3.75 STÀRS

3.75 is such an ambivalent rating and I usually only use the .75 ones when I'm really torn about it. I love Sawyer Bennett's flavor of low angst stories and I enjoyed Roman quite a bit.

Just before her mom passed away more than half a year ago she told Lexi the truth about her father. Equipped with the knowledge that he is Cold Fury's owner she moves to Raleigh. While nervously waiting on her appointment with him she runs into one of the team's defenseman, the super handsome badboy Roman Sykora. They click instantly.

Roman has an unfortunate reason to be called to see the management. His antics seem to escalate, the penalty box seems to be his second home and his suspensions do not please Gray, manager of the team, either. He has to shape up and get over himself or facing being released from the Cold Furies. When he meets the sweet Lexi he is instantly enchanted.

Lexi is a pretty straight forward girl. She has spirit and sass, a backbone and a lot of other traits I look for in a heroine. She is comfortable with who she is and happy with the life she is leading. I loved that Lexi and Roman had a sweet and playful connection without too much drama. What made this story so sweet is that there was no doubt about where they were headed as soon as they made the decision to get serious.

Roman is the badboy out of the book. He is unapologetic about it and sometimes even a bit defiant, especially when it comes to Gray who he has a personal beef with. When Lexi comes into his life he gradually changes and I really loved to watch him transform from the player to the devoted boyfriend.

This story doesn't only have two POV between the hero and heroine, it also shows the emotional world of Lexi's and Gray's dad Brian and I think that was the problem here. While I loved Brian and his connection with his newly found daughter it distracted from Roman's and Lexi's story and disconnected me from them. I never felt the raging chemistry some of the other characters had - yet it was still a very sweet story and if you crave some low drama and quick read this is perfect. Next up is Max' little brother Luc!

In the latest in the Cold Fury series, Sawyer Bennett tackles the bad boy of the team, Roman. Roman is always ready to throw down for a fight or to find his next conquest. That’s all catching up to him and he’s feeling the heat from upper management, when he meets Lexi.

Lexi is a mystery all on her own. She finds herself in North Carolina looking for her unsuspecting father, Brian the CEO owner of the Cold Fury. Eek! She’s not sure what she’s going to find but she’s determined to meet him and hopefully gain a relationship with her father and her new sister, Grey.


“Let’s get drunk and lose our inhibitions,” he suggests, and I look over my shoulder at him to find him sitting on my couch and unlacing his shoes, which are more like low boots and clearly more expensive than mine.

“I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again.: I laugh as I pull two bottles of beer out of my fridge. “You are so bad.”

Roman is a complicated character while seemingly not appearing to be. The quintessential bad boy, he doesn’t deal with deep connections. However, he has an instant spark with Lexi that quickly changes into more. Roman isn’t used to having people around him, his parents live halfway across the world and have been mostly absent from his life. Now that he’s been thrust into the forefront of a new family, he doesn’t know if he’s ready for it. But, Lexi might just prove to be the catalyst to better Roman.

Lexi and Roman’s relationship starts off easily and as their connection grows they realize that it also takes work and compromise. Their chemistry is red-hot! Their relationship is so much fun and was so entertaining to read. But they’re not the only ones you root for. There are also side characters that tug at your heartstrings! The family dynamic that exists in this story is multi-layered. There’s the cold fury family, Lexi’s family, and new friendships. These familial relationships show how tight knit the Cold Fury team is. The look out for each other and in Roman, it is evident that they cheer each other on as well.

The title of the book is Roman but this is so much more than just a story about Roman finding a connection with Lexi. It’s about new beginnings and letting people into your life at any level, not just romantically. Lexi finding her family is a big part of the story. She gains so much from them and they gain even more from her. Lexi is completely different from Brian and Grey. She’s a free spirit that works as a barista and also plays the ukulele. Lexi is a great heroine; she’s funny and extremely open to all of these new people. She may be a newcomer on the scene but with her effervescent and easygoing personality she quickly becomes the glue that holds them together.

Roman is a great addition to the Cold Fury series. There’s updates on many old characters and even some new developments that are exciting! Roman packs heat, heart, and humor and will demand for it to be read in one sitting.

When I first realized that the books in the Cold Fury hockey series would revisit the same season over and over again but each time from a different player's perspective, I was honestly worried that the stories would get tired and redundant.

