Nico Merryweather loves women—all women. Sure, they’re sexy and fun. But “Player” is an easy reputation to hide behind, a way to keep the good times rolling and reality at bay. He’s loud, he’s cocky, he says exactly what he’s thinking, and people just laugh it off because they think they know him. But Nico makes sure no one is close enough to know the truth. With a new season starting, he is … ready to play the game he can control. They’ll all be watching Nico, the goalie, but they’ll never know the man behind the mask who is just trying to breathe. He hasn’t ever wanted anyone close enough to him to see the truth, until Aviva rams herself into his ass. Literally.
Aviva Pearce’s life is a collection of bad days all wrapped up without a bow. If it can go wrong, it will. All she wants is to run her business, take care of her sister, and keep her head above water. But with a father who is out to ruin her like he has himself and debt trying to drown her, it’s hard to stay afloat. Aviva isn’t the type to waste time dwelling on her misfortunes or to give up, though. She’s got too much fight in her. And she definitely doesn’t have time to waste on the wildly sexy, rich, showboating goaltender everyone wants. She’s got goals.
What she doesn’t know is that Nico has goals of his own.
And she’s number one on his list.
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All I can say about “Wild TENDY”, is that it was so fabulously written and I hated when it ended. I read about Nico in “Juicy Rebound”, and I did not like him very much. I also felt bad for Nico because Shelli was using him for sex. In this book he so redeemed himself. I cried in the beginning of the book. It really touched my heart. I have not read a bad book from this author, and I hope Toni never stops writing. This was about Nico, a hockey player who was great as a goalie, but he has a lot of demons to deal with. He is so special to me since I have problems that make me different from other people. When Nico meets Aviva and her sister Callie, his world is turned upside down…in a good way. I think poor Nico finally found the one person he could trust and love unconditionally. I hope to read more about their beautiful story. If you are a fan of Toni Aleo, this another great one to read!!! Thank you, Toni.
Be still my heart. Nico is as vulnerable as he is cocky and he totally owned me from the get-go. This is an amazing story about some truly perfectly imperfect characters who have their own stories to tell. I absolutely loved this book from beginning to end, through every moment whether it be sweet, tender, difficult, funny or sexy. I went through the gamut of emotions I expect from Toni Aleo. She really knows how to give me everything I’m looking for in a story and I really love her style! Aviva and Nico are as perfect together as they can be and I love watching them fall in love and give everything to each other and taking in return, the way it should be. I love the relationship Nico develops with Aviva’s sister Callie and how she is his champion. It is just so heartwarming and awesome! They may not take the easiest of roads to a HEA but love does seem to conquer all and find a way. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I adore the ending!
Oh Nico, I’m sure you weren’t on planning to steal my heart but you did anyways.
Nico is the goalie for the Ice Cats and is a confident player. Off the ice, he is but still has his doubts. Until he meets Aviva at her sandwich shop. Thanks to her sister, the two can’t help be around each other. But Aviva is struggling with keeping her shop open after her mom passes away from breast cancer. And there is the dark possibility that her and her sister might develop cancer too. Nico is the perfect distraction and reason for Aviva to live and thrive.
This book is so special to me. Toni never disappoints me with any of her books.
WHEW! What a ride! I absolutely love Nico, Aviva, & Callie. Even though I wanted to smack Aviva through a lot of the story – she is like the definition of stubborn, and some of her reasoning just escapes me at times. BUT! Much like Nico, I still love her. LOL
Nico’s heart is huge. He is 100% swoony goodness, and I want to wrap him in a huge hug! He’s hilariously confident while also struggling. It’s the best kind of dichotomy, the way he’s written.
Their story was much deeper & more emotional than I was expecting from the blurb, in the loveliest of ways. It’s full of heart & humor, steam & swoon. And some tears were shed! I absolutely loved this story!!
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You may think you have an idea of who Nico Merryweather is…….but you will be in for quite the surprise when you read Wild Tendy! He was nothing like what I expected after meeting him in previous stories – but after truly getting to know the man behind the mask, oh boy do I just adore this man. He just is one of those special characters that you will never forget. And Aviva – what a strong, independent, selfless woman. I am just in awe of her strength and resilience after all she has been through. After the first time they met, Nico could just sense that there was something special about Aviva and was determined to get to know the woman who crashed into his life. Watching the relationship between them was so beautiful to see, even though it was not easy by any means. He was used to doing whatever he wanted, whenever he wanted and she was used to doing things on their own and not accepting help from anyone. They had so many ups and downs; but at the end of the day, when you love someone, you love all the parts of them – and you find a way to make it work.
