I voluntarily read an advanced reviewers copy of this book

Max Hall is a widower that is trying to find his way back into the world starting with a woman in his bed and his spot back on the Aces Hockey team. What should have been a simple one night stand with someone that knew the ropes quickly got out of control when one night turned into multiple nights and no strings became feelings.

The real question is can Kendra convince Max that she is worth taking a chance on or will he show her that his hockey stick is not only good at slap shots but breaking hearts? Read and find out!

Overall this book was pretty good. I felt very conflicted because Max's emotions were so raw that I did not know whether to love him or hate him. Kendra also left me conflicted because she was the classic example of a woman that wants what she can't have. I wanted her to realize that if he wasn't ready to fall in love then she should back off. But hey...I guess that is why I am single and based on this HEA she is not.
Good job Kelly Jamieson

I have chosen not to review this title. As always, I appreciate the opportunity to review the title.

Thanks,
Laura

4 Stars

Anyone who is familiar with this series, will already be aware of Max Hall, who appeared in the previous titles, as an Aces player who left the team in order to spend time with his wife who was dying from cancer.

In Slap Shot max is still grieving the loss of his wife, but is determined to get his life back on track. He's hardworking and determined, stubborn and goal orientated. Max meets Kendra at his former team mates wedding, and the sparks fly. What starts as a one night stand, ends up being so much more. The moments between the sheets are very hot and steamy.

Kendra is a sweet, kind, nurturing, and sensitive. She has a background in psychology, but has a very interesting job. Kendra is also Lovey and Duncan Armstrong's cousin.

Max is a flawed character, which in my mind makes him all the more endearing and relate-able. His struggles with his grief and the guilt of moving on and rebuilding his life is quite plausible and understandable.

I loved that the characters who appeared in the previous titles in this series, were so prevalent within this title.

Overall Slap Shot is a emotional, sexy, steamy, angsty read. Whilst there are moments that are both heartwarming and heartbreaking, there is a lot of hope and fun in this title. I Will be eagerly anticipating more of this series.

I've really been enjoying reading Kelly Jamieson's Aces Hockey series, and this book was no exception. Her characters are fun and well written, and there's a minimum of unnecessary drama in each book. I also love that we get to revisit old friend from previous books.
Kendra was the type of heroine that I'd actually like to be friends with. And the fact that she was a strong, independent, sexual woman with ZERO slut-shaming made her even better.
I like watching Max struggle with, and eventually come to terms with the fact it was ok to fall in love with Kendra. That moving on didn't mean he was forgetting his dead wife. It felt like a very natural journey for him and not at all forced.
I've got a couple of the previous books in the series left to read, and I'm looking forward to it!

This is my new favorite book by this author! I cannot say enough about it!

Max...if you read any of the other books in this series, you knew his book was going to be a tough one. He had a wife that he absolutely loved and gave up everything for when she became sick. When she lost her battle he was left alone to pick up the pieces. What I appreciated was that the author didn't hide how difficult this was for Max. She didn't have him going out and sleeping around for the last two years trying to forget her. She didn't have him suddenly feeling that his wife was a rotten person (I read this in a book recently) who he didn't really love. Instead she showed a true battle of what it's like to lose someone you love. The emotions were raw, the behaviors at times were tough...but it was all true. I also appreciated how she brought into the picture his wife's family and the guilt he felt with them.

Kendra was an amazing person...her psychology background obviously helped her understand what Max was going through but at the same time she struggled like anyone would when they fall in love with someone who is still in love with someone else. I loved that she didn't just roll over and take Max's shit, but actually called him on it and stood up for herself.

I couldn't wait to finish the book to find out how the hell these two were going to make it work. I wished there had been an epilogue but knowing this author we'll be seeing more of these two in the future.

4 out of 5 stars

This novel was the first for me in this series, but I didn't have any trouble jumping in and enjoying Max & Kendra's story!! Max is a widow who is determined to get back on the ice and play hockey again. Kendra is attracted to him and they agree to a purely physical relationship that is supposed to be one night only...but that turns into two which keeps going. I enjoyed the way the story was told from just Max's perspective because all too often we hear from just the girl and I like getting inside the guy's heads and seeing what they're thinking!

This book was well paced and enjoyable. I think I'll have to go back and read more of the Aces stories!

