I love it when a second chance romance works out. Even in romance novels, I don’t think they always do. If the original breakup was for a good reason that doesn’t seem to have been resolved, I don’t think the reunion is warranted or a good idea. For Tanner and Katelyn, it worked. Their college breakup made sense, but getting back together made sense, too.

Tanner and Katelyn dated in college, and by all accounts were in love. But the transition from college to the real world didn’t go smoothly; Tanner was offered a hockey contract in a different city and Katelyn couldn’t go with him no matter how much she wanted to. She also felt like she couldn’t tell Tanner why she couldn’t go, so they broke up. It’s been about eight years since they’ve seen each other, and it’s clear immediately that the heat between them hasn’t abated. It was also clear that there were a lot of unresolved feelings for them to work through, and no matter how over the other they thought they were, they were both wrong.

What I really liked about this story is that Tanner and Katelyn don’t do a lot of game playing. Once they decide to try again, which doesn’t take long, they just go for it. They’re both all in right away. They come to each other this time as adults, have the conversations they want and need to have, and make the relationship work. Everything’s not perfect; they still have some issues to work out, specifically the possibility of Tanner being transferred anywhere in the country, and Katelyn just getting her wedding planning business going and not being able to go anywhere. But they talk about the issues and work them out together.

And their issues, their commitment phobias, make sense to me, which is not always the case. Both of Tanner’s parents have been divorced and remarried and divorced and remarried multiple times. He’s been married and divorced himself, so it’s not surprising that he would be gun shy to try again. Katelyn lost the man she really loved, Tanner, and has since then she’s dated and gotten engaged to three different men before breaking off the engagements at various points in the relationship. She realized that she just didn’t love them enough to marry them. And now Tanner is back.

I really liked this book, but I didn’t love it. I appreciated that Tanner and Katelyn were able to have adult conversations and solve their issues, but I also thought it was a little too easy. Yes, you need to have those conversations, but I don’t know that one real conversation would be enough. They had a few “Hey, it’s you, what a small world” conversations when they first ran into each other, flirted a bit, had one real conversation where they laid everything out, and that was it, they were together. I just thought they needed a little more time to get to know each other as the new people they were. It had been eight years since they’d seen each other – they’d graduated college, started careers, made new friends, dated other people, lost parents and friends; they weren’t the same people anymore. Yes, the chemistry was still there, but all that means is that the sex will probably be good. It doesn’t mean a relationship will work. That’s a pretty minor squabble, though, when I enjoyed the rest of it.

The other main reason I liked it but didn’t love it was a little more genre-specific than book specific. One of the reasons I don’t read as many sports romances as I do other sub-genres is the way they tend to divide up the female characters. I’m not saying there aren’t exceptions, please don’t flood my comments with the books you’ve read that don’t follow this formula, but they’re overwhelmingly similar. The women are usually divided up into “good girls”, the heroine and her friends, any heroines from previous books in the series, etc. The rest of them, all of the women in the hero’s past, women who we meet in the current book who don’t fit the above criteria, they’re all classified as gold-digging whores who are deemed not worthy of anyone’s time. Before the current heroine, every woman the hero has dated falls into these categories, Tanner’s ex-wife included. None of these heroes ever dated any other “nice girls” or “good girls” that just didn’t work out. It’s the heroine and her status as “good” or a gold-digging whore, there are no other options. The only exception to this, present here in one of the still-unattached men in the series, is the sainted dead-too-soon wife. Usually having died nobly after a long illness, these women are deemed good girls by default, and I suspect that when this man, Max, gets his story, the new heroine will have her work cut out for her living up to the memory of her.

Most of the time, the hero spends his time screwing and discarding as many of these women as he can, because he’s a man and he has his physical needs and testosterone and boys will be boys and whatever, and these women aren’t even worth the effort to learn their names or make them a cup of coffee on their way out the door. Until the heroine comes along. The proverbial “good girl”. The one who is either a virgin or has only had sex with men she was in long-term relationships with. The one whose magic vagina makes her suddenly worthy of not just knowing her name, but maybe even allowing her spend an entire night in the hallowed halls of the hero’s home, which no one else has ever done.

This certainly isn’t specific to sports romances, we see it in all sub-genres, but the nature of an athlete’s life, their built-in fan base makes these books more susceptible to it. Are there women out there who want athletes because of the money and fame? Of course there are. Are they deserving of being discarded like used tissues because of it? No. They’re not deserving of the label “whore” while women who don’t sleep exclusively with athletes are considered “good” or “nice.”

Ultimately, as much as I liked this book, it didn’t do much to change my mind about sports romances. If I had the chance to read the rest of the series, I might, but I probably wouldn’t search it out.

