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 and Zoe were just wow. The other half of the hellion Stone Twins was amazing!!!!! Viktor was a recovering drug addict who was also one of the best hockey players that was given a second chance by Matthew, Zoe’s brother. Zoe was one of best realtor in NY and Matthew recruited her to help the newest team member, Viktor, to settle in. The attraction was there but Viktor wasn’t ready for a relationship and didn’t think he was good enough and Zoe didn’t date hockey players especially one with baggage. But oh boy were they lying to themselves. Without even trying they formed the most beautiful friendship. You get to see all the emotional guilt Viktor was fighting with because of being a recovering addict. He was amazing and his demons showed his vulnerability but also his will to not go back to rehab. Zoe was awesome along with her family which is never a dull moment. I liked that she didn’t push things and was there for Viktor in many ways without she even knowing. Now her family as always especially her brother Matthew and his banter with her brother in law Max were hilarious. I love this family and these two ending were perfect for them; simply beautiful.
I absolutely love this story! This Is Wild is heart wrenching at times but so real and genuine. The author takes a very difficult subject and deals with it with sympathy, compassion and honesty.
“So, there’s a light at the end of the tunnel?” I ask him. “After the dark, there is light.”
Viktor Petrov is just out of rehab and starting out with his new team. He needs to keep his head up, his nose clean and avoid distractions.
“He’s a broken man, there is no doubt about it, but even broken men love.” He looks down and then up. “Even this broken man.”
Zoe Stone is one big distraction that Viktor can’t seem to avoid. Zoe is a strong heroine, just what Viktor needs as he fights his demons. This Is Wild is definitely my new favorite book by this author!
-5 Stars!-
This is Wild is book two and is Zoe’s book. I really loved it. I loved loved Viktor. He was swoony and sweet. There was just something about him!! I loved Zoe, she was sweet, sassy and strong. I loved the friendship and slow burn between them. Their chemistry and connection was amazing. I also loved the closeness of all of Zoe’s family. Must read!! Can’t wait for more!
Heartwarming spellbinding unique love story with all the feels! Ashley @ Carolina Chic’s Read
“One day at a Time” the words that Victor Petrov is living by as he has just finished his stint in rehab. A NHL star who had a fall from grace when the General Manager Mathew Grant give his a new lease on life in New York playing the game he loves. Zoe is a real-estate agent who is helping Victor purchase his new home in New York. Zoe is sweet sassy and had a great big heart! This is a story with a very hard topic that is rarely shown in this light. Being a recovering addict and finding you path. Can Victor follow the 12 steps to recovery and find love in the process? Zoe doesn’t want to date a hockey player can she see past Victor’s past and find love with him? You will not want to put this book down! Loving this new series and can’t wait for more!
Book 2 in the This Is Series and this is turning into one phenomenal series, this book has all the feels you want and expect in a great read. I loved everything about this book the characters and the plot drew me in from the first page and I was captivated until the very last line.
Viktor is a man that needs to get his act together if he wants to continue with a hockey career and he is about to start on a new adventure with a new team in New York. An addict who is owning his sobriety means changing everything about his lifestyle and prove Matthew Grant was right to have faith in him when he gave him a second change with the Stingers.
Zoe may come from hockey royalty but that doesn’t mean she has to like the game in fact she tends to stay well clear of everything Hockey based preferring to build herself a successful career as a realtor in NYC. The last thing Soe every expected to happen was to find herself involved with a hockey player especially one who also happens to be fighting addiction…….
This is a beautifully written story that touched me on so many levels , it’s gritty, it’s emotional and Natasha Madison wasn’t afraid to touch a subject many authors would shy away from. I fell in love with Viktor the bad boy but Viktor the good boy stole my heart and Zoe is perfect for him. This really is a friends to lovers romance, it’s about families and friends who prove time and time again they will have your back if you are doing the right thing. My emotions went on a roller coaster ride as watched Viktor fight for what he wants and struggle on a daily basis to get the HEA is so deserved.
This beautifully written book needs to be read by every lover of romance and evert love of hockey and I can’t wait to see where book 3 will take us.
