3.5 Stars

Once this book got going and we got to the relationship with Van and Simone, I absolutely loved it. The push and pull between them, the attraction he tried to fight (not very successfully) and the glimpses of Simone behind the woman who was trying to drive Van absolutely crazy. All of this was great.

But, what I didn't love was the Simone we meet at the beginning, the Simone who shows up at her brother's house and moves herself in, seeming to feel that what was his (including his roommate) was hers for the taking. I did not like this Simone, at all. And, there were a few times where I considered putting this book down, as I was not sure I was ever going to like the heroine.

I did, I must admit, come to really like her, and to see that Simone and the person she brings to the relationship is the exact person Van needed her to be. Van has a past he doesn't like to talk about, one that he hides from, and that he allows to control him. He needed someone like Simone, someone to step into his life and want him enough to be able to move past the things he was not able to move past himself.

By the end of the title, I was really a fan of Simone and of Simone and Van. I liked their relationship and I liked where they ended up, with a new life that they were starting.

I recommend this title.

Another amazing story in the cold fury world. I have a feeling when this series is over I will cry. From each man, including Van; the author pulls me in. The friends sister aspect was done amazingly. I love how blunt Simone was most of the time, and enjoyed seeing Van tried to put her off until he finally gave in. The heat factor of this book was hot! and my heart broke at times for Van because of his past. I can’t wait for the next book. 4 Stars #2OCCJD

Sawyer Bennett just keeps getting better and better! Van was just perfection… the writing and storyline will have you flying through the pages. I love this series! There’s so much heart and love, it isn’t all just the heat, which I also enjoy, but the love sucks me in!! I knew Van was going to be a tough nut… no pun intended! He’s so closed off and aloof… he actually reminds me of my husband! He frustrates me! LOL but you keep going back for more! If you enjoy Sawyer Bennett’s previous books this won’t disappoint you… I do kind of want more or different from her. I feel like she could be stuck in a rut with her same ol’ same ol’ type of characters!

I received an ARC of this book with the hope that I will leave an Unbiased Opinion. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise, and my opinions are just that... my opinions.

Van Turner is a bit of a loner, he doesn't need or want friends and even though he has a room mate he doesn't want to hang out with him. When his roommates sister, Simone Fournier, decides she is going to stay with them, Van does his best to avoid her. The problem, Simone wants Van and is trying her best to get his attention. Van tries his best to keep Simone at a distance but they reach a breaking point and the attraction is too much to ignore. However can they build something more together than physical attraction?

I enjoyed Van's character, he was growly and set in his ways. Where Simone was concerned though I had a hard time warming up to her. I do like this series so will check out more.

Van, the person, is definitely rough around the edges, a bit crass and aloof at times, but there was just something about him that I couldn't resist. Also, the "shiny" bit that Van and Simone had going for them was honestly the cutest and sweetest thing. It made me like them as a couple all the more.They also complimented each other very well. Simone is very outgoing and is all about embracing her wild side, while Van, although no stranger to sex and all things wild, is more held back and quiet. I loved watching Simone crack through Van's shell and seeing how much he truly needed her.

Really the only thing that bugged me about this book was how they got back together. I'm all for grand gestures and even though you can kind of view the "makeup" part as a grand gesture, it didn't work for me. That's more of a personal preference, I suppose, so don't let that deter you from reading the book. Aside from that issue, I really loved the book. This whole series is just amazing in general and I continue to remain a big fan of Sawyer. I will admit that their relationship was more about sex and feelings associated with that, but I could see the deeper connection and it could obviously turn into more down the line, which I appreciated. Van is definitely a great addition to the Cold Fury series.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC from Netgalley.

If you like your heroines bold & beautiful and your hero's brooding & hot, then THIS book right here is for you. I've thoroughly enjoyed Ms Bennetts Cold Fury Hockey Series and this one doesn't disappoint. There's an interesting background which makes Van so tortured and I'm pretty sure I've never read that before. Completely understandable. As far as Simone...she has cojones. I, personally, was a bit put off by how forward she was, but as I continued reading I realized that Van would need someone like this in his life.

It was a great read and these two compliment each other. But, I wouldn't expect anything else from Ms Bennett ('specially the Cold Fury Series!).

This was another great hockey story. I love how these stories all revolve around each other. The main characters are fun and entertaining. Great read.

