Looking for a light, fun read for that short flight… or for your commute? Do you read at lunch, or on your break? Then this mini novel two-pack is just right for you.
BETWEEN A JOCK AND A HARD PLACE
When Claire meets a large, handsome man with a broken nose, she doesn’t recognize him as a key player for the Vancouver Canucks. Jack is intrigued with the notion of getting to know a woman who … woman who isn’t attracted to him because of his fame. When Claire’s twin brother is injured in a hockey game, she offers to blog anonymously about the hot-button topic of violence in hockey, unaware that Jack will be presenting the opposing view. Can Claire and Jack survive the inevitable clash when they discover each other’s true identity?
FIXING FREDDIE
Samantha hasn’t seen Freddie since they were in school. Painfully shy, he was rarely seen without a computer game in his hand. When he shows up in her favourite downtown Vancouver coffee shop she doesn’t recognize him at first, and he’s still into computer games. When he bemoans his lack of style, she surprises herself by offering to help him with a make-over. But Freddie isn’t the only one in need of help. While Samantha works on Freddie’s outer appearance, he helps her discover an inner strength she didn’t know she had. Join Samantha and Freddie as they navigate the minefield of their growing attraction on the way to finding out who they really are.
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I loved the stories in Two for the Road. They are nice quick romances that didn’t take place in just the bedroom, like so many books do, but had more of a plot to them. Here are my thoughts on them.
Between A Jock And A Hard Place
Claire had no interest in hockey after having lived with all her life. Now that her twin brother is in the minor leagues, the game is still important to her family. Other than going to all her brother’s games, she doesn’t follow the sport. But when her brother is seriously injured during a game, she agreed to write an anonymous blog against the violence in hockey. When the blog is a success, the paper gets someone to write opposing views on the topic.
After just ending a relationship with a married man, Claire was determined to not get involved with anyone. So when John helped her up after being knocked over by a bicyclist, she wanted to refuse his offer of going for a snack and a ride home, but she knew she couldn’t walk so she accepted. Besides, he was nice and really attractive. John was amazed that Claire didn’t recognize him as a star enforcer for the Canucks, but he liked that she didn’t want to be with him for his fame and money. As they talk, John realized that the reason she doesn’t know him is that she doesn’t follow hockey. That is unusual for a Canadian.
As they got more involved with each other, John knew he had to tell Claire who he really was but was afraid to because of her strong feelings about how violent hockey was and he was one of the ones causing the violence. And he was the blogger opposing her.
You really didn’t need to know anything about hockey to enjoy this book because it could have been about any physically aggressive sport. It was more about Claire’s aversion to the violence and not recognizing John. I really liked this sweet romance and the characters. I admired Claire. She was a strong, opinionated woman who fought for what she believed in. I actually felt sorry for John. Yes, he was famous and wealthy with his pick of women. But he never knew if they liked HIM or his fame.
I enjoyed this quick read and highly recommend it.
Fixing Freddie
One morning, when Samantha and Lauren are in their usual coffee shop, they spot an old classmate, Freddie. He was a quiet computer geek back then and looks like he still is. Lauren pushes Samantha to go over and say hi. He sure isn’t a lanky, shy geek anymore. But dresses like it and knows he needs to change that. So when he mentions it to Samantha, she offers to help him with a make-over.
Because her father left when she was a child, Samantha never felt she could hold a man. She put up with a cheating boyfriend just to make sure she had somebody. But after Freddie treats her so well, she knows she deserves better and has to end it with her boyfriend.
I liked that Samantha had always liked Freddie because of how kind he was and remembered that he had stuck up for her in high school. Freddie still treated everyone kindly, no matter whom they were or what profession they had. That combined with his good looks and body, his new look now had women eager to date him. Just what Samantha was afraid of.
This is a sweet romance with wonderful characters that I recommend to any romance readers.