Wow! Natasha I honestly think this is my favorite book of yours! I Viktor so much and felt like I was right there through his struggles and that is such a testament to your writing skills. I am absolutely blown away by all the emotions this book made me feel. My heart! Just Wow!! Viktor & Zoe’s story is absolutely phenomenal!
Where do I even begin! I mean I had to sit and think when I finished reading, to be honest!
This book was profoundly beautiful!
Im sure there are messages throughout the story that tell you to live every day just as it is! I was at a loss for words….my emotions were sent into turmoil at the emotional support given to the main characters!
Victor is a man with a problem and after being released from rehab, little does he know what is ahead of him. He is a strong man that really has a heart of gold underneath, thats the impression I got!
Zoe is a caring, career oriented woman with a family like no other! Her connection with her sister is absolutely wonderful!
I loved so much about this book, I laughed, cried and wanted to hug them all!
Make this book a priority to read! Something so beautiful should never be missed!
Wow! This is Wild was amazing! I love all Natasha Madison books, but I think this is my favorite so far! Viktor and Zoe’s story was so much more than a romance story – it’s a story about second chances and finding your family. This story has everything! I was not prepared for the raw emotions coming from these characters, but I love every second of it! FIVE HUGE STARS!!
Nothing I write will be enough..just sayin.
This book deserves to read…needs to be read..by all.
You may think this is a sports romance because of the series but it’s so much more.
Zoe and Viktor stole my heart. Zoe is a realtor helping Viktor(recovering addict) find a home. Friends only~adamantly against dating. You see their friendship blossom into something more.
Magnificent HEA!
One thing about Natasha’s books are you get to revisit so many characters from previous books. It’s so nice to catch with them.
FYI..this book moved me to tears..sobbing and bawling but so good.
~BREAKDOWN OF RATINGS~
Plot~ 5/5
Main Characters (hero/heroine)~ 5/5
Secondary Characters~ 5/5
The Feels~ 5/5
Pacing~ 5/5
Addictiveness~5/5
Angst~ 5/5
Steam/Hotness/Chemisty ~ 5/5
Theme or Tone~ 5/5
Flow (Writing Style)~ 5/5
Backdrop (World Building)~ 5/5
Originality~ 5/5
Ending~ 5/5
Book Cover~ Eye Catching
Series~ This is #2
Source~ Kindle eBook – ARC for honest review
Would I read more from the author? Yes
Would I recommend this book? Yes
This one gave me all the feels! 5 hockey pucks for this one, grab it when it releases! Natasha wrote an amazing story of addiction, love & triumphs. I could not put this one down!
Meet Viktor, fresh out of rehab, each day a battle to stay clean. He’s ready to start the new chapter in his life with the NY Stingers, they are giving him a second chance, and he’s ready to prove himself, but the road isn’t always easy, his cravings a constant battle. While at a meeting with Matthew at the Stingers office, he’s introduced to Zoe, realtor, and Matthew’s sister. He wants her to help him find a place to live, and at first site, these two have a chemistry like no other.
Zoe, watching everyone around her, especially her twin, find the love of their lives and she really wants to find hers. She puts on a brave front, but the longing is hard sometimes when your surrounded by couples. Viktor is everything she thinks she doesn’t need. After all he’s in recovery for his drug addiction, oh and he’s a hockey player.
Follow their story as they build a friendship, that at times is tested by their attraction. Can they get past the obstacles that they face, or will they both give up and move on. Read this story asap!
5 Star Review This Is Wild (This Is #2) by Natasha Madison
I loved everything about this book. From start to finish Natasha Madison wove such an engaging story that I couldn’t help but be hooked.
Natasha Madison has written a gritty story, one which is realistic and confronting. I commend her handling and the fact that she has not glossed over the issues that an addict faces on a daily basis. It will draw you in and captivate you from the first to the last page.
Zoe Stone has no time for anything but building a successful career as a realtor in New York city. Having been surrounded by ice hockey all her life, the last thing she ever expected was to fall for a hockey player. Let alone a player fighting addiction.
Viktor is the bad boy that Zoe falls for. He has played hard both on and off the ice until it all comes crashing down. Now after a stint in rehab, he knows the time has come to face his addictions. Being traded he is about to start on a new path of self discovery.