I really loved the relationship that Nico developed with Callie too – that to me was one of the most special parts of this story. There was one scene in particular that brought tears to my eyes, seeing how strong the bond between them was. And of course, getting to see Amelia and Chandler was great, as well as seeing how deep the friendship was between Nico and Chandler – that just made my heart so happy.
There are just so many other things I want to say about this story, but it’s just best if you experience this one for yourself.
Wild Tendy arrived in my Kindle in July, but it was just now that I sat down and read it. This book does not disappoint.
In the last few years, sports romances have abounded in the book world, and it takes something special for one to stand out. Aleo created that stand out with this book. Nico and Aviva are not your typical main characters with run of the mill obstacles in their lives. They help each other grow as people as the story progresses. A thoughtful read with a great HEA at the end.
This is a story about a hockey player, yes, but mostly this is a story that is pure heart.
Toni Aleo just knock me on my butt with this story. Nico, in the eyes of everyone is simply a player, and not only the hockey kind. He enjoys the ladies and is not ashamed to admit it. But one fateful day he meets Aviva. While she’s smart, independent, and a fighter through and through, her luck is not the best. She’s raising her sister, tending her business, and trying to keep the bad influence that is her dad far far away. Two people who seemed so different for each other in some aspects but in reality they are what each other need to move forward and learn the real meaning of love.
Both Aviva and Nico have their demons, but they’re too prideful to let them show in front of each other. This is one of the things that captivated me about this story, that they learned to accept and love themselves and the essence of who they really were on the inside, accepting the things they saw as obstacles and embracing them. I also appreciated that Aleo touched sensitive subjects with respect and compassion.
This is one of the best books I’ve read from this author and her hockey series. The characters as well as the storyline are full of heart and soul with a little humor mix in between. Highly recommended!
I went into this book ready to not like it. When Nico appeared in previous books I was not impressed. He was such a cocky ass. I should have known there was more to him. Such a multidimensional character. You will love him and all he has been through. Aviva is one to love from the start, hardworking, strong woman raising her teenage sister. The chemistry with Aviva and Nico is there from the start. The bonus was how much Nico immediately took to her sister, Callie. That just melted my heart. The fact that she was the first one he told his secret to, was perfect. Be prepared to have all the feels while reading this book. Another 5 star from Toni!!
I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review*
Toni Aleo has penned an amazing book on a sensitive and very real condition that everyone can relate too. Nico and Aviva are as different as night and day but yet their chemistry is combustible. There will be no spoilers because as a reader you need to feel the emotions that each character feels as you read
Get ready to bawl. Get ready to jump for joy. Get ready to fall in love with amazing characters. Get ready to fall into the pages of Wild Tendy and not want to climb back out.
I was warned that the story would make me think, open my eyes. I didn’t realize how much the story would touch my soul. This story was so empowering. The story was addictive. It left me wanting to learn more, to search for ways to be better, to be more compassionate.
We first met Nico Merryweather in Icecats, #1 as Chandler’s best friend and Shelli Adler’s boy toy. He is struggling in a world he doesn’t understand. Wild Tendy is Nico’s journey to a better him and a grown up capable of love.
He meets Aviva by accident and it changes everything for both of them. She is struggling to raise her sister, to keep a sub shop running, and deal with the after effects of her mom’s death. She is too grown up and he isn’t enough. Together they are perfect.
Just when I think there is no possible way for Toni Aleo to write a book that could be better than the last one, she proves me wrong again! Without giving too much away, I can honestly say that I’ve never read a book where the two main characters faced the kind of issues that Nico and Aviva do.
Nico may come off as selfish or self-absorbed to some but when he shows his real self to Aviva, you find out what an amazing man he is and what might seem like a flaw to some really made me love him more. He knows what he wants and focuses on the goal, and making Aviva is the goal for him. He is a different kind of hero, but still so sweet, loveable, and last but not least a sexy NHL goalie.
Aviva is a very independent woman who don’t need no man, but watching her fall for Nico is so beautiful. There were times that I was so frustrated with her, but I can completely understand where she comes from. She has things that she doesn’t like about herself and I’m sure there are so many women that relate to the particular issue she has. As always, Toni does a great job of taking a sensitive subject and writing about it so that maybe it can help someone else get through the same kind of thing.