We met Max in previous books when we find out that his wife had cancer and he was taking time off from hockey to be with her. Max has been in a funk since his wife passed away and he's trying to get back to getting in shape for hockey. Everyone is concerned about him and wants to help him start living again.

The first person that brings any spark of interest is Kendra. They meet at a wedding and things begin to heat up very quickly. Max feels such guilt about betraying his wife, but Kendra is understanding and so begins a mutually beneficial relationship.

Kendra and Max have been through their share of heartbreak and it's nice that they begin to help each other heal. Such a touching story that had me teary-eyed one minute and smiling the next. It was nice seeing characters from other stories: it's like visiting old friends. I've read many of Ms Jamieson's books and they never disappoint. Waiting patiently for the next book.

The synopsis for the story pretty much covers the details of this story, so I'm not going to rehash it in the review. There aren't many surprises in Slap Shot -- it's basically the story of Max Hall moving away from the grief that he's been experiencing since his beloved wife became ill. Kendra is a sweet girl, a relative of one of Max's former teammates. They both agree to a sex-only/no-relationship arrangement.

Yeah, like that ever works.

There isn't much tension besides Max's struggle to find a place for all his feelings about his deceased wife and make room for someone new. I did like how Kendra handled the reality of the situation once she realized her feelings.

Slap Shot was a sweet tale of finding happiness again. It's almost all told in Max's point of view, so you really get to know him. He's a nice guy. I really liked his journey to get back on the team as well.

So overall, an enjoyable read.

An ARC was provided for review.

Loved this beautiful and heartbreaking story!! This was such a good book! I loved sports romances and this one did not disappoint! The characters were very likable and real. Loved the banter between them and the chemistry was off of the charts!! I look forward to reading more from Kelly! I highly recommend this book!

This story was a really good story. Max Hall took some time off of hockey to be with his dying wife and now he is back. He is working hard and wants it to be his sole focus. He doesn't have time for women or relationships. When he meets Kendra at a wedding, he thinks it might be a good time for him to "get back in the saddle". He just wants one night....which of course turns into more nights. Kendra is a breathe of fresh air. She is witty and smart and brings life back into Max's world. They both decide to give casual a try, but as you can imagine, that never works.

This book has a lot of emotion as Max tries to move forward in his life. He battles with grief and moving on and when it's OK to love someone else. Kendra has family issues of her own and tries to downplay how much they've hurt her. The story was good and definitely held my interest. I liked the characters and even shed a few tears as Max and Kendra found their way. Another good read in this series.

I am trash for hockey romances and this one did exactly what I wanted it to - it made me smile, grin, swoon, laugh, and even cry a little.

Who?
Max, a professional hockey player, who is trying to get back on the roster after taking time off following his wife's death. Kendra, an intelligent and independent entrepreneur, who was a sort of "fixer" with a big heart.

What?
After a wedding encounter, where sparks flew, the two mutually decided to a strings-free, physical relationship.

Why?
I instantly shipped these two. They had a natural ease with each other, and I loved that Kendra was able to get through Max's numb layers, and help him slowly climb out from under his grief.

I was really impressed with the amount of sports talk in this book. We are taken through Max's comeback process, as well as, training camp and some games. I enjoyed reading about all that stuff a lot more than I expected, but let's be honest, I was all about the romance, and this one did its job taking me through a whole spectrum of emotions.

It was fun to watch their relationship grow and change. They kept saying it was all sex, but you could see there was a lot more to it through their interactions, their texts, their phone calls, but the road to their HEA was not an easy one. Max was still grieving and trying to reconcile his growing feelings for Kendra with his love for his late wife. He struggled, and Kendra struggled, and I sighed and cried a little, but in the end, I think Jamieson did an admirable job finding a balanced solution.

I usually read duel POV romance stories, so this was a little bit of a change for me, as it is told almost predominately from Max's POV. It worked really well though, because the major obstacles to this relationship were Max's issues, and I think it was important to be inside his head, and see things from his perspective. It was great seeing the juxtaposition of his manly and mushy side, and overhearing the conversations between him and his teammates, who were also his friends and confidants.

Overall: A fun and heartfelt friends-with-benefits to more romance, which features a hero and heroine you couldn't help but love.

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Avid Reader – ☆☆☆☆
M/F Romance
Triggers: Click HERE to see Avid Reader’s review on Goodreads for trigger warnings.