Advance copy provided by the publisher in return for an honest review.
Each Cold Fury book gets better and better. I love Van, he is broody, aloof, uncommunicative, and ruthless on the ice. He keeps people at a distance because he has a secret to protect. Simone is the sister of Max and Lucas Fournier; she wants Van and despite his resistance she is determined to get him. She is light to his darkness, they have phenomenal chemistry which heats up the pages. Their road to happiness is bumpy, but they eventually get their HEA. As always Sawyer delivers a fast paced and entertaining read.

You know what I love about this series? No two books in it feel the same.

I loved Van and Simone's story. I liked how natural it felt and easy it flowed. It's full of steam but I loved the romance that laces the story even more. "Am I still shiny?" Gah!! That has to be my favorite line in the book. With romance and heart, I think this book is a beautiful story about love and acceptance. Van stole my heart and I fell hard and fast.

If you're a fan of this series you won't be disappointed. If you have started it yet, why not?

I’m a bit torn on this one…I love this series and most of the characters so far but this book wasn’t my favorite. This was a bit predictable but that didn’t bother me too much. It was a fast read, partially because I skimmed most of the sex scenes after the first couple.

I’m going to start with Van since I liked him better than Simone…at times. His history is unique and extremely tragic however, I didn’t like the a-hole persona Van threw down. He was REALLY disrespectful when he was hiding behind that mask. When he takes that mask off, I do like him. When we hear his whole story, my heart broke a little for him and the vulnerable little boy that still lives inside him. By the end of the book I was pretty forgiving for the a$$holery we had to endure at the beginning.

I did not like Simone at all for most of the book. She was too pushy when pursuing him…wouldn’t take no for an answer. She selfishly continued to disregard him pushing her away because she wanted to have sex with him, his feelings be damned. I love strong female characters that go after what they want but she just seemed desperate and extremely selfish.

When they stripped away all the BS and were just Simone and Van, I did like them together. I liked that she listened to his story and didn’t judge him or treat him differently. I like that she was ready to fight for him.
I will most probably be back for Reed who we meet in this book. I’m hopeful that will be better.

I really enjoyed this read, great characters and a pulling story line. Simone has dropped out of school and moved in with her brother while she finds out what she wants to do with her life. Her brother Lucas agrees, thinking it's a temporary thing. Lucas' roommate Van is a loner, he's built walls around him. Van takes his aggression out on the ice, being stoic in real life until his roommate and teammate's little sister come on to him. Simone keeps pushing, laying out what she'd like Van to do with her even though he's clearly let her know he's not interested, but once he agrees to a sex only compromise Simone manages to get under his skin, but when his secret comes out a big emotional wall tumbles.

I wasn’t sure about reading Van since I had such a hard time with the last book in this series, Lucas, but I decided to give it a try and it was marginally better. The funny thing is I was worried I wouldn’t like Van (the man) very much, but instead it was his love interest Simone that got on my every last nerve and I give Van a lot of credit for being able to put up with her bratty, selfish ways. I will admit at times I felt cheated as it ran somewhat concurrently with Lucas and thus a lot of the incidents that occurred were not new.

From the minute his roommate and team mate’s sister, Simone, enter their house Van knew she was trouble; he just had no idea how much trouble. I have to give Van a lot of credit for warding off Simone’s almost sexual harassment level advances and trying to be the voice of reason and a good guy. Van is no saint, but he also knows that Simone is at a crossroads in her life, she is young, and she is impulsive and Van knows he can’t be the man she wants him to be.

I’ll be flat honest in saying that I really didn’t like Simone a whole lot for the majority of this book. She did soften some and I do think she was good for Van in that she was a voice of reason when he needed it. In this way her tenacity paid off, but most of the time it just made her seem like a brat. I believe she fell hard and fast for Van and he did seem to understand her more than anyone else in her life, but I hoped to see her mature and own up to some of her less than stellar actions and that didn’t really happen and in fact her impulsive decision made her miss one of the most important events in her brother’s and Van’s life.

Van was a complicated character and given his background that wasn’t surprising. There was no doubt that his childhood left him scared and I hated that he put himself back in the path of it and really got no resolution. I loved his Aunt Etta and everything she had done for him including showing him how to love someone unconditionally, but she couldn’t protect him from the past. I was impressed that he opened up to Simone when he’d never done so with anyone else in her life and yes, she impressed me by giving him the understanding and care he deserved in that time. I hurt for Van and was glad to see him finally make peace with everything that happened to make him into the man he is today and realize that despite it all, he is worthy of friendship and love.

Overall, I did enjoy this book but for about the first 50% of it I was contemplating not finishing it as I found Simone’s action to be annoying and because it was concurrent with Lucas is was repetitive, but Van’s life interested me so I kept on and I’m glad I did.