However, the cool thing is that I found the complete opposite to be true. Each book brings a fresh outlook and a fun, new story that's different from the last. It's been awesome to see how one period of time can be so different for so many people who are basically encompassing the same experiences.

The latest release follows Roman's season. He's the team bad boy - on and off the ice - and after a few bad choices, he finds himself fighting to stay on the team. That struggle becomes even worse when he becomes smitten with the one girl who should be completely off-limits, Lexi.

Sweet Jesus. Roman and Lexi... these two are this lightning storm of passion. From the first moments they interact, they have this crazy, intense chemistry. Sparks fly as they verbally challenge one another with their quick wit and banter. It's hella hot and it leaves you praying that they give into their lust.

They just have one major stumbling block. See Lexi just recently introduced herself to her father and sister - they had no clue that she existed. And now, she's desperately trying to find her place in their world as the owner's daughter. Complicating the matter, her new sister - who is also the team's general manager - does not like Roman nor does she know what to do with this new relationship wither Lexi.

It's just a hot mess. So Lexi and Roman fight the feelings they have for one another. However, that decision hurts them both and leaves them wishing things could be different.

It's a bit of an up hill battle to get things worked out but Roman and Lexi's romance was entertaining as hell. I loved every minute I spent with them. I devoured all their heartache and drama, desperately craving more from them. It's an excellent romance and a fabulous addition to the Cold Fury series. I highly recommend you check this series out - it's definitely a winner!

***4 ‘Sometimes It’s All About the Ukulele’ Stars***

This series just does it for me. It sucks me in and does let go until the very end and leaves me wanting the next book like yesterday and Roman did just that. I swear I had a dopey smile on my face for the mass majority of the book and was damn happy I had my war paint on in order to hide the my reaction to the smeyness that was Roman and Lexi as they figured out just what they wanted from each other.

Roman is the bad boy of the Carolina Cold Fury on and off the ice and absolutely unapologetic about it. He has issues with authority and has a tendency to react without truly thinking things through at times, but he also gives his all to his team, at least when he’s on the ice. I honestly loved Roman even though he could be a cocky, unrepentant bastard because underneath all of that was a man with a passionate soul and a good heart. I spent half the book swooning over him and the other half wanting to smack him upside the head as he realized he could still be a badass without being an ass.

Lexi is a free spirit with a heart just as big. She’s learned a lot by living life and going where her heart has taken her and has found happiness and contentment in her chosen career that most never do. I adored Lexi. She had a good head on her shoulders, approaches most everything in a mature manner and was simply a good person. Lexi is that person that will end up having a short yet meaningful conversation with a stranger and leave that person in a better place in the end. I loved how she did her best to remain unbiased, but there were times when I really wanted her to give some people a piece of her mind. And I have to add that Lexi (and Ms. Bennett) get bonus points for giving love to Braddah Iz. It made my hawaii girl heart happy to see the man get some love.

Roman and Lexi’s budding relationship was fun to experience because it felt natural. They had great chemistry, I loved their bantering throughout the story and holy hell was the smexy HOT! Their road wasn’t pothole free, but the drama that they themselves created was pretty mild in comparison to what could have happened and I really liked how they actually communicated like adults and worked things out and liked where they were in the end.
As for the drama in the book. Roman and Gray ~ who I still love to death ~ had me wanting to smack both of them upside the head with a 2x4. While I could understand where they were both coming from, they both handled things wrong and acted like two year olds throwing temper tantrums instead of the adults that they were. The good that came out of their issues was getting to see just how good of a person Lexi was and how mature she was. The twist that finally has them adulting was not expected, but I’m happy they finally got their shit together.

We also have an added bonus in Roman and that’s Brian Brannon getting his own second chance HEA. It was sweet and fun and I just ended up really liking Brian and Georgia. I loved getting to know the man behind the Cold Fury as well as getting his POV on Lexi and Gray and all that was going on with having a 20 something woman walk into your office and say that you’re her father.

As always, I thoroughly enjoyed the writing and the multiple first person POV’s and though I would have liked to catch up with some of the other Cold Fury guys, I loved catching up with Ryker (who is still my favorite) Ruby and Violet and can’t wait for Luc’s book!

