It’s been a rough couple of years for Marek Hafer, roaming hockey protagonist and pugilistic expert. Ending up in Berger Lake, Pennsylvania, on a financially unstable minor league team might just be the ending his wretched career deserves. On the other side of thirty, Marek knows his time on skates is dwindling. His goal now is to spend a few quiet years playing for the Berger Lake Badgers, knock … knock a few helmets together as needed, and then call it quits before his salty personality gets him booted out of hockey permanently.
After a bloody encounter his first night on the ice, the Badgers coach suggests that Marek find a way to lower his violent tendencies before he’s sent packing yet again. That decree leads Marek to knock on the door of his next-door neighbor, Shey Pierson, the owner of Sun Touch Yoga Studio. Shey ticks every box Marek has with his soft blue eyes, flowing golden hair, and long limber legs. The only problem is that Shey is yin to Marek’s yang.
Can a man famed for throwing punches find serenity in the arms of a man known for his tranquil ways?
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Love the characters, love the story, love the heat…..love VL Locey!!!
A charming story about two men who seem so very different on the outside – but what they share, on the inside, is a history of pain and tragedy. They’ve each dealt with this in different ways, and one of them seems far more together than the other. What makes this a complex and interesting story is that they’re both still thoroughly human, and Shey the yoga master has flaws just as does Marek the hockey hitman.
Locey subtly introduces Marek’s true inner nature, which is instinctively kinder and more thoughtful than his brash exterior; Shey is wise enough to see that, too, so the relatively quick start to a relationship is understandable, fuelled as it is by mutual attraction. They still have a long way to go before they reach the happy ending they both deserve, and I enjoyed seeing them work through both internal and external challenges.
What really got me in, though, was the dry humour of Marek’s POV voice. I’m not happy without a bit of humour!
I read this as a stand-alone, and can confirm it works just fine. A story well told and engaging!
Good read with a dash of angst.
I almost didn’t read this book because in the sample, the point of view hero was so crude and unlikable. But I did like his love interest and was curious about how these two COMPLETELY opposite men would forge a relationship. I’m so glad I stayed with the story. Turned out to be a beautiful unfolding of healing and love with a bit of mystery. I loved it! I returned to Amazon and bought the first book in the series.
Independent reviewer for Archaeolibrarian, I was gifted my copy of this book.
Marek has been sent a lower league after one too many outbursts on the ice. He knows this could be his last posting. After yet another outburst, Marek is forced to try to lower his anger levels and who better than the most lovely neighbour of his, Shey, who just happens to be the owenr of a yoga studio? Helps that Shey pushes all of Marek’s buttons, but does Marek push Shey’s? Can Marek get his temper under control enough to help Shey when his past comes back to haunt him?
I really enjoyed this one second book in the Colors of Love series, not quite as much as book one though! My only gripe (and this WILL make you laugh once you read my review for Lost In Indigo!) was that only Marek has a say!
Told ya!
I’ll explain. In my review for Indigo, I said that Ms Locey has a way of negating my dislike of single point of view but strong voiced characters. And while Marek has a strong voice, it’s not AS strong as Matt in Indigo, and here, I really missed that! I have NO clue why Marek isn’t up to muster cos the man has a LOT to say: about his hockey, his career, his attraction to Shey, his feelings (once they hit him square in the face!) for Shey, and just how he feels about that cat! It’s maybe just Marek himself, who didn’t push MY buttons, maybe it’s just me, I dunno! I hate not being able to say!
I did enjoy the way Shey’s home crept up on Marek, very quickly, he was calling Shey’s apartment, HIS home. I loved Shey’s history, and his grandma! The twist with the past was a surprise, and I loved how Marek handled that, even if it cost him so much. Shey really is his whole world!
Other than the hockey theme, and the colours in the titles, I’m not sure I see a common thread, but is Arn, Marek’s agent, the same one that is Matt’s agent?? The name rang a bell, is all!
I’m sorry this is far shorter than my usual fayre, I’m not doing so well with my reading at the moment, and my reviews are few and far between.
A very VERY good. . . .
4 star read
**same worded review will appear elsewhere**
A wonderful story about love and redemption.
I read Touch of Yellow Sun while I was on a cruise and while reading it, I didn’t think about the cruise at all; I didn’t want to put this one down.
While on one hand Marek Hafer might be considered a bully, I prefer to think of him as being shaped by his life events and the game of hockey. He is genuinely remorseful for acts of violence he’s committed but the game seems to want to keep him being a bully.
I just loved Shey Pierson, he’s the perfect contrast to Marek and a great example of opposites attracting each other. He doesn’t like the fact that Marek’s life centers around such a violent game but he learns to cope with that. At the same time, he helps Marek become more aware of what he’s doing and to think before resorting to violence.