Despite both Zoe and Viktor being determined not to, their friendship slowly morphs in to so much more. The chemistry between Viktor and Zoe was off the charts and so smoking hot.
I fell hard and fast for Viktor, not only is he hot, but he is totally swoon worthy and I wanted him to overcome the demons that had led to his addiction. There were times that I felt his pain, such was the emotion that was rung from me.
Viktor and Zoe were a great pairing and I really wanted them to get their happily ever after, although at times I feared they wouldn’t.
A story of friendship, addiction, love and family This is Wild left me with a book hangover.
This is Wild; book 2 in the this is series by Natasha Madison tells the story of Viktor and Zoe. We have met them in previous books, but This is Wild can be read as a stand-alone.
Viktor is just completing rehab for his drug addiction and trying to get his head back in the game of hockey. Zoe is the realtor and sibling of his teammates.
When the 2 meet they are attracted to each other, but Viktor wants and needs to focus on his recovery. This book gives a true, real depiction of what an addict experiences on a daily basis and how difficult it can be to stay clean. At times it was an emotional read, but worth every second.
The banter between the families is one of Natasha Madison’s trademarks and one of the reasons I enjoy her books.
This book will definitely give you a book hangover and next in the series comes Vivienne’s story. I for one cannot wait!
* A review copy was provided by the author *
I don’t really know where to start when writing this review. I found This is Wild an enjoyable read, but so different from This is Crazy. This book was such an emotional read, it pulled on my heart strings throughout the whole story.
This is Wild is a sports romance that is a slow burn, but it was also so much more than a romance. It was a story that touches on the serious subject of addiction. What I did love about this story was how real it felt. I thought Natasha gave us an accurate portrayal of what an addict fights with everyday of their lives. Just because someone makes it out of Rehab, doesn’t mean that their road to recovery is over or that it will be easy.
This book is the second book in the This Is Series by Natasha Madison. It is a standalone novel and told in Dual POV. I will be honest and say I didn’t like this book as much as the first one, but this was still enjoyable and definitely worth the read!! As I said this is a slow burn, almost a little too slow for my liking. But I guess I understand when dealing with this subject matter, you really can’t rush how things progress.
In this story we follow Viktor and Zoe. Their road to a HEA is a slow one and not always an easy one. Viktor is a drug addict who was forced into rehab by his hockey team. While he was in rehab, his team in LA traded him to NY. So now we are with him in NY and he needs a new home. Enter Zoe, one of the best realtor in NY. Her brother Matthew, who is the GM of the NY hockey team, asks her to help Viktor out. Both are extremely attracted to each other right from the start, but for their own personal reasons they have both said the other is off limits. Over the course of the book we watch a beautiful friendship blossom and then turn into something more. Can Viktor over come his demons?? What happens when past influencers come into town, can he be strong? Will they get their HEA?? Read this gripping and emotional story to find out.
I enjoyed hanging out with the Stone family again in this book. It’s always fun to see past characters from the previous book as well as from her other hockey series. Don’t worry you don’t have to read any other book to enjoy this story, but I would recommend it to get the full appreciation of this family and all the characters in it.
If you are a fan of Natasha’s and have read and loved her Something So series, then you definitely don’t want to miss this new series. Or if you are a fan of a sports romance, then this is one you will want to read!!! It is the perfect mix of humor, drama, emotions and hockey. Add this to your TBR list now!!!
Such an emotional journey. He was in the NHL but got traded and had to move to a new city after just completing rehab for a drug addiction. She is the sister of the GM for his new team and was recruited to be his real estate agent. He struggles with the temptation and no matter how attracted he is to her, he knows he can’t get involved. She is attracted to him, but has been burned in the past and doesn’t date hockey players. Should be a win win for both… but you know about the best laid plans and all that. There is some humor, so it’s not a total cry fest, but this is an emotional story. A story about survival. A story of finding yourself and the people who support you and help you become that person. Both of these characters are good people and deserve the best. He, while yes, has a not so great past, is a good man at heart and isn’t arrogant or jerkish. He knows his weakness and strives to remain strong. He is humble. She is strong and loyal, witty and a straight shooter. Due to to subject matter, this is a heavier read. Heavier on the heart. (But there is that humor I mentioned to break it up some.) There is some sexual contact but it is limited. Due to the topic at hand (drug use/abuse,) and the minimal sexual content, I would suggest this for mature readers. It’s a beautifully written story and you will fall in love with these characters. If you are familiar with this series and/or the Something So series, you will recognize many of the characters, but it can be read as a stand alone with no issues, so no worries. It alternates POVs.
