Max Hall is getting over his wife's death from cancer. he's been away from hockey for a long time but he's moved on his grieving process and all he wants is get back on the ice and get laid. Basically, his career aspirations and his wife's death has made him scared of anything more than a one-night stand. At Marc Dupuis' wedding he hooks up with one of the bridesmaids but a one-night stand turns into the morning after as well. Kendra lives in New York and Max lives in Chicago so it could never go any further, until they meet again at Kendra's cousin's (Duncan Armstrong) lakeside home for a weekend. Suddenly the idea of a long-distance friends with benefits (FWB) arrangement seems like a very good idea.

To start with Max comes across as an arrogant, sex-obsessed, alphahole - totally unlikable, but he improves as the book progresses, by the end he's kind to small children and animals and giving freely of his time to charitable causes. Unfortunately, Kendra goes down in my estimation from a confident, professional woman with her own business to a whiny, drippy loser. Max has issues: he isn't over his wife's death and he views any progress he may make in that direction as an insult to her memory - consequently he denies being in a relationship with Kendra (or wanting more) on several occasions, and she gets sad, but she keeps coming back for more. I just wanted to shake her and shout "YOU AGREED TO A NO-STRINGS LONG-DISTANCE FWB THANG, GIRL!". And Max "sees" this happening over and over again but he doesn't make the connection - even though he's been married before so he should have SOME experience of what it means when a woman looks at you all misty-eyed after sex FFS.

This book felt like someone had said to Kelly Jamieson, "hey Kelly what we really like about your books is the hockey details, the sex (obvs) and the food - put more of that in the book", and she did. The sex just goes on and on, despite Kendra owning a business which makes sex toys for women and Max being liking so-called dirty sex, the sex is pretty mundane - there's just so much of it! And the broiled chicken/ salmon, brown rice and steamed veggies combos got boring very quickly. The hockey? Most of it was Max's brutal training regime BEFORE he finds out if he is back in the team, lots of crunches and torturous moves but no actual hockey.

But hey, these are just detail, I enjoyed the story and probably would have given it three and a half stars if the last quarter of the novel hadn't been just full of long navel-gazing speeches about how they had realised that they were running away from their feelings/ projecting blah, blah.

Looking back at my reviews of other Kelly Jamieson books it seems as though I have a love/ hate relationship with them.

This was by far the best Ace's novel to date. I couldn't put it down. Everything about it was perfection.

It feels like I've been waiting forever for Hallsy's book and Kelly Jamieson did not disappoint. Max Hall took a leave from the Ace's hockey team when his wife was dying. Max is now ready to join the team and begin living again. Max and Kendra share an attraction at a team mates wedding. They diecide they could be friends with benefits, that's fine until they develop feelings for each other. Max still feels guilty over his wife's death and is back and forths with his feeling for Kendra. Kendra has been hurt in past relationships she has had and even though she has feelings for Max she keeps it to herself knowing he is struggling with his emotions. Max and Kendra together are hot. I love how understanding Kendra is with Max and the internal struggle he is having. Max attempts to turn off his emotions and focus on his training but he realized that he's a happier, whole person when Kendra is around. Max and Kendra have the passion and het that all the Ace's couples have but they are emotionally connected as well. I LOVED every single page of this book!!

Was not very pleased with this book. Was kind of confusing for myself, and based on the description I thought it was going to be more than I perceived it to be. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read and review your novel!

This story gave me a serious case of whiplash!! I didn't understand how he was sweet one day and then the other he was indifferent.. I really felt bad for the heroine and the story was a little predictable

Slap shot by Kelly Jaimeson is the story of Max and Kendra. Max, an Ace hockey player has been away from the team while caring for his wife (at the start of this story she has passed away ) and he is trying to get back in shape physically and mentally. At the wedding of his friend and fellow hockey player Marc, he meets Kendra, one of the bridesmaids and a no commitment hook up turns into a long distance will they or won't they relationship. I think that the author dealt with the pain of loosing a spouse and the guilt that comes with re building a life very respectfully and I really admired the writing style. I also enjoyed that all of the story was told from his POV (except for the epilogue); not something you "read " a lot. There is a lot to like, love and admire in this book: the character development, the friendships, the familial relationships (Max's and his late wife's) and the extremely hot chemistry! Youza!!!! Plus, I got to catch up with Ben from Cross Check so that was a bonus.

