Van is without a doubt one of Sawyer Bennett's best! Not just of the Cold Fury series, but of all her books. This hero, hockey star Van Turner...is just soooo....ummm. I can't describe him. He's messed up. (and I love a messed up hero.) He is just so bottled up with hurt and fear and anguish and what he thinks the future holds for him and what the past did to him...and he takes it out on the people around him by being a big old cranky grumpy asshole...oh, I just wanted to shake him! Thank god, THANK GOD Simone Fournier ( Max and Lucas) sister barreled her way into his life and would not be stopped! She didn't care how rude Van was to her, or how he pretended not to care, this girl saw what she wanted and she wanted Van. She chipped away at him, and chipped away at him, until he finally opened up to her, revealing his big, tragic secret (god I hurt for him!)

Now I must admit, at first I thought Simone was being a bit slutty the way she sexually harassed Van! That put me off just a bit. But then I grew to absolutely love her! She was just what Van needed!! Their journey was remarkable, their sex scenes were the smoking-est, their love story made me cry *sniff*. Their epilogue was a bit surprising (no spoiler here) but I loved it. Hands down my favorite couple of the Carolina Cold Fury.
Fans of this series, don't miss this one!

OT. This book is crazy hot. Probably the hottest of the Cold Fury books so far.

Okay, now that my PSA is over, I've got to gush about how great this book is! Simone's book takes place during the same time as her brother Lucas', and I don't know which I like better! Van is no Ryker, but my heart broke for him and his struggles. I was a little grumpy at points, but that means I cared, so well done!

If you haven't picked up this series yet, I just don't know why!

It is rare to see such self-assuredness in a female main character, going after what she wants, when she wants, however she wants it. That pretty much sums up Simone. It takes a special kind of guy to be attracted to a woman like that. She pushes and pushes and pushes Van. But in the end, that's what Van needs - someone to force him to face his personal demons head-on. Van has a horribly tragic past - who would have thought that Simone would be the one to bring him out of his self-imposed personal exile of feeling any emotions, other than the rage within himself?

Their story isn't an easy one. Van keeps himself away from others, shunning people except on the ice where he takes out his frustrations. He doesn't let anyone get too close. Then comes Simone. She barrels into his life and does not give up. He throws a lot of internal anger at her even though he finds her irresistible. She's strong enough to take that and turn it into something that can bring them together or tear them apart. This is a rollercoaster of a ride with a lot of emotion!

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing - Loveswept for an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

WOW...Van is one tough nut to crack!
He is strong, willful, opinionated, and very much set in his ways!
Simone doesn't take NO for an answer...she doesn't back down...she keeps pushing.
She may have got more then she bargained for with Van, but I guess only time will tell. Simone pushed Van and in turn Van pushed Simone...it was a pleasure to watch them fight each other at every turn.
Van was a dirty bird and Simone was the perfect match for him in that department.
#Etta #Muscley #Broody #Fridge #WhiteKnight #HotLunatic #Shiny #GoodLuckBlowJob #Sexcapades #Freckles #FreakyDeaky #AnalCherry

I have really enjoyed all of the books in this series but this one was hard to get into at first. I get that Van is an a**hole and he has issues but sometimes I just wanted to reach into the pages and smack him! As the story went on and I got used to his snarkiness and the story behind his personality, I found myself liking him a little more....just like the heroine Simone.

Simone knows early on that she loves Van but he takes a lot longer to catch up. His past keeps him tethered to a time of anger and fear and even his feelings for Simone can't seem to break through. She keeps trying until she just can't do it anymore. Then, it's up to Van to deal with his past or let Simone go.

This is a good story with a difficult hero but still a great read and addition to the series!

This is absolutely my favorite Cold Fury book yet. I think I say it with every novel in this series, but this one grabbed my attention and wouldn’t let go.

Some won’t understand Simone and her stubborn ways, and may think she is a little bratty. That’s ok, Van did too but he mostly thought she was super shiny. I loved her strong family ties that made her a very proud and loyal woman. She also had a cheeky side that was so fitting to bring Van out from behind this brick walls. She was a hoot to read, and I bet even more fun to write.