Fans of the series will love getting a glimpse of a certain wedding of another couple and by love I mean you will bawl your eyes out, but it is so worth it. You will also laugh because this book is so funny and you might also want to open a 90’s themed sub shop.
There are some books that you read that you know you will always remember, and this is one of them, so do yourself a favor and read it!
There are a lot of things I liked about this book. I applaud the author for tackling two difficult subject matters/health issues and doing them justice. She’s created some winning characters with whom the reader easily connects and becomes invested in. Hockey romances are popular, and this is on par with others I’ve read, from the camaraderie between players and the bromance between Nick and Chandler to the action on the ice and the lifestyle off the ice. And Aviva’s sister, Callie, is an ingenious addition to the cast and steals her share of scenes.
Without the first chapter, this book would have been pretty great. When will authors understand that there is a significant group of readers who don’t want to read about intimate details between the hero and someone other than the heroine? For many of us, it leaves a bad feeling that can rarely be overcome, making the hero irredeemable for us. Sure, tell us what a dog the hero is, have him joke about his exploits, but. Do. Not. Show. Us. We don’t want those details! Any author worth her salt can impart pertinent information to the reader without taking her through the experience. Yes, we needed to know that Nico has a thing about certain aspects of intimacy, but we would easily get the point without being walked through it and then rehashing it with Chandler and Amelia.
Having said that, it appears I’ve veered out of my lane because all of the other reviews are glowing. I do feel strongly about the skeeve factor and personally know other readers who do too, so I thought it only fair to say something. And truly, other than the first chapter, it’s a compelling, engaging story. But this way, other readers can make their own decision about whether to try this book, try it and skip the first chapter, or move on to something else.
Just when you think that you have a favorite book from this author, she goes and writes this masterpiece! I’m simply in awe of this book! I adored Aviva and Nico! they were perfection in every page!.
Wild Tendy is book 2 in the Ice Cats series. I LOVE these characters! I was hooked from the moment I started reading and could not put it down. Nico has quirks that others may find odd, and he is doing his best to try to control his anxiety with certain situations. However, when he meets Aviva everything changes and he is actually able to feel relaxed for the first time.
There was so much amazing chemistry between Nico and Aviva. And the way that Aviva cares for her sister shows what a strong bond that they have.
Of course, there is still some serious drama and relationships are tested. I was dying to figure out what exactly was going on with Nico because I knew it was more than he was letting us know.
This is a must read book and series for sure! By Alisa
goalie and Aviva is the owner of a local 90’s themed sandwich shop. After a rough day, Aviva accidentally runs into the back of Nico’s car. This begins Nico and Aviva’s friendship/beginning of their romantic relationship. I liked Aviva for the most part. She is very independent, does not like to accept help from others and is determined to rely on nobody but herself and her sister. Starting this book, I had mixed feelings about Nico. I remembered his character from the previous book and it wasn’t a good memory, but I was curious about him and his story did not disappoint. Nico is so lovable once you get to know him. I don’t want to give anything away, so my advice is to just read this story and you’ll love it.
The Ice Cats are a great new team with lots of stories to be told. Nico and Aviva’s book is the second in the series and includes great characters from the first book just building a team. Nico’s character really blooms with all his quirks and OCD behavior. I love the way the author treated how he coped and lived in the real world with his issues with respect. Aviva has lost her mother and has to deal with her own health concerns while raising her younger sister, Callie. She has been running her mother’s deli shop, trying to keep it open and to support herself and Callie. Aviva is strong, hard-working and does want any handouts, along comes Nico the control freak fixer. What a beautiful book this is that brings these two people together, to show how hard they love each other with all the obstacles they must overcome. Great Book.
Toni Aleo’s Ice Cats Series is awesome, loved book 2 as much as book 1!!
Nico has a huge personality, with an ego to match. Awesome goalie, heartbreaking good looks…Aviva may give him a run for his money!
These two together equals fire! Love them!
Aviva is strong and amazing, love her!
This one has lots of feels, you’re gonna love watching they’re love bloom!
From page one Nico and Aviva are going to make you go yummmm!