3.5 - The next chapter in my life is starting... Stars!

We return to the Cold Fury Hockey team for the seventh book in Sawyer Bennett’s ever popular series.

"I admire honesty."

This is one of those books that I didn’t struggle to read, but at the end of it didn’t really have any overwhelming feelings for it either way. Gray Brannon was the only person who actually pulled any sort of reaction from me, and that was utter dislike, which if I am honest wasn’t a huge surprise as I disliked her intensely in Ryker. Roman and Lexi were pretty cute as a couple but nothing really stood out as new or unique about their story.

"Your secret is safe with me."

Bad boy, nah not-so-much. Yeah he slept around in the past, but what’s unusual about a young, attractive, famous hockey player tearing it up between the sheets… Nothing. And he was totally devoted to Lexi from the get-go. Brawler on the ice for sure, but I just found him an all-round nice guy. Lexi was the same, nice…

"I’m glad someone sees me for what I am."

And I think that’s my overall phrase for the book, because take out the whole Gray situation, everything else was just nice. You get three POV’s in this book, sixty-one year old Bryan Brannon being the third, I suppose it added a little to the story, but for me there wasn’t any real depth or emotion to any of it from any of them.

"You can drool on me anytime."

Luc Fournier (Max’s brother) is up next, due in September 17, and I am hoping are given a story that I can sink my teeth into. I have had a bit of a giggle over the cover for his book, as he is apparently the younger of the Fournier brothers, but he looks about a decade older than Max, if you go by his current cover. Although to be honest the covers from this series kind of lost their impact after Ryker, as has the series in general really…

ARC generously provided via Netgalley, in exchange for the above honest review.

This is the seventh book in the Cold Fury series and the first book in the series I have read. Each of the prior books deals with the team members of the Carolina Cold Fury hockey team that is owned by Brian Brannon. Roman Sykora is the team's defenseman and he is considered the bad boy. He always seems to have negative publicity surrounding him, but that could be partly because he is willing to do what it takes to defend his teammates even if it lands him in the penalty box, on suspension and/or incurring fines. He also is known in the tabloids for his scandalous behavior, which is why he is warned by Gray about changing his actions or a trade may just be in play. Lexi Robertson may just be the solution.
Never knowing about her father, Lexi was shocked to learn from her dying mother who her father actually is. After her mom's passing, she moves to Raleigh, North Carolina to meet Brian and her half sister, Gray. Lexi is more of a free spirit compared to Brian and Gray and goes for the bad boys. Could a chance meeting with Roman end up destroying her chances to know her family? Lexi wants her new found family and her hunky bad boy relationships to work out. Can that be possible with Gray and Roman conflicts with each other? Will the conflicts be able to be resolved or will Lexi lose both Roman and Gray?
Lexi moves to North Carolina to be closer to her new family. Arriving in North Carolina, Lexi built a strong friendship with Georgia who is her boss and landlord but also like a second mother to her.
With this being the seventh book, I was nervous reading this one with not having read the prior books in the series, which has not been for lack of interest but lack of time. but after reading this book I will be going back and moving the others up on my TBR list. I was not lost in the series at all and sure maybe knowing Gray a little more at times may have been nice, but the way the book was written it wasn’t necessary. I’m just curious now and am looking forward to getting to know the other players.
I really enjoyed how the story was told in three points of view and it wasn’t just between Roman and Lexi but Brian and Georgia. Seeing the budding relationship between Brian Georgia was awesome and not something that occurs often in books. The two different relationships didn’t make the story feel overwhelming or confusing at all. I’m looking forward to reading the entire series along with the upcoming book.

This is the newest addition to the hot as sin Carolina Cold Fury hockey series and I have been shamelessly following these boys since book one!

Roman is definitely one of my new favorites and his story was smoking hot from beginning to end! I loved carefree Lexi from the moment she's introduced and found myself hoping for her very stressful situation to work out for her the entire time while reading this.

This author does an exceptional job at drawing you into the story and making you feel as if these characters are close personal friends and this is why I love completely losing myself in each and every one of her incredible stories. I'm never disappointed by anything I read of hers and always look forward to more from her. I highly recommend reading Roman's story.