You can never go wrong with Kelly Jamiesons books. Hooked from beginning to end as expected.

Another good hockey book about a player Tanner Bennet who does not like weddings. He is at one of his teammate’s home who is planning for their upcoming wedding when he meets their wedding planner. She was his girlfriend in college, Katelyn Medford. They are awkward at first and by seeing one another has brought up feelings in the other one that they have not allowed themselves to have in a while. There are issues from their past that they must deal with, along with his fear of commitment. I must say Katelyn does not make it easy for him to even think about leaving her this time or even thinking that she will not follow him. The love story between them is good, along with the wedding from his teammate, and the birth of the baby from the last book, and one last surprise at the end from a player from one of the other books. Overall a very good book with wonderful characters, good hockey story, and even a Gordie Howe hat trick which is always good.

Hot and sexy hockey player, a strong heroine and a second-chance romance made for a wonderful romance! I really enjoyed this one and can't wait to read more by this author! Fantastic!

This book has so many things going for it. The first thing you'll notice is the amazing cover. HELLO SEXY MAN WITH THE STUNNING EYES!!! Then once you dive in, you'll add a new sexy, hockey player book boyfriend to your list. And then, who doesn't love a second chance romance?

This series sucked me in right from the first book. Kelly Jamieson writes amazing characters. You'll love the hockey players and the women who love them. I thought it would be tough to top Jared and Sidney from the previous book Top Shelf, but this one pretty much tied as my favourite in the series.

Katelyn and Tanner have history, so imagine their mutual surprise when they come across each other again. Katelyn as Marc and Lovey's wedding planner and Tanner as one of Marc's groomsmen. In the past they made choices that required that they each go their separate ways. Now they keep bumping into each other and their chemistry is unmistakable. Once again they may be forced to make some tough decisions. I loved seeing how they came to terms with the love they have for one another.

I really enjoyed this book and it definitely is worthy of five hot and steamy Tim's (you know, the first one you have in the morning that is oh so satisfying). As usual I look forward to more in this series.

I love this series! Second chance - the one that got away - romances are one of my favorites. Kelly Jamieson has done a wonderful job of writing real characters. You get sucked into their stories because they are believable. Katelyn and Tanner's relationship was so realistic...it was wonderful to watch their relationship build on the feelings that they shared all those years ago. I enjoyed catching up with the other couples in the series. They are all just so likeable and down to earth despite having money. I really look forward to more in this series.....I am anxious to see if Hallsy will have his own story. I highly recommend this book and the others in the series. Oh....and LOVED the cover!!!

I was given a gifted copy by NetGalley.
Tanner is scared of relationships because all the time he starts to care about somebody that person leaves him behind. However, he is a caring man.
Katelyn is an event planner who has been hired by Lovey and Marc to plan their wedding. She had been away from hockey for a long time and she wants to stay like that but she really needs this contract.
I liked the book. Quick to read, funny and enjoyable. I liked the characters and the relationship of the members of the team. They are funny and close, they behave like a family where everybody stands up for everybody.

I can't believe that this is the first Aces Hockey book I've read! I've been missing out. Back Check was such a fun book to read. It combined two things I love: second chance romances and hockey players.

Kelly Jamison's writing is impressive. It takes a lot to pull off a third person, dual point of view narrative and she nailed it. There was no problem connecting with the characters or their thoughts and feelings. I barely even noticed the story wasn't in first person! I also loved the way she set up this second chance love story. The reasoning behind the characters' original breakup was perfect. I loved that it was traumatic to them, but not overly dramatic for the reader.

Tanner and Katelyn were both haunted by their past mistakes and dealing with their current pressures. Reconnecting heightened their concerns about what was to come, but it also brought them comfort. Their rekindled relationship was amazing, and while complicated, it also felt simple and right. Their chemistry was incredible and I loved the moments they spent getting to know each other again.

Back Check was an entertaining romance. I loved all of the characters and their hilarious interactions. I couldn't get enough of this book, and I'm so excited to go back and read the rest of the series! Kelly Jamison has a new fan!

I'm going with the majority on this one! 5 star read from Kelly Jamieson! I absolutely loved this story about Tanner and Katelyn. A second chance romance (one of my favorites!) with hot hockey players thrown in. The laughed out loud at these guys, and cried when they made the video. Lip sync competition? Hilarious! Can't wait for more from the Chicago Aces!

4.5

I would like to thank Netgalley and Loveswept for gifting me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I have to say that I had no idea that this was in a series when I picked it up so it was great that it could be read as a stand alone and I didn’t feel lost at all.