This is the first book that I have read in this series and I wish that I had gotten to read them all. I never felt that I was missing anything, so I don’t believe that you need to read the others in order to enjoy this one.

Max is just getting back to his old self. After a devastating loss, he is setting a goal to get back on the ice and get the Stanley Cup. We get to watch him go through a grueling process of getting back in shape and mentoring new players who want to make the team.

Kendra is a successful woman who is now on to her second career. She began as a therapist and knows that everyone goes through grief and loss in a different pattern. She meets Max at a wedding and sparks fly.

Max and Kendra’s romance is a whirlwind until it’s time for them to come back to reality – Kendra lives in New York and Max doesn’t. They continue with their friends with benefits and when someone changes the rules, they have to decide if they are going to fight for their relationship.

Max struggles with his guilt and Kendra struggles with knowing what her place is.

I really enjoyed their story and thought that it was fairly well developed. You could feel the change in the relationship and know that something was coming to head.


Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
This is the fifth book in the series – and I would recommend that you read them in order to get the full story, especially before this one. My only disappointment is that the blurb gives away too much as far as I am concerned. But luckily I dove in blind, knowing that I wanted to get Max's story fresh, and have just read it before reviewing. I say this mainly because in the book the fact of his wife's death, and how he reacted, comes out naturally and is worked beautifully into the story, so it is a shame to know all that before being able to read it.

Max has been a peripheral figure for a few books due to his wife's illness, and I am sure that their story caused a few tissues in readers' hands – it did in mine. But this book brings back hope and a second chance at his career, and possibly at love. His dedication to getting back into the sport is not matched with an intention to love – in fact, he deems it to be a betrayal of his past.

This story works beautifully, mixing together so many elements of the perfect sports romance. Plenty of training and hockey; lots of family and friends; and a couple of people who, in spite of many issues, work out what it is that is important in their lives.

Thank you, Ms. Jamieson, for writing the perfect story for Max.


Sarah – ☆☆☆☆
I’ve been waiting for Max’s book (with a box of tissues ready) since the first book in this series. Even from a distance, his grief had me in bits in the earlier books. In his own story, he is a year on from his wife’s death. He’s putting his life back together. He is desperately trying to earn back his place on the Aces. And then, he bravely hooks up with a bridesmaid at a friend’s wedding.

I loved following Max’s intense pre-season training regime in this book. The focus on the pre-season fight for roster places gives readers a fresh spin on the competitive excitement of a sports story.

I also loved that Kendra designs sex toys – and that she unapologetically talks about her job. She is feisty and independent and I warmed to her more than I have to some of the women in this series. She’s also in an impossible position, struggling to respect Max’s wife and his grief while also attempting to build a new relationship with him.

Probably because of Max’s terrible loss, this book feels more mature and more complex than earlier books in the series – it’s a more substantial read with complicated, grown up characters. I think it’s my favourite story yet.


Rachael – ☆☆☆☆
3.5 Stars

I've been waiting for Max's story. He's been through so much and I wanted to see him get his happy ending after all the sadness he had to deal with. Kendra was so perfect for him too. She is exactly the right combination of a well put together woman and a woman who is very colorful and not afraid to be who she is.

There was some really hard parts with Max dealing with the loss of his wife, but overall I really liked the story and the character growth we got to witness. Plus, it was interesting to see the vast majority of the story written from his point of view so we can really get a sense of what emotions he is dealing with.

However, I have say that while I have loved every other story in this series, this one was just really hard for me to sink into like the others. I can't exactly say what it was because I did like the characters and the plot line, but I found that I had to convince myself to pick up the book and read when normally I have a hard time putting down Ms. Jamieson's books.

This book was so much more than just a sports romance - it takes a look at what happens to someone after their spouse dies tragically. Can you allow yourself to move on? What about sex? When do you start living for yourself again? How do you handle the guilt? It was an emotional roller coaster for these two but it was done in a fairly gentle way - not overly angst ridden.

I enjoyed it a lot - a great deviation from the traditional story line!

I’ve read a few books of this series so far, but this one was my favorite so far, for sure. It’s so so good! This series is overall fantastic.