How do you make the perfect sub: Take one part wild goaltender with a heart of gold, add one part independent woman with a level head on her shoulders, garnish with the sassiest little sister on the planet and BAM you are in for a tasty read. After his introduction in Juicy Rebound I fell in love with the huge personality that is Nico, this book allows you to get to know the man behind the ego! The pairing of Nico and Aviva makes so much sense and Toni got this story 100% right from beginning to end. Not to mention the antics that ensue when Aviva’s sister Calli hits the scene. Open your heart and get ready to fall even more in love with Nico!
Nico is my new book boyfriend!
This is book 2 in the Ice Cats Series and I can’t believe I’m saying this, but it’s better than the first one. This is Nico’s story and boy what a story it is. I love the story line that Toni Aleo wrote for Nico and it will make you all fall in love with this man. Nico is a man who loves women, all women, but when he meets Aviva Pearce, it’s all over for him. I loved the way that these two met and how their story just took off from there. Aviva is one strong woman and God knows she will need to be to keep up with Nico, but you will absolutely fall in love with these two and the way that they react to each other. And let’s not forget Aviva’s sister Callie, who is such a firecracker that I cannot wait to see what kind of a story that Toni writes for her. Don’t pass this book by cause you’ll miss out an on outstanding story.
I know with Toni Aleo book reviews, my beginning line is always the same but what can I say, I LOVE Toni Aleo. I don’t know how she manages it but with each and every book, she made me feel like I was part of the story. I felt what the characters were feeling. I laughed and cried with them, I got pissed or happy for them. I can only thank her for taking me to such an amazing journeys. Toni’s ‘Assassins’ and ‘Bellevue Bullies’ series are my all time favorite hockey series and you can find the reviews of each book in my blog :). Of course with this much amazing heroes and heroines, I also have a favorites list 🙂 Unfortunately, with each new book Toni Aleo releases, I am struggling with the rankings and I love Shea and Philip too much to reduce their rankings. So since ‘Ice Cats’ and ‘Nashville Assassins: Next Generation’ are brand new series, I decided it was time to start a brand new list. And I am proud to say Niko Merryweather is on the top and I believe just like Shea, it will be impossible to kick him from the top 🙂
We first meet with Niko Merryweather in ‘Juicy Rebound’ and he also makes an appearance in ‘Dump and Chase’ but the person I get to know in those books wasn’t my favorite. He seemed really obnoxious so when I started reading ‘Wild Tendy’, I wasn’t sure what to expect. But oh heart! Be still! The Niko you will get a chance to see in this story will melt your heart and also panties 🙂 So let me give you bit of background info about Niko. He plays for Ice Cats and he is one of the best goalies in the league. He is funny, loud, quirky, sweet, and really tenacious. After Shelli Adler puts an end to their sexapades for Aiden Brooks, Niko feels abandoned and not good enough. However, when gets rear-ended by an amazing woman, Aviva Pearce, all those thoughts vanishes and he knows that he found his match. Aviva is strong, independent and a true fighter. After losing her mom at a young age, she is raising her 17 years-old sister, Callie, and also running their family business. Her life is super busy and she is barely making ends so she doesn’t really have time or energy for a relationship. But Niko being Niko he bulldozes his way into Aviva and Callie’s lives. I adored Niko and Callie’s relationship. Callie is an awesome teenager. She is strong, opinionated and loyal. She is Niko’s partner in crime and inside informant 🙂 Since Bellevue has a gymnastic team and Callie is a talented gymnast, maybe in the future we can see her in one of the books as a heroine 🙂 As for Niko and Aviva’s relationship, with time it gets harder for Aviva to fight the attraction and Niko’s awesomeness so she doesn’t have any other option but be with him 🙂 Both Niko and Aviva is struggling with their own insecurities and watching them to help each other to get over these insecurities was amazing. Also, when you start learning the backstories and the things they have been through, you will fall in love with them more. They are both very inspiring and beautiful inside and out. I want to say so many thing about these two but there is no way to do it without spoiling the story, so I will hold it back and let you find it out.
‘Wild Tendy’ is sweet, inspirational and emotional story that will make you feel so many emotions at one point or another and you won’t be able to put it down. I am hoping someday I can find someone who will love the parts of me that no one else knows how to love, just like Niko and Aviva did for each other.
Would I recommend this book: Yes.
Would I re-read this book: Already did. Suprising? NOT 🙂
Would I read future books by this author: Yes.