In this story Lexi has come to Charleston to meet her father. She at least thinks he is. Her mother told her that on her death bed. After securing a job and a place to live she decides on going to the hockey clubs offices to get an appointment with the man she thinks is her father and last of her family. While their she meets defenseman Roman Sykora, who has been called in to the general manager’s office for his penalties, and fights while on the ice. They don’t get along and if she is the daughter the general manager would be her sister. Lexi and Roman though hit it off and from there he is quite taken with her beauty, but also by her fierceness. Especially when it comes to sticking up for herself and for standing up to him. She is not a push over like most of the women he goes out with. He is also surprised that she wants nothing from him, accept for his time when he can. A wonderful story about family, love and the game of hockey. There is also a romance between the owner of the Fury and Lexi’s boss. This part of the story is very good and Lexi’s boss is a hoot. A very good character. Overall a good book.

I really did not like the sister in this story, though I can understand some of where she was coming from. She was in the wrong. The family dynamic was interesting. This couple was very cute together. How they just got one another and made each other even better. I liked how they just were with each other.Their game of twenty questions was sweet.The secondary love story was cute. The sex scenes were hot. This was a good read. I enjoy this series.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.

4.5 stars

Roman Sykora is relatively new to the Cold Fury team, and has remained on the outside of those who consider the team a family. He has played high level hockey since he was a teenager, and is used to being on his own, without the support of family or close friends. He is also known as the team’s bad boy, fighting on the ice, enjoying public scenes off the ice. His antics on and off the ice have put him under the hot seat with pressure to clean up his act.

Lexi Robertson is in Raleigh to get to know the father and half sister she had only recently learned about. While her family was never large, she values the connection and now that her mother is gone, hopes that Brian and Gray Brannon can fill the need for family. She doesn’t expect the flirting with Roman, while waiting in the Cold Fury offices, to be anything but a little fun, until he makes the effort to find her again.

The chemistry between these two surprised even themselves. I loved watching Roman, especially, as he fought feelings he had never dealt with before. He wasn’t a man who needed people around, and finding himself in the position where he needed and enjoyed having Lexi around was not something he was familiar with, nor particularly comfortable with.

In addition to Roman and Lexi’s romance, there is a secondary story floating in the background between Brian Brannon and Georgia Mack. These two are such opposites that when I noticed the flirtation going on, I was struck with utter glee at watching Brian try to contain the exuberance that is Georgia. This felt like a bonus story wrapped up inside the primary story.

As usual, I found myself grinning at the antics of all the characters. I was frustrated right alongside Lexi as Gray and Roman held on to the animosity between them. I cheer each of them on as they stepped out of their comfort zone in order to support the other. As the 7th Cold Fury novel, Roman has big shoes to fill. This bad boy and his quirky, happy lady are the perfect additions to the Cold Fury family.

I was gifted a copy in exchange for an honest review.

Roman is known as a bad boy with a rep that is difficult to dissuade with all the negative press he’s been getting. That press has caused some waves with the management, Grey Brannon, of the Cold Fury Hockey Team.

Lexi has been working in a local bar, getting up the nerve to meet her biological father, Brian Brannon, which happens to be the owner of the Cold Fury Hockey Team. She doesn’t want anything from him, just wants to make that family connect. Brian didn’t know he had another daughter so it comes as quite a bit of a shock to both Brian and his daughter Gray (Lexi’s ½ sister).

Lexi and Roman hit it off right away but her relationship with Roman causes waves with her trying to build a relationship between herself and her sister.

Roman is a flat out fun, sweet and endearing, everything you want in a contemporary sports romance. From the start, I was hooked and Bennett kept me completely invested till then end.

I received this ARC copy of Roman from Random House Publishing Group - Loveswept in exchange for a honest and voluntary review. This book is set for publication Feb. 21, 2017.

My Rating: 4 stars
Written by: Sawyer Bennett
Print Length: 242 pages
Publisher: Loveswept
Publication Date: February 21, 2017
ISBN-13:9780425286586
Genre: Sports Romance

Itune: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/roma...
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Roman-Cold-Hoc...
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/roman...

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Will go live on blog and Amazon etc on release day

Roman is here! Woo hoo. He has been the bad boy enforcer through the series, and now it is time to get his story.

And what a story it was, I think this is one of my favourites in the series so far.