Slap Shot is unique compared to the other books in this series, given that unlike the other ones, this is told on the first person. I’m a huge fan of first person romance books, so YAY. Also, to add to the amazing and different things, this book is also told in single POV, through the man’s point of view! Which is another thing I LOVE in romances. First person, male only POV… YES! And to top it all off, the writing is amazing, and funny, and deep, and I was a fan from the first page.

The characters are also fantastic. We had already seen Hallsy in the other books, and I’m so happy he got his own story because he deserved it. He’s such a strong guy, and even though he’s a bit clueless at times, he’s still an amazing and loving person. Kendra is just the sweetest and fierce.

I absolutely loved the plot. This type of romance is not easy, because the author needs to find a perfect balance between showing how right the new romance is, without making the past relationship any less, and I think Kelly did an amazing job here. The connection between Kendra and Max is palpable, but I really liked how it developed slowly, from a physical thing to a lot lot more. And the chemistry?! Explosive!!!

Also, I loved the cameos from another of Jamieson’s series, eheh. So good.

I loved this book, and now I can’t wait to see what else Kelly Jamieson brings us. So far, I’ve loved all her books, but this one was off the charts. So yeah, if you haven’t started this series yet, get on it.

He lost his wife just over a year ago and he never, ever wants to love like that again. It hurts too much when you have to say good bye. She's fully embraced her sexuality and isn't afraid of a no-strings relationship. She's beautiful and he's ready to get back out there, so them hooking up is a no-brainer, right. All the cards are on the table -- just sex, no chaser, no relationship, no complications. Right, when has that ever worked?

This is an engaging story about two people who think they know what they want until they find what their heart needs and scramble to make sense of how to move forward. It's sexy, flirty and has heart. I recommend it.

I received an ARC of this book, from the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Great story once again by Ms. Jamieson. Love this series, this is Max's story who we met earlier he lost his wife and took some time off from life to find himself again. He is out at a teammates wedding when he meets Kendra and they hit it off. He knows he isn't ready for a relationship again but he needs a life and friends and that includes sex. Once they agree to friends with benefits things are go great until Kendra breaks the rule. Max is determined to never go down that road again so he ignores his heart and denies everything he is feeling. Can he wake up in time to make things right or will he lose the best thing since his late wife.
Can't wait for the next book. Honest review in exchange for ARC.