I shed many tears while reading this story and by the time I got to the last chapter I was a wreck, but in a good way. The epilogue, with a look at where Marek and Shey are 1 year later, was perfect.
***Reviewed for Xtreme-Delusions dot com*** (posting on 3/6/2019)
When this book began, Marek was a smart mouthed, sarcastic, insensitive jerk. He didn’t expect anyone to throw out the welcome mat for him, and he really didn’t seem to care about anything but playing hockey. He was what I think of as an anti-hero. Then he met his new neighbor Shey, a yoga instructor who seemed as calm and steady as he was beautiful. Shey wanted to pass on some of his calm and positive energy to Marek. Marek wanted to get closer to Shey. This was the beginning of a surprisingly lovely romance.
There are so many hurts bottled up in Marek, there were moments I wanted to hug him and tell him to shut up all at once. He was a guy who would hide his pain and anger until it exploded out of him uncontrolled. Thank goodness he now had Shey there to give him the hugs and love he’d needed for so long. It wasn’t long before Marek would do anything for Shey, which was good because Shey had a lot more going on than he showed on the outside. He needed Marek as much as Marek needed him. These men were at different times funny, sexy, frustrating, and heartbreaking. I loved the moments that Marek caused Shey to lose his cool, as well as the times when Shey attempted to help Marek find peace – both when it worked and when it didn’t. Mostly, I just loved these two together. What you see isn’t always the whole truth, even when the story is told from the point of view of the guy almost everyone hates. I will re-read this one when I’m feeling alone or frustrated with my life. Watching Marek and Shey build a life together was soothing to my soul, and I’ll come back for more of that. This was a truly excellent story.
A rough and tough hockey player and a very zen yogi, who would have thought they could find a balance together. Marek is at the end of his career, the only team that would pick him up, a minor league team that’s barely putting fans in the stands. He’s been in a lot of fights both on the ice and off. When he meets his new neighbor, Shey, he is mesmerized by him. Shey is a yoga instructor, and slowly he gets Marek to meditate and to want to be a better person.
The emotions in this book, I just wanted to hug Marek, poor Guy has a lot of baggage carrying around with him. Slowly Shey works his yogi magic, releasing the negative energy from Marek and giving him something he hasn’t had in a long time, love. Their journey is really an amazing story filled with ups and downs, dealing with the past and moving on and falling in love. I really enjoyed every page of this book, V.L. Locey wrote a fantastic love story!!! Amazing book that is a definite must read!!!
I felt a kinship with Marek right from the off. There’s just something about world-weary protagonists who take no prisoners and just call it like it is. He can see retirement looming on the horizon and he just wants to play it out quietly with the Berger Lake Badgers and try and not get into any more trouble, but dang, that’s hard!
Moving next door to a yoga studio seems quite comical as Marek is far from the type to seek out a higher consciousness through alignment of his inner chakras while burning his Nag Champa! But hold up, who’s the golden-haired, lean and limber guy who owns said studio next door? Shey Pierson certainly makes Marek take notice and what begins is a friendship that shouldn’t work but ends up being exactly what both of them needed. Shey was like a balm to Marek’s soul. I loved his quiet strength and fortitude. He could handle Marek at his orneriest and the way he just took charge of Marek’s welfare when he was down and (literally) battered was a sight to see. Watching them find a way and really just letting go and relaxing in each other’s company was just so sweet, hot and very beautiful.
I got a warm glow reading this book. It was such a heart-warming romance and it had the signature detail from the author about life as a professional hockey player; it’s hard—both physically and mentally—and some people don’t give you an inch, so it’s a fight every time you put on your helmet and pads. This is what I love about the author; we get such a vivid picture from their storytelling, it’s almost like you’re right there in the thick of it and while we get a front row seat for all the action and drama, we get to see two very deserving men fall in love. I adored this book and it’s certainly one of my favourite reads this year.
I sit here trying to come up with what I want to say, to get across to those who haven’t read this , just how great this story was.
Marek tore my heart out with his past and what he was dealing with . Shey calms things down just by being himself and being present. He too has a past story, as we all do but he is able to help Marek deal with his past and in turn Marek is supportive and there for Shey. They found just who they needed in their lives. These two together were magical, at least they are to me.
So much happens in this story. Events take place that cause so many feelings for the reader. I went through feeling happy, sad, angry, fanning myself, excitement, wanting revenge and wanting to meet these men in real life cause I just really want to hug them hard! You’ll meet Chula the Siamese who, all by herself , is an amazing part of this story and quite frankly deserves her own love.. It’s as if she “KNOWS” things.
This is a must get book as far as I am concerned. People need to meet Shey , Marek and Chula, read their story and fall in love with them.
I received an Advanced Readers Copy in exchange for an honest review.