The plot was well developed and I got invested in the characters immediately. There were some parts that I was on that emotional roller coaster with them. Without a spoiler, I will say that there were a few twists and turns that I didn't quite expect. It's a great read, and would look forward to some of the periphery characters if it can be spun-off.

Unfortunately this book was not what I expected it to be. It lacked a lot of the sports aspect of a sports romance and was more of a mafia/suspense filled book. There was a lot going on and I found the characters to be unrelateable. I've read a lot of the authors other books and so far this book was the only miss for me so I will definitely read more of her books in the future.

What a great start to a new series! I was on the edge of my seat while reading this story, waiting to see what was going to happen. You will have to read this to see what I mean. On top of that the romance was off the charts and I loved this couple.

Kristin has just moved back to where she grew up under not so good circumstances. She is very weary of everyone around her and constantly looking over her shoulder. Being a bar tender at a place the hockey team frequents she easily turns the guys down. Finally giving into Kellan she says yes to a date.

Kellan is a hockey player on the Charolette Strikers and has had eyes for Kristin since he saw her. He is down to earth and doesn't let his fame go to his head. When Kristin finally agrees to go out with him he knows he has to play it cool, he doesn't want to scare her away.

Kellan and Krisin have a sweet relationship and are learning what it means to truly trust and love someone. This is a story you don't want to miss and will be pulled in from the first page. Get ready for a rollercoaster you don't want to get off of.

Hard Stick is the action packed hockey romance you'll never forget, maybe.

Kristen falls in love with the wrong guy. After he takes away the only family she has left, she's forced to leave everything behind. She turns to her FBI friends who help her scrap her old life and change her identity. In addition, Kristen's Fed friends stick her back in North Carolina, far away from the man scouring the US and Canada for her. For an entire year she lives a peaceful, boring existence. She a bartender at a local bar where the wild hockey boys from the Carolina Strikers come in and raise a ruckus every night. Kristen has to leave her guard up 24/7. She never knows if the man who took everything away from her will show up at her door.

Kellan's a genuine leader. He's the captain of the Carolina Strikers, and he's not afraid of breaking a nose or two. He wants a date with the hot bartender, but she always turns him down. She thinks he's a player like his teammates. Snap judgement much?! He considers himself an ordinary, nice guy. His dad's awesome, however, his mother's a piece of work. He hasn't seen her since he kicked her husband's ass. He has mommy issues. Money changes people. He wants nothing to do with the woman who gave him life.

Kellan has no clue who Kristen is or what she's hiding from although she lets him in on a few details of her former life. She wants to trust him, however, her jerk radar's broken. She doesn't want to make the same mistake twice or put him in jeopardy. Kristen connected Kellan is with her previous life or how much her life is still in danger.

Kristen's sick of hiding. She wants to live her life and stop looking over her shoulder. She wants to fall in love, get married and have little hockey players. Kellan makes her want to move forward. She's done living in the past and reliving the death of her best friend. The question is, can she?

Hard Stick starts out with a bang and keeps on delivering. Unfortunately, the danger is anticlimactic and leaves you thinking, "Is that it?" The buildup doesn't particularly match the suspense factor. The "connection" Kellan and Kristen have could've been more substantial. I loved the story, however, it has flaws. There is a few characters from previous L.P. Dover books (although, this is the first book I've read by this author) and they were kind of random.

My criticism of the anti climatic storyline doesn't take much away from the overall book. It's still a great read. I recommend it to those of you romance addicts who tire of the boring storyline's told over and over again.

While the name and cover of the book sells it as a sports romance, the fact that the hero is a star hockey player is the smallest part of this book. It’s more of a suspense story. Kellan Carter is the captain of the Charlotte Strikers and has been attracted to Kristen Robinson, the bartender at the bar where the team likes to hang out. But she’s turned him down several times when he’s tried to ask her out.

As the reader finds out in the very beginning, Kristen has had to flee her life in Boston after she got involved with Mitchell, an obsessive multi-millionaire, who had her best friend murdered when the friend tried to interfere between Mitchell and Kristen. Heartbroken, Kristen turns to some of her friends with connections in the FBI to get a new identity and hide from Mitchell.

She and Kellan finally get together and are very happy until, you guessed it, Mitchell re-enters the scene. I suppose it was meant to be a surprise how Mitchell found Kristen again, but I found it pretty clearly foreshadowed and not much of a surprise.

If you’re looking for a typical sports romance, this probably isn’t what you’re looking for. But if you like romantic suspense thrillers and a heroine who becomes stronger throughout the book, then you’ll enjoy this. I’ve enjoyed Dover’s earlier series of romances and this is a fine new entry.

I was given a free ARC of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

He carries a big stick. And he’s not afraid to use it.

On the ice, I’m Kellan Carter, powerhouse enforcer for the Charlotte Strikers. Off the ice, I’m just a regular guy. The last thing I want is to get mobbed by a bunch of groupies who are only after me for my fame and money. My ideal woman knows how to enjoy a little good, clean fun—and maybe some not-so-clean fun too. That’s the kind of girl I’d never let go.