I’m a big fan of sports romances, especially those written by authors who have proven in their writing that they are either fans of their sport of choice or have researched it enough to be credible. Kelly Jamieson is one such author for hockey romances. Her Aces Hockey series has consistently been one I’ve enjoyed for its combination of likable characters, sexy times, and believable scenes detailing all aspects of the game. In Slap Shot, the main character Max Hall believes he’s finally ready to continue his hockey career after a fifteen month hiatus dealing with the death of his wife to cancer. He’s also ready to resume an active sex life – but not a relationship. He certainly gets the sex part right, and there are lots of steamy scenes in this one, but it's also a story about grief, and memories and moving on.
Hockey. Sex. Those two things are all that Max has on his mind, now that he’s finally got a hold of the grief that slayed him for several months, the depression and the long days after his wife’s death firmly in the past. In order to get into shape for team tryouts with the Chicago Aces after a year off the ice, he’s willing to take whatever his trainer dishes out. The time spent regaining his physical and mental doesn’t leave him anything to invest in a relationship. When he meets Kendra Armstrong, bridesmaid at his teammate’s wedding, they definitely seem to be on the same page. She’s only in town for a few days and she lives in New York. It’s the perfect way scenario to blow off a little steam.
Kendra has no expectations when it comes to Max, except for a fun time. As a sex toy designer building up a company with her best friend, she’s got her hands full too, and is not interested in a relationship either. Kendra’s background is in psychology, specifically human sexuality, and that combined with her new career means she isn’t shy about what she wants in the bedroom. The few days they spend together are memorable for them both, but neither has expectation of seeing each other again. Only, Kendra is Max’s teammate’s Duncan's cousin, and shows up at a lake weekend that he’s been invited to as well. And this time, they are both willing to admit that they wouldn’t mind keeping up a friends with benefits arrangement. That works for a while, but when their emotions start to come into play, will Max be willing to risk his heart again?
I really like how this story unfolds. It’s told entirely from Max’s point of view and he doesn’t give much of his emotional state away at the start. Though I knew about his wife’s illness and passing from previous stories (this is the fifth book in the series), it is brought up fairly early but not dwelled upon at the beginning. This is deliberate, because Max is trying to move on. He wants a sex life without commitment and he’s very clear about that with Kendra. He has a picture of his wife on his desk, and as he starts to care about Kendra he finds himself comparing them in subtle ways. Sometimes this feels a little forced, like the author is trying to make it look like Kendra is more suited to Max than his wife was. Yet he continues to hold firm in his mind that he will not love another woman. This results in feelings of guilt when he finds himself thinking of Kendra outside of their sexual encounters. As the story progresses it becomes clear that he's really not dealt with as much as he'd thought, until things come to a head and he's forced to make some decisions that will either pull Kendra closer or push her away completely.
Because we don't hear Kendra's 'voice' until the epilogue, her feelings and emotions are only brought up as conversations she has with Max. She seems to be a levelheaded, competent and smart woman. She's fun to be with and also a good listener. She definitely comes across as very suited to Max, and compatible as a life partner. We also learn a little about her past from conversations Max has with his teammate Duncan who is Kendra's cousin. She's been in two failed relationships where she gave more of herself than she got in return. This should be a little warning sign for Max that Kendra might be more invested in their relationship than he is, but she is good at hiding her real feelings too.
What’s interesting about this story from a hockey perspective is that it’s all pre-season. The on ice scenes are training drills with some of the other players hoping to make the team. Off the ice there are a lot of gym and boot camp style workouts. Max’s diet is important too, and his food and drink choices are part and parcel of his training. Some readers may find this attention to detail a bit excessive but I like how it shows Max’s commitment to playing hockey professionally again. Of course, there are all the requisite team 'bromance' scenes, with his former teammates anxious to have Max on board again. Plus, with Max getting involved with Kendra they have much to tease him about. They know the hard times he went through, and they are equally happy to see him smiling again.
Whether you've been following this series from the beginning or it's your first pass at the Aces Hockey series, you'll find a lot to enjoy in Slap Shot. What seems to be a cut and dried romance about second chances and moving on has some emotional depth as Max finally realizes his wife would not want him to use their relationship as a buffer from falling in love again. Plus, hockey fans will appreciate the hard work that goes on off the ice to get game ready. It's an entertaining combination and well worth the read.

This review has been posted at All About Romance and feedback updated with the link. A shorter version will be posted at Amazon and BN.

Book Review

Title: Slap Shot
Series: Aces Hockey #5
Author: Kelly Jamieson
Genre: Sports Romance
Publication Date: October 17, 2017
Cliff Hanger: No

4 Stars

*This story is for mature audiences only. Contains explicit scenes and language intended for adults 18+

Synopsis:
My name’s Max Hall, and I need to f***. As a pro hockey player who’s been away from the game for over a year, my libido has picked one hell of an inconvenient time to come roaring back to life.

After my wife died from a rare form of cancer, sex was the last thing on my mind. Same with hockey, the other love of my life. Now, after fifteen months of eating too much, drinking too much, and generally just feeling sorry for myself, I’m facing a steep uphill battle to get my ass in shape and play my way back onto the Chicago Aces.

So I’m not looking for a relationship. Just sex. Yeah, I know how that makes me sound. But the truth is, I’ll never love another woman the way I loved my wife. When I meet a sexy bridesmaid at my teammate’s wedding, I decide to scratch that itch. A fling with Kendra Armstrong in her posh hotel room could be just what the trainer ordered.

Not only is Kendra smokin’ hot, she’s dynamite in bed—one of the perks of being a sex toy designer. Since she lives in New York anyway, we agree to keep things casual, no strings attached. The arrangement is perfect . . . until one of us falls in love. And it’s not me.

My Thoughts:
This is the fifth book in this series and I have been looking forward to it! Yes, it is a hockey romance but it is so much more. I really think this is my favorite of the series. Max has had a few spots in the other books and he left the team to be with his dying wife. I am so glad the author told Max’s story!

Max had a serious case of depression following his wife’s death and who wouldn’t. She was the love of Max’s life. After months of too much beer, junk food and staying home wallowing in grief, Max was finally ready to take his life back. It has been 15 months and a long road but he is ready to win the spot on his team and maybe find a woman to have sex with. Of course, he wants no strings attached. No relationship, no commitments. He has a trainer and is working on getting back into the best shape he possibly can to get his spot back on the Aces.