Kindly provided with an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review....

This book was so much more than I expected. It's Max and Kendra's tale and it was quite the emotional read !!. Max is grieving the loss of his wife and whilst trying to keep going every day he has to attend a friends wedding. This is where he meets Kendra (she is going to be a bridesmaid). Could this twist of fate turn into one of the nest things to ever happen to Max, or will his broken heart rule his head and not allow him to ever find peace and happiness. See quite the in depth story line !!

Kelly did a brilliant job of mixing a sad subject with new romance and all that heat and passion that goes along with the thrill of a great relationship adventure. The series features various Ice Hockey Hunks and their stories. Can't quiet find any faults with that story line !!!

Great Work Kelly !! Many Thanks for this opportunity xx


Later peeps xxx

.This is another story in the Aces Hockey series. Max Hall “Hallsy” took a break from hockey to care for his young dying wife. He is now back, training hard, his goal to regain his place on the team. He meets Kendra, they have a mutual attraction and explosive sexual chemistry. He is more than ready to satisfy his basic needs with Kendra however, that is all he is willing to give because he is still trying to come to terms with his loss. This is a well written, entertaining and sexy story that details Hallsy’s struggles to cope and come to terms with his loss and eventually find his HEA with Kendra.

This was a very sexy book! I lost count of the sex scenes, which did at times overshadow the story. My heart broke for Max and also, for Kendra. They needed each other, and I was rooting for them to come together as more than lovers!

I have loved each book in the Aces Hockey series but Slap Shot may just be my favorite. Max, the hero, had taken over a year off from his professional hockey career to deal with a personal family crisis. Max is still broken over a year and a half later but he has set a goal to help him try to get back among the living. His goal; make it back on the roster of the Chicago Aces hockey team. Despite his friends efforts to get Max to socialize and bring him out of his depression Max's laser focused on his career.
While attending one of his best friends wedding he spots a beautiful woman. The first woman that's caught his interest in a very long time. Kendra is a bridesmaid in the wedding. She's come to Chicago for the week to participate in the wedding and several other events while in town. Kendra has her own business in New York. (Her business....cough, cough, wink, wink....provides a lot of laughs!)
When Max and Kendra meet at the wedding reception sparks fly. But neither of them wants a relationship. Max is not emotionally ready and Kendra is focused on her business. So they agree to hook up for a night of steamy sex.
But with each of their best friends now married they are bound to run into each other occasionally.
Slap Shot is the most emotional of the series. Both characters have conflicted feelings about each other. Their lust filled hook ups, which continue after the wedding, begin to bring feelings into the relationship. That brings conflict and heartache.
All of my favorite characters are back and that's half the fun in this series. I want to be a part of their close knit family!
This book is a standalone and has a HEA.
I not only recommend Slap Shot but I recommend reading this whole series beginning with Major Misconduct. The rest of the books in order are Off Limits, Icing, Top Shelf, Back Check and Slap Shot.
I voluntarily reviewed this book.

I'm an Ace's Hockey fan. I love this series.
This story is a second chance for love and life. Max is troubled after losing his wife from Cancer and we know his struggle from the beginning. This story is a new opportunity to love and to enjoy life. I enjoy reading this story.
Receive an ARC from Netgallley for a honest review.

You are always guaranteed a fantastic story with Kelly Jamieson. This book has amazing characters you just fall in love with them from the very first page. I definitely can't wait to read more from this series and this amazing author. A must go to author for me just love her books. Would highly recommend this book to everyone

**Advanced copy provided by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review**

Slap Shot was a nice addition to the Aces Hockey series. While part of the series, it can standalone if you haven't read the previous books.

Max Hall has been dealing with the death of his wife and has been struggling to move on. His grief has not only affected his off-ice life, but his on-ice life too. Having taken more than a season off, he's got to work to get himself back in shape before training camp. While he has full dedication to this new training program, he still doesn't have much interest in starting up a new romance, that is until he meets a gorgeous woman, Kendra, at one of his teammate's weddings.