3.5 stars

A cold-as-ice hockey god meets his match! This story is a bit unorthodox in that a good portion of the beginning of the book is already familiar if you read the previous book in the series LUCAS. It shows some common scenes only from a different perspective and with added happenings. It wasn’t my favorite way of going about it, but it worked and built on the information we already had gotten in the last book. I love the characters in this series and they are always good for a fun read with lots of angst and a ton of sexy tension!

Carolina Cold Fury enforcer Van Turner isn’t a warm and fuzzy kind of guy. He’s hard and cold and doesn’t have time for anybody’s nonsense. Give him a puck and some ice and he’s as happy as he’s going to get. A brutal past that no one knows about has held him back from putting down too many roots or getting close to his teammates, but when a pesky brat of a woman sets her sights on him, he’s going to rue the day he ever met her!

Simone Fournier is used to being around hulking hockey studs. Two of her big brothers are Van’s teammates and put her in close contact a little too much for his comfort. She set her sights on him the night they met, and if she wants him, she’s going to have him!

Sawyer Bennett has managed to make this series hotter and more intriguing. This book is my favorite in the Cold Fury Hockey series by far. High tension and unrelenting advances fueled the fire between Van and Simone. As Van’s introduction in Lucas’ book demonstrated, being cold was his M.O. Simone’s attempts to his melt his icy disposition proved to be a whirlwind that made each encounter hotter than the next. As their story unfolds, learning more about Van’s life and obstacles sheds light on his resistance. And although Simone’s persistence is unyielding, their struggles leave doubt that any kind relationship is manageable . This story captured my heart. I fell in love with Simone and her heart of gold. You will love the push and pull of this story. Walking that line of uncertainty was enthralling. Sawyer Bennett nailed it once again!

It is absolutely NO secret that I love me some Cold Fury men and that this by far my favorite all time hockey series, which says a lot because there are some amazing hockey romance books out there. These Cold Fury men never disappoint and Ms. Bennett never gives us anything other than her best. And while they are all unique in their own way, with some books coming in hotter than others, some stories hitting closer to your heart than others, one thing you can always count on is a an entertaining read. My all time favorite Cold Fury player is Ryker, hands down, however, Van gave him a run for his money. I absolutely LOVED him!

Van Turner was a mystery in the last book and the preview that we got at the end of LUCAS had me waiting on pins and needles! Simone Fournier and Van… WHAT?! Oh the anticipation was HIGH and let me tell you, Sawyer Bennett delivers! This book is INSANELY HOT and the story is soooooooo good! I was invested from the get go and I’m pretty sure if life didn’t get in the way, I would have read this in one sitting.

Van was a stubborn, stubborn man and Simone was relentless, paired together they were fire and ice! I loved that Simone never gave up on him, despite all that Van puts her through. Their story is both sexy as hell and sweet in its own way. Van deserves to be loved and there is no one better than Simone for him. I truly enjoyed reading their story and this is now my second favorite Cold Fury book. Read it! I know that you’ll love it just as much as I did!

REVIEW: 4.5 STARS
"God, you're a fucking hot lunatic."

Another Sawyer Bennett book being reviewed by ME? Who woulda thunk it, right? I know, I have an irrational love affair of all things Sawyer, but I just can't stop reading her books. This book ended up being a very good story, if not one of my favorites in the series. And once I got into it, I was turning the pages rather quickly to see how it all went down. She always has a story that flows and reads quickly. In this one, Simone and Van are two very different individuals. They couldn't have been any more different. They had two very different upbringings, live different lifestyles, and possess warring personalities. But one thing is for sure, they are combustible. Sparks fly when they are together, which leads to a tantalizing read. The dynamic between these two characters was very different than any of hers I have read and I loved it.

At first, Simone was the younger sister; the innocent sister we met in Lucas. But in this book, she was this wild, brash, and quite unapologetic go-getter when it came to Van and his affections. I wasn't entirely sure how to take her. I mean, she seriously was ridiculously confident, and I'm still battling if it was strength or if it was arrogance. I told a friend while I was reading that I wasn't sure if she was super confident, or if I was jealous of her confidence, but that girl didn't quit. AT. ALL. She knew she wanted something, and she went after it. Stalker mode and all. I may have been a little concerned for Van's safety in his own bedroom for a minute there.....

Van, he was a seriously closed off, looking-from-the-outside-in, asshole. Genuine. But once we figured out the actual reason for his abrasive and boorish attitude, there was a little leeway in my heart for that kind of personality coming from him. We met him in Lucas, and the stories do overlap, but we didn't really 'know' him, and so that led to some serious wondering on my side which helped build up the anticipation for this one. Oh man, I am pretty sure I fell hard for him after getting to know him.