I mean, who doesn't like a bad boy? But Roman is so much more than that, and so is this book. It is kind of 2 stories in one, as the object of Roman's affection Lexi's life is intertwined with Gray and Brian Brannon, the owners of the Cold Fury. We get Brian's story too which is an added bonus.

Roman is a very emotional story. What all the characters go through, not just Roman and Lexi, may or may not have brought a tear to my eye.

I loved that Roman didn't back down from who he was or how he does things. He is who he is, has been like it all his career and I just want to high five him for sticking it to the man.

But I also adored how he tried to change himself in some aspects. I don't want to spoil things so I won't go into what he does, but I loved his struggle from little boy lost to where he is.

This really is one of my favourite series, and I will always pick them up to read. Now I am impatiently waiting the next book, Lucas. Please don't make us wait too long!

I can't express enough how much I love Sawyer Bennett's writing. Her "Cold Fury Hockey" series is one of the best sports romance series ever to be written so if you love big, hot guys who engage in steamy "activities", than you can be sure that this series is just perfect for you!

"Roman" is the seventh book of the series. Admittedly, even though I love all seven books, there are those that I just can't forget. Roman will be one of them. Just when you think that Bennett won't be able to surprise you, she writes a character like Roman and you find yourself not only falling in love with the sexy rascal, but also falling a little more in love with Sawyer Bennett, the woman just can't stop bringing us these men that keep us dreaming and hoping and also leaving us more than a little breathless...

Roman Sykora is the Czech defenseman of the Carolina Cold Fury Hockey team. He is the kind of man who single handedly could write the manual on how to be a bad boy. He is reckless and unapologetic in his behavior. Not a day goes by where there isn't some scandal linked to him in the tabloids. But the management has had enough and Gray Brannon has called him to give him a warning. Get in line ot get packing. The only problem is that Roman isn't the kind of guy to change for anyone, no matter the consequences. That is until he meets a quirky beauty. A woman who is just as free a spirit as Roman is.

Lexi Robertson has recently found out the identity of her father. On her death bed her mother reveals to her that her father is none other than the owner of the Carolina Cold Fury Hockey team, Brian Brannon. Lexi desperately wants a family, she is left all on her own after the passing of her mother, so she decides to approach her father. Brian knows that Lexi is his daughter from the moment that he sees her. She is like a breath of fresh air and brings light and joy to everyone she comes across. Brian also gets more than a daughter after Lexi enters his life, when he meets her vibrant and vivacious boss, Georgia.

A beautiful romance with one of the most loveable couples you can ever meet. Roman is a perfect example of what perfect boyfriends bad boys can become. Or maybe, it's Lexi that is able to bring out his potential. Seven books may seem like a lot for a sports romance series, but believe me, I just can't enough of this series and hope that it never ends!!!

I enjoyed this one. Not as much as MAX, but it was still an enjoyable read for the most part. That said because of the two different romances taking place at the same time I was left feeling disconnected from both of them.
Roman and Lexi were sweet together, but I didn’t feel any overwhelming passion between them. Everything just seemed to be resolved easily or swept under the rug. Hell, the sex wasn’t even that hot. Brian and Georgia although cute together, in my opinion, should have been a separate novella because their little romance took away from Roman and Lexi and made their story seem underdeveloped.

And do not even get me started on GRAY. WTF…how is this immature bitch a manager of a Stanley Cup winning hockey team? I haven’t read her and Ryker’s book and now I never plan to. I spent the entirety of this one wishing a truck would make her roadkill.

SIDE NOTE: I love that the author took an actual event that happened to Jaromír Jágr and turned it into romance book fodder.

I'm not sure why, but I really didn't enjoy this book as much as most of the others in the Cold Fury series. I found it pretty boring.

Both Roman and Lexi are basically likable characters, however, I didn't really feel any deep connection between the two. They get along but I never felt any real spark in their relationship. They just kind of ended up together.

Lexi was supposed to be a free spirit wild child but she didn't ever do anything particularly wild, beyond wearing tights with shorts. Also, Roman didn't strike me as much of a bad boy. I would call him slightly irreverent more than a rebel.

This book also made me dislike Gray. She was just a big bag of bitchiness in this book. She spent more time throwing her weight around as boss than she did trying to bond with her new sister.