I really liked all the characters in this story and was rooting for Tanner and Katelyn to get together. I was waiting for some cheesy reason of why they split up in the first place but when she told Tanner about what was going on with her father and his health it broke my heart. Now they both have moments of just wishing they would have communicated so that they hadn’t wasted so much time.

I really enjoyed this story, the characters, that it could be realistic; the HEAT aspect was hot even though I kind of chuckled at the bedroom talk, I loved the chemistry between the two and since they had known each other prior them getting together didn’t feel so rushed.

I’m on a hockey/sports romance kick so if that is something you are into then this is a great read! I’m going to have to go get the other books in the series now!!

this is the forth book in the series. This is about hockey and a fantastic sports romance read. These book can be read as stand alone or as part of the series. I just could put it down, with the amazing romance story and the fantastic characters. I cant wait to read more from this author in the future.

Highly recommended
I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book

I'm not usually big into second chance romances, but Back Check may have just converted me. Tanner Bennet and Katelyn Medford fell in love in college but separated when he signed with the NHL and she stayed to finish college and (unbeknownst to Tanner) care for her ill father. Years later they are both still hurting over the breakup and it has affected all future romantic relationships. Now in Chicago they have a surprise reunion as Katelyn is hired to plan an Aces teammate's wedding. She's starting her own business, he's in contract negotiations that could send him to another team. Both have unresolved issues. Can they start over or will they end up making the same mistakes the second time around?

Kelly Jamieson mixes sweet and sexy, fun and serious, romance and friendship in another great book with Body Check. I liked that, when they looked back with adult hindsight, what Tanner and Katelyn realized was that a lot of their problems the first time around were that they were too young and still finding themselves. When faced with major decisions like staying home or going with Tanner to New York Katelyn may have made the right call by staying, but realizes that she might not have handled thing as well as she could. Tanner might resent her choices, but can't argue with them when he understands everything. Katelyn was determined not to burden him or slow him down as he began his career. Tanner was too quick to see Katelyn staying behind as rejection. A family history of divorces, rejections, and being ignored gave Tanner a complex that he doesn't realize he has- until he faces losing Katelyn a second time. I really liked that Jamieson gave us an emotionally vulnerable hero in Tanner- someone who seems to play through life and worry about nothing, but who has been shaped by his past to worry about everything and expect no one to stay in his life. Spoiler alert: the apology his teammates help him send to Katelyn at the end is both a tearjerker and hilarious- and should probably be sent to all boyfriends to take notes on for any apologies they may have to make in the future.

Katelyn and Tanner are well written, complicated characters and completely relatable to the reader. Once again, Jamieson shines with a couple that have chemistry that will set the pages on fire and perfectly balances that with two people learning to balance emotions and life together outside of the bedroom as well. A great team of supporting characters from the Aces and their ladies that you don't need to have read previous books in the series to enjoy also fill in the wonderful 'real life' sense. And Jamieson's love of hockey is evident throughout- to the great delight of this hockey fan.

Back Check performs a hat trick of hockey, romance and friendship for a winning book.

one of my favorite book so far this year. i was pleased with this. swoony is not even a word but that is what i felt about this. LOL!! must read

In this second chance sports romance, Tanner Bennett of the Aces hasn't had much luck with commitment and relationships. His college relationship didn't work out and then his marriage didn't work out. He's a bit worried that he's a jinx when it comes to commitment, but he ends up saying yes to being a groomsman in his teammate's wedding. He's in for a big surprise when the wedding planner turns out to be his ex from college.

Katelyn has been focused on her career. Her relationships haven't gone so well either. After 3 broken engagements, she's given up. When she runs into Tanner again, she's not really eager to start up anything with him, especially since they broke each other's hearts all those years ago. But history and chemistry come into play here and their feelings for each other come roaring forward.

I thought this was a cute, low drama romance that asks the question of whether you can right the mistakes of the past. Both Tanner and Katelyn made decisions in college that killed their relationship and now they get to come clean with each other. Things get complicated when Tanner's contract with the team is up for renewal and there's a possibility that he may get traded to another team, setting up a situation that could be a repeat of their past.

If you like sports and romance and second chances, this could be the story for you. It's a quick, easy read that will leave you with a smile.

This is my honest review. An ARC was provided.