When Kristen Robinson, the gorgeous, down-to-earth bartender I’ve been crushing on, agrees to let me take her out, I’m thrilled. We have an amazing night together, culminating in the most electrifying kiss of my life—and that’s it. Kristen tells me we can’t see each other again, but I know that kiss meant as much to her as it did to me. What I don’t know is that Kristen has a dangerous secret. . . .

I’ve proved to Kristen that she can trust me with her body and her heart. But when her past comes back to haunt her, I need to prove that she can trust me with her life. And I might have to get my hands dirty after all.

After I had read this book, I went back and started reading the rest of LP's books again. I just love her writing style and not because she lives in my state either. I'm supposed to go to a writing retreat in June, and I'm probably going to fangirl over her the entire time...just saying. It's gonna happen. Her books are always my go-to books for romantic suspense, and I'm always on the edge of my seat going "who's the villain because I know it's someone close to the main character?" This story didn't disappoint!! In fact, I almost chewed all my nails off because you know who the villain is, but there's just so much heartbreak in this one that I shed a tear y'all. Yep, I sure did. I cried, and I wanted to punch out Mitchell with a giant barbell cause that's how we do it in the south, after ripping off his balls. Yeah, he wouldn't have made it to prison in our family. We're more like the Irish mafia in the Armed and Dangerous stories...you mess with us, and that's the last it happens. No really, we're sweet - like tea!! I promise.

So, this book had me at the first chapter, and I couldn't not stay up reading it all night. That and because I'm OCD. I'm up drinking my 12 cups of coffee and reading the next chapter and the next...which I'm hoping she writes books on ALL the players because I love hockey and I'll review them all. HINT HINT L.P. - I will personally be your reader just call me??? Kay!! Now, I don't give praise where praise isn't due because I'm a picky chick but girl can write, and I'm not just saying that...she can - if you haven't read her books, I have two questions: 1. Do you live in a cave? 2. Are you human?

Kellan Carter had me like chocolate has those little M&M's on TV...all over it!! He's a delicious piece of man, and I'm not a woman who objectifies a guy, but there's another author that writes Alpha men and I love her, but L.P. took her place after this book. The way he handles Kristen and the way he just keeps at her, I loved it. It also made me realize that I'm so jaded towards men that I should seriously take a step back and see them a little differently and for me, that's a miracle. Now, Mitchell - her psychotic ex, who literally will stop at nothing to get her back...ladies I don't think that I will EVER date a man named Mitchell because of this book. You know how you get food poisoning and you won't eat that food again? Yeah, that's kind of how it was for this name. He could be the sweetest guy, and I'd have to make him change his name.

Alllll of the above to say...buy this book!! What are you waiting for? Seriously, this is a darn good book, and it will make you want to read her other books as well.

I was given a copy of this ARC from the publisher on NetGalley for an honest review. All of the above comments are my express opinions and no one else's.

A nice engrossing read. The main characters are likeable and the story is well-written. I could see the plot twist coming two miles ahead, but the surprise in the beginning was unexpected.

If you like a bit of thrill with your alpha male and romance, this is a solid choice.

I received an ARC of this book, via Net Galley, in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This book really frustrated me. While I liked that it started differently than most of the hockey romances I read, I found myself wondering when we were going to get to the hockey part. The main character was my main frustration. She lost her best friend, faked her death and then started dating a public sports figure that is photographed all the time. Simply made her look very dumb and it frustrates me to see dumb characters.

I wasn't able to connect with Kellan and Kristen' s story. I didn't find either character to be likeable and I struggled with the more intimate moments because they honestly fell flat for me. The resolution of the ex was not believable and was completely predictable which made it hard to want to finish.

This is a hard book to write a review for... mainly because while its not a bad book, the blurb isn't anything like what the book is really about. So I was expecting one book and received a complete other book. Kristen gets mixed up with a married man who is "getting" a divorce. Her best friend Cole comes over and says no he's not and here's proof in the paper... a photo of him and his wife at a party around town. Kristen knows something is wrong with her relationship especially since Mitchell has become so controlling. She breaks things off with him and when things escalated extremely badly she flees for her life. A year later she's living under an assumed name and working at a bar. Kellan and his friends hit up the bar after hockey practice almost every day. He's been after her for months to go out with him. She's thinks he's just another hockey prick and doesn't give him the time of the day. After awhile she finally does go on a date with him and he proves he's not the guy she thought he was.... Now while the try to build a relationship her past and his collide in a way you do not see coming. The hockey is not the story here. The title and blurb you think this is just another hockey sports romance. Its not. While the book is good, I feel that the blurb doesn't give you the try gist of the book so if you are looking for a sports romance this is not it. If you are looking for a suspense romance with a bit of hockey thrown in, get this book. Book provided by author via netgalley.com.

I am not going to leave an online review as I do not think it will be fair and I really hope that my comments are taken into consideration before releasing the book.

