome the temptation every minute of every day.
Guys I am going to be completely honest here and admit that I am really struggling with this review. Normally words don’t fail me, but this time they have. Procrastinating is normally not my thing, but This Is Wild is literally making me hesitate at every turn, it almost feels like I can’t write it…..And there are so many reasons why.
How do you rate perfection?
How do you prevent your own words from tarnishing purity?
How can you put a label on uniqueness?
You simply can’t and my greatest fear is that I am just not going to be able to give This Is Wild any justice with my own words.
The struggle is definitely real!!
Viktor and Zoe’s story in all honesty is like no other. It’s a rare and very unique look at life through the eyes of an addict. The struggles they face, the fear, the guilt, the pain they caused. It explores the emotional side of things, once the cloud of addiction is lifted, and what life is like when there are no more scores, no more hits. It’s just you, the you that is now forever changed and is trying so desperately hard to get better and be someone better.
It also explores the devastation that addiction can cause, the relationships that become fractured, and how easily you can fall back into old habits. It delves into ones inner self and the strength that is needed every single day just to get by.
It’s such a gripping story that I personally connected with instantly. I was so drawn to it that I read it until the early hours of the morning….And yes I read it through blurry tear-stained eyes because it crushed my heart. It took my breath away every step of the way. There were so many defining moments that there would be no way that I could even pin point one for you. The whole novel was written so beautifully with so much emotional depth detail that I didn’t want it to end. I wanted to hold on to Viktor and Zoe for as long as I could. But I knew it had to end, and the ending was just……I can’t tell you because even as I think back my eyes become all blurry again because I am still feeling emotional.
A powerful read like no other that I suggest everyone read. You will fall in love with both Viktor and Zoe, I just know it.
5 stars
This is the story of Zoe and Viktor. She comes from a hockey family, but like her twin sister did before marrying into it, she doesn’t care for the sport. Viktor, on the other hand, was a hockey rising star until he partied too hard and crashed, finding himself in rehab and subsequently traded.
I enjoyed the story very much. A heartfelt, slow burn love affair between a woman strong enough to separate herself from what could be a toxic relationship and a man finding his self-respect on the way to becoming whole again.
More than anything, the story feels like a journey and it’s filled with the realistic struggle a lot of people go through in their lives.
Another thing I enjoyed was the close bond between Zoe and Zara which I found was more palpable in this story. Zoe being the stronger of the two and finding herself in emotional turmoil while Zara’s pregnant, I felt brought out a more raw aspect of their love and dynamic which I feel the author capture to perfection.
In all, This is Wild was a good read and I can wholeheartedly recommend it.
The hockey dynasty continues with the team taking a chance on Viktor, who is fresh out of rehab for drug addiction. Viktor’s struggle is so heartbreaking. His journey is not just about the drugs and staying clean, but also believing he is worthy. Zoe helps Viktor find an apartment, and their attraction is instant. They build on their friendship and deny their feelings, but the slow burn turns into a fiery explosion. I love everything about this book…I love that the main characters relationship is a slow burn, and I love that the situations are real and show both the H and h’s strength. Five stars for me.
This story ripped my heart to shreds and I loved every minute of it!
Viktor was an addict. He is fresh out of rehab and living in a new city and playing for a new team. He’s working hard to stay sober and one of the most important things is don’t start a relationship while in recovery. So what is one to do when they meet the woman of their dreams right out of rehab? Pretend there is no attraction and wait a year until you can do anything about it.
Natasha Madison continues to amaze me with her incredible emotion and attention to detail in her writing. I always look forward to what she’s creating for us next.
4.5 Stars
You can’t go wrong with a book by Natasha Madison especially her hockey players. Viktor is going to be a character that you instantly root for. He’s come along way and he’s going to need a good support system to keep him on his path of recovery. This story is passionate and heartfelt. It’s also an inspiring one. This book also has the sense of humor that I want in a book by Madison and one I look forward to. I loved Zoe and you couldn’t have picked someone better for Viktor. I gobbled this book right up. I had such a hard time putting it down to get things done. The characters just pull you in. I love getting to catch up with the rest of Zoe’s family. I love seeing their HEAs playing out. The epilogues in this one are everything. To see some of the future for Zoe and Viktor warmed my heart. When I finished this book it left me with a smile on my face. It’s a book that you hate to see end.