Kendra was a therapist that gave up her practice and now has a business that makes sex toys. She started the company with her best friend and they are doing very well. Kendra is sweet, smart, savvy, funny and beautiful. She has been burned in relationships by men that had serious issues. She has learned she can’t fix people. Her life is in New York but she travels to Chicago frequently for business, plus her cousin, who also plays for the Aces lives there. Kendra is a force of nature, confident and carefree and she catches Max’s eye at the wedding of a teammate and Kendra is a bridesmaid. Kendra notices the handsome man watching her and decides to make a move. Needless to say, they have a few drinks and head up to her room. That’s where I am going to leave it. I don’t want to give anymore away because the reader needs to enjoy the book.

This book is told from Max’s POV with Kendra getting her POV in the epilogue. As I said in the beginning this was my favorite of the series. I loved watching Max gaining momentum in getting his life back and Kendra with her sweet and spicy spirit cheering him on. There are some parts that are sad when you see them struggling with issues and heartbreak. This is a second chance at love again and learning to live again for both Max and Kendra. There still was plenty of hockey and lots of steamy smexy times to keep me turning those pages. I can’t wait for more of the Chicago Aces!

ARC kindly provided by NetGalley for honest review.

It’s always so much fun to return to Chicago and Kelly Jamieson’s Chicago Aces series. Jamieson is by far the best hockey romance author in the business (trust me, I’ve read a lot of hockey romances). I waited not so patiently for Max Hall’s story, but it was worth the wait.

I loved that Jamieson chose to tell this story just from Max’s point of view. Readers of the Aces series have watched Max experience the illness and death of his wife, our hearts breaking alongside of him as the series progressed. The fact that this scenario played out in real life with Ottawa Senators goalie, Craig Anderson taking time off to be with his wife during her battle with cancer (which a much happier ending!!) only added to the sorrow I felt. But, Max’s journey from grieving widower to a HEA is handled perfectly.

Despite being beyond ready for Slap Shot, it still took me by surprise. It was an odd, slow burn story even though Max and Kendra don’t waste much time getting to know each other intimately. I enjoyed them together from the start; their easy banter and off the charts chemistry was hard not to like. It’s clear that Max can’t resist Kendra, though he doesn’t hesitate to lie to himself about where their “flirtationship” is going.

Max is focused on one thing only: getting his slot back on the Aces. The first half of the book is an entertaining textbook on preseason training that this hockey fan soaked up like a sponge. It was easy for me to imagine my favorite players going through this experience. More so, it allowed me to understand them and their dedication to their sport.

Convinced this is all he needs to be happy, he ignores his growing feelings for Kendra. Having Max in my head for 200+ pages let me really get to know him. Even when I knew he was falling in love, I also found myself nodding my head as he convinced himself that being open to love was a bad idea. Meanwhile, Kendra really comes to life through Max’s eyes.

Here’s my little secret: I didn’t really like her when the book started. She seemed like a cliché feminist that I didn’t want to read about. But, Jamieson wrote these two characters with such incredible depth that as they moved towards their HEA I was a borderline emotional wreck. Kendra… she’s just amazing. While I saw her initially as a somewhat uptight business woman, she’s really kind of adorable. She is a successful business woman, but she’s also quirky and caring and she dances around the house and she develops sex toys. She also grew up with a mom who has narcissistic personality disorder and suffered emotionally for it. That she needed Max as much as he needed her was a wonderful surprise and fantastic storytelling.

Truthfully, Kelly Jamieson knocked it out of the park with Slap Shot. It has all the emotional depth that I anticipated and it’s full of smart hockey, on and off the ice. And, oh! If you’re a fan of Jamieson’s Bayard Hockey series, look for some fun crossovers!

4.5 stars for Slap Shot. Heat level: 4

I received a copy of Slap Shot from NetGalley and Loveswept in exchange for honest feedback.

What a great addition to the Aces book series. We have had glances of Max over the last few books with first his wife being sick with cancer then finding out his wife passed away. we finally get his book. it was been a few years after his wife has passed and Max just needs to get laid. at the wedding of one of the Ace players he decides it's time to get in the sack again and have some fun so he picks Kendra. What happens is 2 people who don't want to become close start to get closer even though they don't live in the same city.
This was a great book of how someone can over come grief.