The chemistry between Max and Kendra is instantaneous. The sex is red-hot and they are beyond compatible in bed, however neither one wants a relationship and couple that with the fact they live in different cities, in different states and that certainly complicates things.

As the two agree to continue their sexcapades, they end up running into each other in some unexpected places that actually help to further their relationship outside the bedroom. While Max is still dealing with his feelings over his wife's death, will he be able to see this relationship with Kendra for what it really is - the start of something amazing or will he keep her at arms length and continue just existing?

I enjoyed this book quite a bit, however I did struggle with the negativity that Max had toward his wife in several situations. No one is perfect, I totally get that, but it seemed like more often than not he was finding fault with the way she interacted with him - the way she supported his career, the way she fit in with his family, the way she even was in bed, etc. I know it's hard not to compare experiences, and even people, and maybe this was his way of having to deal with his grief to move on, but it just felt more negative than I think it should have for someone that he loved so much and chose to spend his life with.

I'm looking forward to the next installment of this great series as it is always one of my go-to's!

I love romance books about different sports and this one about hockey was great. It had a good story to go along with the sport and really kept you coming back for more to find out what would happen.

Another outstanding book by Kelly Jamieson; this is a very heartfelt story of a hot hockey player who loves his wife that died a year and a half ago and trying to move forward. The story begins when Max spots a gorgeous redhead at a teammate’s wedding reception but he’s been out of circulation for so long he gets himself worked up with nerves. It’s really enduring; he’s afraid of rejection, it’s been so long he’s not sure if he remembers how to flirt and he’s so horny his hard on is almost painful. Kendra takes the lead but it doesn’t take long before Max has his confidence back only he feels guilty and convinces Kendra he doesn’t want a relationship but they can continue to have no-commitment sex because they have great sex (no cheating both faithful). As much as I wanted to shake Max for hurting Kendra the emotions that Ms. Jamieson wrote to express Max’s overall feelings were so real and heartfelt. For so long he lived in a black cloud and Kendra dances and sings her way into his heart and he’s finding happiness for the first time in a long time. Don’t get me wrong, this wasn’t just about Max’s emotions, there was light humor throughout to balance the emotional parts as well. Max and Kendra had chemistry from the beginning to end. I liked that she wasn’t shy or coy when it came to sex, her and her friend went into business making sex toys for women; “ Making the world a better place one orgasm at a time” – hilarious. This is a good book that I will re-read again and the cover is HOT. I received an advanced reader copy courtesy of Net Galley in exchange for my honest review - I appreciate the authors that allow advance copies.

I love this series! Max was a great character. I received this as a Netgalley arc and read it before I saw any of the other early reviews. I get some contradiction in how he was coping, but I love how Jamieson wrote him, respected how he was dealing with his grief, how we kept in touch with his in-laws, how the spark ignited between these two and how, while they had every reason to fight it, they didn't. I think Max's book is one of my favorites from this series. There was just enough of his baggage, her baggage and hockey in this for me to get my Aces fix!!!!

This was a deeply complicated story that was both beautiful and sad.
I loved the easy connection between Max and Kendra. As always the relationship between members of the Chicago Aces are close and special. It's a family. Wonderful conclusion, uplifting.

I really liked Max and Kendra's story I read this one first so now I need to go back and read the rest of the series the one thing that killed this book for me was the way he talked about his wife, If that is the way he felt or if she was really that bad of a person then why did he marry her in the first place?

I was looking forward to reading Hallsy's story, as we'd caught glimpses of his wife's death in previous books.
I was not disappointed with the story or its characters, yet I think I would have liked a prologue showing us a little interaction between him and his wife before she died, only in order for us to get deeper into his grief and his ultimate recovery.

A great, emotional read, I look forward to the next instalment.

Slap Shot is written in Max's POV and does an amazing job of pulling in the emotional side of the character growth and perseverance of working through difficult emotional and physical changes. Kendra is a fun loving character which will make you think about how different scenarios are perceived and received. Overall, it's an addicting story line that makes you love hockey players.