I did enjoy the relationship between Grace and Brian and I was happy that Brian found someone to love.

I would recommend this book to fans of Sports Romance and fans of Sawyer Bennett.

I have to start this off with the fact the I did not like Grey in this book. I liked her in her own book, but she was just a flat out bitch in this one. With that being said, I really liked Lexi and Roman's story. They were sweet and sexy and seemed to just click. They were cute. I also liked adding in a little romance for Brian, too.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

I had some doubts when I heard Roman was going to be getting his own book, and I will be the first to admit, I was wrong.....and I just shouldn't have doubted Sawyer Bennett. I thought that him being the ultimate "bad" boy, he was going to be all over powering and egotistical, but this wasn't the case at all. Yes, he has attitude and a slight ego but that comes with the territory with being an elite athlete, but these things also make him the man he is. And what a man he is! He is everything you want in a partner. He was supportive and protective and with a little bit of time, he turned out to be a true romantic! Even though he was a very powerful character, he didn't diminish our heroine at all. Lexi could hold her own, and she proved to be just as charismatic with a little quirky to be Roman's perfect match. They really complimented each other.

Another thing I loved about this book was the triple POV's. This book is mainly about Lexi and Roman's story, but we get another side line story of Brian Brannon - President and CEO of The Carolina Cold Fury. This book centered more on the relationships and has a strong focus on family and commitment and trust. The only other characters from the previous books in this one where Ryker and Gray, Brian's daughter. It was nice to hear about them again and her pregnancy.

If you are a fan of sport romances, grab this one. If you are a fan of Sawyer Bennett like me, definitely grab this one. It had me from the opening chapter. Highly recommend.

I'm such a fan of this hockey series and I feel like they get better and better. I love that they are a safe read. These hockey hunks are all about their woman and I love that. The player hero is not my favorite but if I do have to read about them, I want them to be more like Roman.

Roman's the team bad boy who plays hard on and off the ice, yet he has no problems giving up his playboy ways when he meets Lexi. And Lexi is going on my list of favorite heroines. She was fun, quirky, but mature. We even get a second romance with Lexi and Gray's father, Brian and Lexi's boss, Georgia.

The little bit of angst in the story wasn't even really about the couple but more about Roman and Gray not liking each other. They have to learn to get along if they both want to have Lexi in their life. Lexi was pretty much the glue that brought everyone together in this story. Fun read!

ARC provided by NetGalley.

Two romances in one, quite the deal. Lexi and Roman have tons in common due to familial relationships, having a tough personality and sexual sparks. Always love a bad boy done good story and this was perfect. We get to revisit Ryker and Gray along with their grow family. Two people close to Lexi have an adorable opposites attract thing happening and it's wonderful. Bennett always gives a heartwarming story with incredible people, a joy to read. This series does not need to be read in order, each is unique and most don't interconnect but it's great when characters visit. My review was written voluntarily after reading an early copy.

3.5 Stars

Roman is Cold Fury's badboy player that's usually making headlines with his gives-no-shit attitude and penchant for causing trouble. Even being threatened with suspensions and being dropped from the team hasn't changed him. When he meets free spirited Lexi Robertson, though, he realizes that he can't keep going on without caring about rules. He wants her in his life, but Lexi has brand new family drama taking over her world and there may not be room for Roman. Unless he can change her mind.

This book felt really different from the others in the series, and I liked the change. Roman and Lexi's characters were very likable and they didn't have any drama between them. I loved that once they accepted that they wanted each other there wasn't much that could keep them apart.

Lexi was a fun heroine to read about because she was just so comfortable in her life. She didn't need much to make her happy and it made me smile to see her so excited over small things. She was the perfect girl for Roman who needed to learn how to relax some, and I liked seeing the changes she brought out in him. Once they were together there was barely even a mention of his playboy ways which I really liked.

What kind of disappointed me about this book, though, was the fact that so much was going on. In the beginning I liked having the little side story of Lexi and her family, but near the end I was over it and wanted more of Roman. His character, at moments, got pushed into the background because of that second story and I would have rather he be more focused on.

Overall, I definitely enjoyed this story and will recommend it for any fans of a hot badboy changing his ways. This book can be read as a standalone with no issue but I hope you'll read the other books in the series since they're all so good.