There’s a reason they call me Wylde and it’s not just because it’s my last name. I might be one of the newest players on the Arizona Vengeance team, but I’m no stranger to the celebrity that goes along with being a professional hockey player. Whether it’s a fan seeking an autograph or a puck bunny looking for more, I’ve grown used to the attention. I not only thrive on it; I use it to my … thrive on it; I use it to my advantage. Let’s just say my bed is rarely empty.
When a quirky redhead at the local bookstore stops me dead in my tracks, I decide to pop in and turn on the trusty Wylde magic. As smart and strong-willed as she is beautiful, Clarke Webber isn’t swayed by my witty banter or charming good looks. And when she realizes who I am and the fame that comes along with it, she likes me even less. Thankfully, I’m always up for a challenge. The more I get to know about her, the more I know my playboy days are behind me.
If I’m going to capture Clarke’s heart, it’s time to be a lot less Wylde, and a lot more Aaron.
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* A review copy was provided by the author *
~ 3.5 Wylde Stars ~
Ok….I have to be honest here….Wylde was not my favorite Vengeance series book. I had a bit of a struggle getting through this story. Not because it wasn’t a good story and entertaining, I struggled to like either Wylde or Clarke. I just couldn’t connect with their characters which made it hard to get into the emotion of this story.
I knew going in that Wylde is the “player” of the Vengeance hockey team, so I kind of expected that in the beginning, but I thought it took a little too long for him to come around when he was clearly interested in Clarke. As for Clarke….I don’t know how to explain her, except that I just didn’t like her. Nothing really stood out, I just couldn’t connect with her.
Now that I told you what I didn’t like about this book, let me tell you what I did. I loved seeing all of the other past couples in this book. We get such amazing updates on them. It almost felt like this book was more about the other players and what was happening with them, then focusing on Clarke and Wylde’s storyline….they kind of get lost in the stories of the other couples.
This story takes place during the off season, so there isn’t much when it comes to hockey in this book. I missed that aspect of these books. I did however like that we got to meet some new characters, that I know will be getting their own books in the future. I think Sawyer set up those stories very well.
Wylde is the 7th book in this series and can be read as a standalone. I wouldn’t recommend reading this book before the others though, because this does kind of spoil a lot of the previous books. This story is told in Dual POV. I thought the flow and pace of the story was well written.
If you are a fan of Sawyer’s books then I think you should read this one. Just because it wasn’t a 5 star read for me, doesn’t mean it won’t be for others.
Oh, how I love this series and all of the characters that Sawyer Bennett has introduced us to! Not only do we get the story of Wylde, but we get to see all of our favorite guys from the team and their significant others as well!
Aaron Wylde and the rest of his Arizona Vengeance teammates are having a great start to the off-season. He’s settling into his new summer routine which will consist of working out and likely also finding some willing bed partners. They don’t call him Wylde for nothing! When he takes a detour on one of his runs, he ends up spying a captivating red head through the window of a bookshop, so he decides he’s got to stop in.
Clarke Webber is the owner of Clarke’s Corner bookshop and to say she’s sworn off relationships is an understatement. She was burned badly years before and she is not willing to put herself through that again. Her focus is on her career and she’s got a great friend in Veronica who she relies on quite a bit.
When Aaron stops into the shop, let’s just say that he calls Clarke’s bluff, which ends up meaning she’s got to go on not one, but two dates with him. He’s got weddings coming up and he needs a plus one, not to mention he’s totally captivated by her, which a new thing for him. Will he be able to tear down the walls that she’s so carefully built or will she just continue to place more and more roadblocks in his way?
I really enjoyed how this story played out. I loved the evolution of Wylde and how even his teammates couldn’t believe what they were witnessing. I can understand the reticence on Clarke’s part due to her past, but I did like that she was open to listening to others when they gave her advice. As I mentioned at the top, I enjoyed getting to see the other Vengeance players and their significant others. It was a bit of a reunion and that was fantastic. I’m really looking forward to
Kane’s story next!
**I voluntarily read an early copy of this title in exchange for an honest review**
You would think that after seven books in this series, that you might have seen it all by now, but it’s not the case. Each member of this elite hockey team is different and amazing in their own right. They each have a unique story to tell and I fell for Wylde long before he met Clarke. You may remember that he is the bestie to Tacker and had helped him out immensely with his heartache when his fiancée died. He was also pivotal in helping Rafe get through the sorrow and pain of losing his father to cancer. To say Wylde is a stand up guy is an understatement. Yeah, ok he has a nickname that might depict his wild days but when he finds the right woman to pay all his attention to, it’s the past experience that helps him woe Clarke and help her trust his good intentions. And I adored the way he took things slow and didn’t rush into a lust relationship but built it to an everlasting one.
Clarke was a very smart woman, even if she fell for Aaron’s trickery when they first met, but he charmed her every day after that. She had major issues with dating a celebrity and she didn’t know if it was going to work. Being around Aaron more, showed her his determination and devotion. She got to see a side of him that I feel no one had before and it was fun to be apart of. I truly loved her place of work, gosh wouldn’t we all want to own a shop like hers?!! I think what I liked most about this book was the mutual respect and responsibility they felt to mend their relationship. It positively was a combined effort to reach their HEA. I also love that we get a glimpse into the next novel in this series. Kane is another that has me intrigued.
Just add this one to the awesomeness of Sawyer Bennett’s hockey-themed books. While this one takes place during the offseason of hockey, it’s still a great book. All of our favorite Vengeance players are present and accounted for. I will say that if you have never read any of the Vengeance books, that you could read this one as Sawyer does a fantastic job of reminding her readers of how each couple got together. Wylde, otherwise known as Aaron to Clarke, and Clarke’s story is fascinating. I loved how they met and how she tried to trick Wylde to get out of their first date. It kind of proved that he was more than a hockey player. This story has ups and downs, but I would go with more ups. Loved the wedding fever as hockey fans know when these guys actually have time to relax. Dual point of view. No cliffhanger.