"Her fierce determination, snarky attitude, and weirdly sweet disposition makes her beyond intriguing to me."

There were some honest to goodness, serious heartfelt moments in this book and Van had me wrapped around his pinky. I mean, given everything that happened to him growing up, and the fact that he never really got a chance to discuss his past with anyone, my heart just broke for him. I am glad Simone was the one that was able to ease it out of him and be there for him. Their relationship took a 180, but it was a necessary one and the old adage is true that there is someone out there for everyone. That ONE person will make you rethink your own answers, and that is what I loved about this book. Inside and outside of the bedroom, these two pushed every button with each other, and it was so necessary and it worked. I loved how these two were there for each other.

One thing has to be said about their attraction: While Simone knew what she wanted, Van fought it all the way, but once he finally gave in? Oh man, that dominance he had in him was so freaking sexy. And Simone giving in and allowing him to own her like that? It was the sexiest and most insanely hot thing to see happening. Their growth in this book was easily one of my favorite things to read! She was so forward and he was so closed off, but their role reversal in the bedroom was all sorts of HOT. So very hot. Woah! I feel like there was such an emotional exchange of power in this book, and it was a subtle one the way it was written. We went from a sexually heavy 'hookup' with little conversation between them, to a story with an intense relationship brewing between them. I truly felt that after everything was said and done, Van came out stronger than ever. I honestly loved how this one all worked out.

I don't know how she does it, but Bennett keeps writing this series, story by story, player by player, and I keep getting sucked into it, one book at a time. Yes, I openly, actively, and continually admit that this is one of my favorite series from her, and she proves why with each new installment. Each player gets their own story, and I keep getting roped into them. So yes, I'm looking forward to Reed and Marek so very much. I don't want this series to end, but I know she only has so many teammates.....but hear me out, Sawyer. We have trades? We have kids? I don't want it to end!!!

"I know you, Van Turner. And I think you're mighty fine."

The only reason I didn’t do a DNF when I started this book is because I requested it from NetGalley and I felt obligated to write a review. So I kept on reading and thankfully, when I was about 50% of the book, it turned into the wonderful love story that I always expect from Sawyer Bennett. I have been a fan of Ms Bennett for some time and have read A LOT of her books and loved them all, so one dud is not a bad thing. I’m pretty sure the book was fantastic for other readers. So I will explain below.

Simone Fournier arrived at her brother’s house, with suitcases, uninvited. She dropped out of college where she was one semester away from finishing pre-med in an Ivy League University. She realized that studying medicine was her father’s dream, not hers, so she dropped out and appeared on her brother Lucas’ doorstep. Lucas lived in a very small house with Van, another player in the Cold Fury hockey team. The house only had two bedrooms and neither of the guys ceded her his bedroom, so she claimed the couch for sleeping. She met Van and she liked what she saw and she decided she wanted him. Thus starts a sexual harassment campaign. She relentlessly pursued him, no holds barred, offering sex, dressing provocatively, in a pushy and constant manner. No matter that Van told her he didn’t want to get involved with her, she didn’t heed his warning and kept pushing, to the extent that Van had to keep away from the house or hide in his room. I can understand that a woman has a right to own her sexuality but if this were coming from a man, it would be called sexual harassment, but coming from a woman, she called it seduction??

Finally Van succumbed to so much temptation, and the sex was stratospherically good. So they agree to a sex only rule, no further involvement. Van has powerful reasons for not wanting to get involved with women, and he’s kept a wall around him all his life. His father was a sociopath, convicted of raping and murdering women. He lived the scandal of the trial and conviction and the aftermath was so vicious for a little boy that he learned to hide within himself and not let anyone in. Until Simone and her pushy ways got into him.
So, once Simone and Van are involved, they were great for each other. After the fact, I realized that if Simone hadn’t been so pushy and corralled Van the way she did, he probably would have kept closed off and never come out of hiding.

Simone had some growing up to do, she needed to figure out what to do with her life and return the money that her parents had invested in her career. I didn't have a lot of admiration for Simone at first, except that once she had Van, she was a fantastic girlfriend, supportive and understanding. She helped him a lot in overcoming his issues.