I am a huge fan of this author; however, this story didn't work. First their was Cole's death. I predicted that would happen before he left her house. Then Kristine goes on the run and where does she go? Back to North Carolina, to a suburb of Charlotte where she grew up??? Really?? Don't you think Mitchell would have hired PIs to look for her and I would hunk think would be he first place to look!! Especially at her friends home! Bring in Kellan, at first he is portrayed as a nice guy, non-manwhore and even his Father comments on how he isn't that way. Read on and it changes!!! What??? I thought he wasn't like that because of what his Mother did to his Father!! Story continues and her death is faked. So again, does no one recognize her when she is in Charlotte? Oh and then there is her relationship with Kellan and we are to believe no one posts pictures of them??? Wouldn't you think Mitchell again would have people searching the web for her presence?? Then the twist with Mitchell's wife, well that wasn't a twist for me as I expected it!! Maybe earlier in the story when the age difference is mentioned, it should really be removed. That was a total give away. And also remove how much Kellan dislikes his stepfather. All that was dead giveaways.

Then again the unbelievable, Jason and Aylee, who are suppose to be these awesome agents, didn't even know Kellan was associated with Mitchell??? Oh come on!!!!

With all of this, and the book not being final, I don't think it would be fair to leave a review.

OMG here I thought this was just going to be another hockey book, well it was but it was so much more! L.P. Dover took my favorite sport, and turned this story into such a great one that I read it in one day I swear I couldn't put it down! Kristen and Kellan are amazing, the story was amazing, the writing...yes amazing! Grab this 5+ star book as soon as you can! I'm looking forward to more in this Breakaway series!!

This is not your normal hockey story. This is a romantic suspense. Kelang is captain of his professional hockey team. Kristen is a bartender that he has spent months asking out. Kristen however is hiding from an obsessive ex. Hockey is only on the periphery of this story. There is a lot of twists and turns. Right from the beginning of the book the drama starts. I just loved the book and had such a hard time putting it down until life got in the way reading.
I can't wait for the second book to come out!
****I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Readers Copy of this book****

Your never disappointed with L.P. Dover's books. Kristen ends up with an obsessive man after her. Loses her best friend which makes her go on the run and changes her name. Then meets Kellen and falls for him. Couldn't put the book down.

I'll have a full review nearer to release date! <3

Nancy Metsch's Reviews > Hard Stick
Hard Stick by L.P. Dover
Hard Stick (Breakaway, #1)
by L.P. Dover (Goodreads Author)
5292089
Nancy Metsch's review
Mar 25, 2017 · edit

it was amazing

L.P. Dover takes mystery to a whole new level in this book.
There's an old saying you cant help who you fall in love with, BUT you also cant help falling out of love either. Mitchell Blackwell is a cocky arrogant man who always gets what he wants. BY. ANY. MEANS. NECESSARY!!! If you get in his way say your prayers
Kristen Robinson is just a woman who fell for the wrong man..NOW she wants to be free.
Kristin and her best friend Cole live in Boston and works for a top firm in the city. Cole doesn't like ot trust Mitchell. He has known Kristin their whole lives and thinks of her as a sister. He only wants the best for her.
Something happens to Cole and this cause Kristin to high tail it back to North Carolina where she and Cole grew up. Life will never be the same for Kristin...This is when we meet the sexy as sin Kellen Carter. Captain of an NFL team. Hard as she tries Kristin just cant keep saying no to Kellen and thank goodness cause they make a great couple.
Together they faced a hell of a ride with Mitchell on their heels. BUT they made it through. Kellen is amazing

4.5-5 Stars!! I loved this book! It was like a mix of Romance, Mystery, Thriller, with a bit of Horror & Erotica!! I loved the surprises/unforeseen twists & turns in the book too!! I think it was well written & flowed together nicely! I'd love to read more about the other guys on the team & their love lives!! I definitely recommend this book! It has just the right amount of romance/erotica & background info on each character!
*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!*

Sweet and sexy. Lots of chemistry. Characters could have been a bit more fleshed out, but otherwise a lot of fun.

L.P. Dover's Hard Stick kept me on the edge of my seat! I could hardly put the book down!

WOW! Literally that is the only word tat comes to mind...i don't believe I've ever read a book by this author before. If this book is any clue as to what her other books are like, I'll be reading those for a while now.

When I started reading I was a bit hesitant on which road this book would go down. It is a mix between sports romance and crime. Usually I am used to reading one or the other, but I believe this book was just a perfect mix. The first half I felt was focused on developing Kellan's character, his background and how he comes about meeting Kristen. I think the dual POV's helped out a lot during this book because it was as if we were reading two different stories.

Kristen is a little bit more of a mystery. I feel like the story started as soon as we flipped the first page and I wouldn't have had it any other way. The only thing that confused me with her character was that she was so unwilling to meet someone and then she ends up being so dedicated to making things work with Kellan. I get why it happened in the story but her thoughts were very conflicting.

Mitchell was an added element that was semi predictable. I mean obviously he was going to come back! The "FBI" in this book sucked. I say that as nicely as possible. I think they dropped the investigation on Mitchell like three different times? That bugged me but I understand why it needed to be added to the story at their respective times.

I really enjoyed this book, it took me a few days to read which isn't typical but I've been particularly busy this past week. I highly suggest this book if you're a fan of: sports, stalkers, crime, and death....dun dun dun