🔖 REVIEW BLITZ 🔖 The Big Skate by Elise Faber

The Big Skate by Elise Faber

Release Date: December 26, 2024

Series: Sierra Hockey Book #3

Pages: 261

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Sports

I’ve sworn off love…until her.
The only problem? She can’t stand me.

Gorgeous, single mom Ivy wants absolutely nothing to do with me.

She thinks I’m a player—and maybe I am.

She thinks I don’t take anything seriously—and maybe I don’t.

She thinks I can never make her happy—but I’ve never been more focused on anything else. Not ever. Not even on hockey, and I live and breathe the sport.

She doesn’t understand that she’s become my reason for existing—

That if there’s any game in my life I’m willing to do anything to win…

It’s claiming her heart as mine. 

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My Review:

In Faber’s third book in the Sierra Hockey Series, she delivers a steamy and swoon worthy sports romance in The Big Skate.

As the strength coach for the NHL team, the Serra, Ivy Pierce is not only good at her job but she is also surrounded by extremely good looking men. That doesn’t mean that she wants to be in a relationship, on the contrary, Ivy wants doesn’t want to expose her daughter to a man that will ultimately walk away. So she is taken aback when one particular player keeps getting on her nerves, with his banter and handsome self. Knox Addler should be off-limits, he is hockey player who is used to getting what he wants. Yet, he seems to be having eyes for Ivy and that scares her. They both have a lot in common, which gives them the chance to lean on each other when they need it the most. All while developing feelings that she is not ready to give into, only to give Knox more reasons to prove that they are meant to be together.

I throughly enjoyed reading The Big Stake, we have two characters who have been hurt in the past, leading them to avoid any type of commitment. That’s until Knox starts to get closer to Ivy and her daughter, Evie, that he begins to see a future with them. Though he quickly realizes that it breaking Ivy’s barriers won’t be easy, but he is willing to do anything in order to deserve their trust and love. As a single mom, Ivy has done a great job raising and protecting her daughter from any harm. Yet, when Knox comes into the picture she is not sure how Evie is going to react. She soon sees Knox stepping up for them and her feelings for him start to blossom. I absolutely loved seeing Knox connect with Evie, he becomes her protector and has her back. Told in dual POV, this steamy romance will leave you wanting for more. I would highly recommend checking this book, will definitely be reading more from the author in the future. :)

***I received an advanced copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own.***

My Rating:

Meet Elise Faber:

USA TODAY bestselling author, Elise Faber, loves chocolate, Star Wars, Harry Potter, and hockey (the order depending on the day and how well her team—the Sharks!—are playing). She and her husband also play as much hockey as they can squeeze into their schedules, so much so that their typical date night is spent on the ice. Elise changes her hair color more often than some people change their socks, loves sparkly things, and is the mom to two exuberant boys. She lives in Northern California.

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🔖 REVIEW BLITZ 🔖 Married with Malice by Cora Brent

Married with Malice by Cora Brent

Release Date: December 5, 2024

Genres: Romance, Contemporary

The wedding was supposed to be my sister’s fate.

An alliance between two legendary mafia families just like in the old days.

But when my sweet, beautiful older sister fell for a civilian and eloped in spite of our father’s edict, mafia mayhem ensued.

Now, to save my sister and her clueless new husband from a date with a Cosa Nostra executioner, I’m taking her place.

No doubt everyone would have preferred the alternative bride. Especially the groom.

Luca Connelly. Master manipulator. Crown prince of his uncle’s blood-splattered empire.

And my nemesis since high school.

Luca, with his charm and muscle and sinful looks, believes the world is his for the taking.

He might be right.

Luca is good at fooling everyone else. However, he’ll never fool me.

He’s still the same callous, arrogant villain who used to delight in my torment.

Not that I’m innocent. The scorching hostility between us is completely mutual.

Too bad there are a few things I didn’t count on.

Like the way I can’t get enough of his touch.

Or how I keep coming back for more no matter how volatile we are together.

I know this is no recipe for a happy marriage.

But the closer I get to Luca, the more the lines get blurred.

My mistake was to assume that I was in full control.

I was so sure my heart could never fall for my husband.

Only now that it’s too late am I learning how very wrong I was…

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My Review:

Not having read any other books by Brent before, I didn’t know what to expect before reading Married with Malice. Needless to say, this steamy enemies-to-lovers mafia romance had me hooked from beginning to end! A must-add to your TBR list.

For Annalisa Barone being the middle child had its perks, she wouldn’t be tasked to unite two very important families. That is until her older sister backs out and in a matter of seconds Anni’s fate completely changes. Now she has to marry her childhood nemesis in order to save her siblings from their dad’s wrath. It didn’t matter what her dreams were, Anni’s whole life has been dependent on pleasing her dad and she has no choice but to marry into another mafia family. What makes things worse is that Luca Connelly is about to become her husband and she will do anything in her power to not fall for his charm. 

Luca’s future wasn’t supposed to involved being part of the mafia. His older brother worked really hard to make sure to give Luca that chance, until he found a way out, leaving Luca to face the consequences. Now he is about to marry Annalisa, the woman he’s been lusting after for so long. It’s not his intention to force her to be with him, but after a feisty banter gets steamy, lines are crossed. Neither of them expected anything to come from their marriage, yet Luca is set on convincing Anni to give them a chance.

I absolutely loved reading Married with Malice, the banter between Luca and Anni is on another level. It’s entertaining and steamy. Though their chemistry was a bit bumpy at the beginning, those two quickly give into their lust and it’s explosive. They might be complete opposites, but they soon find out that they have a lot in common when it comes to being in the mafia world. Luca’s whole life was planned to not be involved with the family business, until he has to take his brother’s place that he realizes just how heavy his new life is going to become. Annalisa becomes his comfort and he doesn’t want to let her go. I loved the suspense in the book as well. All in all, I would highly recommend checking out this book if you are in the look for a steamy mafia read. :)

***I received an advanced copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own.***

My Rating:

About the Author:

Cora Brent was born in a cold climate and escaped as soon as it was legally possible. Now, she lives in the desert with her husband, two kids and a prickly pear cactus she has affectionately named ‘Spot’. Cora’s closet is filled with boxes of unfinished stories that date back her 1980’s childhood and all her life she has dreamed of being an author. Amazingly, she is now a New York Times and USA Today bestselling writer of contemporary romance and begs not to be awakened from this dream.

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