Van was opening up, letting people in and getting involved with what was happening around him. They both needed to grow as a couple, since this was new territory for both.
Once Simone was in a committed relation with Van, she turned into the good girl that everyone said she was. The vibe I got from the book was that she was sex-starved, given the insistence with which she pursued Van. Also, her choice of work and attire. It just did not jibe with the image of a good girl. Nevertheless, once the book got going with Van and Simone as a couple, and they started mingling with the Simone’s brothers and sisters in law, we get to see a Van learning the ropes of social interplay, trying to let people in and wanting to please Simone. He did a lot of growing up, even though he was always afraid of turning into a monster like his father later in life.

A scandal happens, and it will test them as a couple and their commitment to each other.
Apart from the beginning and the distaste I felt for the way Simone pursued Van, it was a great book, like all the other Sawyer Bennett books. Great reading, great hockey family, great pace. In this book, I loved the male character. It was like seeing a guy who was socially stumped, go baby steps into opening his self and slowly approaching happiness.

Van is another fun read in the Cold Fury Hockey Series.

Van, the hero of the book, is a young man very burdened by his past. His childhood was impressively crappy and not just kind of crappy, so the reader can understand why he has a hard time trusting people and himself.

Simone, the heroine of the book, is a young woman trying to break out on her own for the first time. Her life was always pretty perfect up to the point we meet her. She has just abandoned the dream that her parents had for her and she is at loose ends.

I liked Van and felt he was well written and had depth. He was tortured by his past to some extent but I did not find him annoying, whiney or overly brooding. He had accepted his childhood and just got kind of stuck after that.

Simone was very likable as well. I also liked that she was primarily after a good time and not a fairytale romance, at least initially. (I've read enough 'saint sacrifices self to heal her broken man' book heroines to last a lifetime.) She had depth and I could empathize with her feelings of not having a set direction for once in her life.

I also felt that they genuinely complemented each other and would have a happy life together.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys contemporary romance.

I hate to say this but I had a hard time finishing this one. It kind of bordered on DNF and I can pinpoint why. We all know that there's this lead up to the happily ever after and we anticipate it, but for me, it just didn't happen. I felt like when Van gave his ultimate apology - it fell flat and Simone's response to it was out of left field and she didn't make him work for it. It wasn't romantic, it wasn't what romance novels are made of. I've loved Van, but this just made me feel...MEH.

I was given an ARC copy of this book by the publisher for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own and do not reflect anyone else's.

4.5 SHINY CROWNS

I’ve been a huge fan of the Cold Fury Hockey series by Sawyer Bennett for many reasons. First, I’m a sucker for a sports romance, particular hockey. Second, it is the series that introduced me to Sawyer Bennett. And third, this series is always filled with angst and steam, which is my preferred romance combination. Van, however, more than the last couple books in the series is more reminiscent of the original books for its brash heroe and angst filled plot.

Van is not a hero who we are intended to love immediately. He is closed off, abrasive, and often mean. His words are meant to hurt and cut people out of his life, and at the beginning, it is hard to see how readers would ever like this man. Sawyer Bennett, however, gives him a past that adequately explains his behavior and his motivation for being stolid and unapproachable. The other tool she uses to make readers like this seemingly gruff character is his relationship with Simone. With her, we see the care behind the harsh words, as he is absolutely a man who shows how he feels with his actions, and just as her heart becomes entangled with his, so does the readers.

Simone is another interesting heroine. She is often referred to as a brat throughout the book, and, to be honest, she is. She chases him relentlessly and has zero qualms about using anything in her physical arsenal to seduce him. She, however, is perfect for Van. She is able to take his abrasive personality and not allow it to affect her. She is able to tear down her walls and show him that he can be loved and love in return. Finally, her sexuality, specifically her openness and adventurous spirit to try anything, is refreshing and often unheard of in romances. Now, I’m sure there will be readers that are turned off by her, but I found that I liked her bold nature and her tenacity when it came to Van.

This plot of this story centers around the animosity, real and pretend, between the hero and heroine. While this works for developing their characterization and relationship, I do wish it would have gone a bit faster. I didn’t really like them as people during this time period; Sawyer Bennett, however, turns that all around when these two finally succumb to their desires. When this happens, readers get to see new sides to Van and Simone, and not only do we witness some of the hottest scenes I can recall from the Cold Fury Hockey Series but we also get to see these two become more than the two dimensional characters from the beginning of the book. This is where the story picks up, and this is what will make readers love the newest addition to the series.

While this Cold Fury Hockey Series is a set of standalones, I find it is hard to stay invested as more and more books are published, but this series keeps me intrigued. It is always sexy, sweet, romantic, and I always love seeing past characters resurface. Plus, Sawyer Bennett has found a way to make each book fresh and unique from the one before.