*I received an ARC of this book.
I loved this book so much!
I know this is a spinoff series to the Something So series but i have to admit I’m ashamed to say i haven’t read them yet but after reading this book and absolutely loving it I’m totally going back and binging.
I’ve read a few books by Natasha Madison now and each book I’ve absolutely loved. I just love the style od writing, the characters, the fact the book always hooks me from the beginning. Basically everything about her books.
Viktor and Zoe are a complicated couple. Their book really isn’t easy not with everything that Viktor is dealing with but you get so invested in the story your fighting along with them. Feeling their struggles and emotions you really know what their going through.
Zoe was amazing. She had her ups and downs, very firm on what she thought she always knew but it just takes one man to blow that all away.
Like i said i haven’t read any of the previous books, well i think I’ve read book one but that was a while ago. But i honestly wish i had now, i loved seeing characters that was in past books even if i hadn’t read their stories yet.
Soo good.
I can’t wait for the next one!
Natasha Madison has a way of writing characters that dig deep under your skin. They get into your head and into your heart. And Viktor did just that with this story. Viktor’s book isn’t all rainbows and sunshine, no Viktor’s book is dark and it’s deep and it’s absolutely heartbreakingly beautiful! Natasha has outdone herself and she has ripped open our hearts with this book.
Viktor Petrov is getting his second chance. His second chance at staying clean and having a great hockey career. He tries to leave all the demons behind but sometimes they don’t stay away. But through the healing Viktor finds that he has a whole new family that cares about him.
Zoe Stone is one of the top real estate agents in NY. Daughter of the famous Cooper Stone hockey legend. Brother of Matthew Grant another hockey legend and General Manager of the NY Stingers. One meeting with Viktor and Zoe knows that this might be trouble. But she becomes one of his biggest supporters.
Viktor knows he needs to stay away from Zoe but as she helps and supports him, feelings start taking over and there is nothing anyone can do to stop it. We follow as Zoe helps Viktor through his healing and recovery and watch as two people fall in love and get their happily ever after.
Highly recommended!
*I was given a copy of this book by the author in exchange for my honest and voluntary review. All thoughts and opinions are those of my own.*
This is Wild is a wild and crazy story that you are compelled to read. Once you start you are hooked. I had to follow Zoe and Viktor on this steamy and captivating journey. Natasha Madison has outdone herself with this book.
Wow what a wild ride. it was definitely intense at times but the slow burn made the chemistry between Viktor and Zoe that much more intense. I’m excited for the next book in the series!
Ohhhh Viktor! How you broke my heart! This book was about Zoe and Viktor and it was absolutely gut wrenching and beautiful at the same time! Viktor is a hockey player fresh out of rehab and trying to stay sober, Zoe is one of New York’s best real estate agents living her best life with her crazy hockey family! When they meet to find him an apartment, sparks fly but their journey is not an easy one! We witness the struggle of addiction and recovery, self worth and self love, and the wonderful support and love from the great people around you! This book had a full range of emotions that took me from laughing, crying, feeling fear and swooning! Natasha Madison has such an amazing way of writing characters that are fun, real and down right genuinely fantastic! She definitely scored another goal with this book!
This Is Wild by Natasha Madison is absolutely phenomenal.
Madison paced this storyline and let people feel Victors battle and understand what those with addictions face every single day.
I love that she didn’t rush us through the emotions, but let the story unfold along with the friendships and love.
It truly takes a tribe, and sometimes that tribe is not our family but the people we surround ourselves with.
And the strong women in this book rock my socks! We need to know that friendship and sisters have each other’s backs.
“… I’m thinking about the broken man who fights every single minute to be the better person. The one whose eyes hold the key to his soul, yet it’s locked up so tight no one can get in.”
This is one book you will fall in love with!
5 Stars