Back Check (Aces Hockey #4) by Kelly Jamieson is a former lovers reunion romance that should appeal to fans of that storyline. The hero, Tanner is your typical love and leave em’ type of man, who was ruined by love back in college because his college sweetheart, and love of his life, aka the heroine left him. Tanner has moved on from his heartbreak, and even married, and got divorced. But the love of his life, his college sweetheart reenters the picture because she’s a wedding planner who’s planning the wedding of his good friend and fellow hockey player. Kate was the girl who got away because she wanted Tanner to spread his wings and go after his dream. She sacrificed their love, and now after 8 years of separation, they come face to face with one another.
Tanner and Kate don’t know how to deal with one another at first. She acts cold to him, and he treats her with disdain, but the love and attraction they once had for one another is still there. Slowly but surely, they forgive one another, becomes comfortable with each other again, and then they realize they want a second chance at love together. But when Tanner’s career comes between them, as in he might be traded to another team hundreds of miles away from Kate, they both have to decide if what that have rekindled is worth saving.
Back Check is your typical Contemporary/ Sports romance, but the main couple is very mature and independent thinking. Kate loves her career and single life, which becomes complicated when Tanner pops back up in her life. Tanner loves hockey, but he’s missing something. He has friends, money, respect, but he’s lonely because he doesn’t have that special woman who completes him. It’s Kate obviously. The plot is basically these two coming to terms with their past, and moving on from the hurt. The tension is pretty low key and not too angsty. The sex scenes are satisfactory and fit the tone of the novel.
Back Check is a solid romance with an appealing couple set in the world of hockey, and all it entails.

Back Check is a second chance sports romance that also happens to be the fourth book in a series.
This book can be read as a standalone although I think it would be helpful if the first three were read prior so that you can familiarise yourself with some of the other characters in this book.

Tanner and Katelyn re-unite unexpectedly and there are feelings of hurt and some anger however there is still chemistry there. Seeing if they were able to rekindle what was lost was definitely sweet and entertaining when some of Tanner's teammates get involved.

This book has some sweet elements to it, a little bit of angst but not a lot. The banter back and forth between Tanner and Katelyn at times had me chuckling a bit.


I am a huge hockey fan and for me I found myself a little irritated at some of the names of the hockey teams. Yes I know this really has nothing to do with the storyline but it is something that threw me off as some of the team names were actually real NHL names and some were made up.
Disclaimer: I did read an unedited version so not sure if the actual version would be different.

This book however didn't suck me in and for me it was just an ok read.

Title: Back Check
Author: Kelly Jamieson

4 unexpected stars

I found Kelly Jamieson almost a year ago through this Ace Hockey series and instantly fell in love with her writing and characters. They've always felt real and this series never abandons the other characters that we all got to meet and know in the previous instalments. Back Check is no exception as Marc's story continues and readers are treated to Tanner and Katelyn's story. The beautiful wedding planner Katelyn never expected to come face to face with her high school sweetheart when she accepts the job to plan what she believes is the beg break of her career. Tanner, Marc's friends and team mate, hates weddings after his own mistake and shamble of a marriage after Katelyn left him.

4 breath taking dreams

When these two meet up after all these years, you just know that they have some unfinished business - things may have badly ended, but the chemistry between them is just so strong that it would be a mistake to ignore it. They are stubborn and their distrust completely understandable, yet what hit me the most was how the first breakup affected them and how they try to work through their issues so many years later. I'm sad to see this couple go and even more so this series, but then again, all good things must come to an end at one point... I can't wait to see what Kelly Jamieson will come up with for her readers.

*ARC provided by Author in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Kathleen, The Small Girl from A small girl, her man and her books

This was a pleasant read. It was my first book in this series though they clearly can be read as standalones. The two lead characters of Tanner and Katelyn-who were college sweethearts-meet up again when Katelyn is hired as a wedding planner for Tanner’s teammate. Though it’s been years, the former lovers still harbor some hurt from their break-up. With being around each other constantly they try to be friends but will their reborn chemistry dictate what will happen?

I enjoy a good sports romance as well as a second-chance romance and Back Check had both. The characters were likable and I was able to be engaged while I was reading. I liked reading about Tanner and Katelyn trying to make another go after a rough start to their reunion. They got along great and their chemistry was over the top. There was some depth to their connection and it showed though their banter. I also liked seeing the interactions with their friends and the previous couples in the series. It was always just a fun atmosphere. There were several scenes with the guys that had me entertained. The romance between Tanner and Katelyn was sweet and light-hearted. I enjoyed seeing how everything would play out with their rekindled love and their careers. Overall, a decent read.

When wedding planner Katelyn is asked to plan out hockey player Marc Dupuis' wedding, she didn't think that one of the groomsmen would be her ex-boyfriend and hockey planner Tanner Bennet. The two had met in college and were very serious about one another, but a series of unfortunate events lead them to part ways. Now they have a chance at reconnecting.

I have read the other books in this series along with many other books by Kelly Jamieson. I love how she develops the characters and their connections to each other and to their friends. Although this book is part of a series, this could be read as a standalone. Great read and I look forward to reading even more by this author.