I adore a man with complexities that give him multi layers to unravel. Van Turner had a secret that kept him hidden in broad daylight, but gave him nightmares from time to time. He too was loyal, to his team and Etta, only don’t ask him to be committed to anything else. Of course we all know that this makes for a bit of angst and apprehension. He sometimes came across as a jerk, but I mostly wanted to hug him to ease his pain.

There are not many female authors that can write a male lead extremely well. Ms Bennett is one that seems to comprehend how they tick and speak. This is told in dual POV, my preference, and I would recommend it for any sports or second chance romance lover.

I could see these two taking a short break in Vegas and having a cameo role in the Wicked Horse Series. How brilliant would that be!


* I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley for an honest review.

Everyone knows I am a big Hockey fan, and even tough I skipped some books in this series, (don't ask me why because I don't even know) I was very excited about reading this one ;)

Sawyer gives us another very steamy (and a bit kinky) addition to this wonderful series. I wonder how many she'll add, since we are at book 9 already ! Not that I'm complaining...no siree !!

Anyways...this time it's Van's turn. He played a part in the previous book, but no worries... all these books be read as stand alone's ;)

Simone is the sister of Lucas and Max ( books 6 & 8 ) and she is quite the feisty woman !! She is not afraid to go after what she wants and what she wants right now is Van !!

Van isn't an easy catch though...

When she does catch him, they agree to a "just sex, no strings" relationship....or should I say non-relationship :P

We all know how that works out though... there are always gonna be feelings involved !! !!! You would think they would all know by now !!

I really enjoyed this one, just like all the others I have read in this series. Van was an awesome character and I really liked Simone ! Their chemistry was through the roof and the sexy times were SMOKING !!

All in all another awesome addition to the series and I myself can't wait to see what will be next !!

An ARC was kindly provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

My reviews are posted on DirtyBooksObsession

"Am I still shiny?"

The deeper I get into the Cold Fury Hockey series the more addicted I become. There's just no resisting those sexy #HockeyHotties and if one of them happens to be a broken bad boy, I fall even harder. And Van is most definitely broken. He's big, bad, broken, bossy and blunt to the point of rudeness. He keeps to himself and he doesn't socialize unless it's a team requirement.

Simone is the only girl with three big brothers. She's not intimidated by Van. She actually finds his impenetrable walls to be a challenge. She just turns up the heat and tries to shock him with her boldness and extreme flirting. He hides it well, but she's starting to get to him. And it's not that she's off-limits because she has two brothers on the team. Nope, she's off-limits because he doesn't do relationships. He's a loner and his past is nobody's business. He doesn't answer questions and he doesn't have sleepovers.

Van has earned his reputation on the ice as an enforcer, and off the ice as an A-hole. He channels his rage through his performance on the team or at the gym. He doesn't have any close friends, but he gets along with his roommate, especially since Lucas is usually at his girlfriend's place. Most of the time he has the living room and the TV to himself. At least he used to. Before she invaded his home, his couch, and his fantasies. But what choice did he have? She was his roommate's sister, he couldn't throw her out. But he wanted to...

What fun I had when Simone set her sights and Van and pushed and pushed until he was ready to explode. I was ready for the fireworks show, turning each page with delight, knowing that the next one would be when it finally happened. And let me tell you, when those two finally do connect, it's like the Fourth of July! But unfortunately, that wasn't the only hurdle. Van has a BIG secret. There's a reason he pushes everyone away and doesn't smile or make friends. And though Simone drives him crazy with lust, he doesn't want to share more than his body. He's keeping his secrets and his heart off-limits. But, as you probably already guessed, Simone isn't scared off by limitations, they just motivate her to try harder.

I fell hard for Van. Even more so after learning what he was hiding. His story was surprising and heartbreaking. As the author focuses on a different player in each book of this amazing series she proves that the Cold Fury players really are a team, on and off the ice. I can't wait to get to know Reed better in the next installment. The line forms here...

5 star Review Van (Cold Fury Hockey # 9) by Sawyer Bennett

This is book 9 in the series and another winner for Sawyer Bennett in my humble opinion. These books keep getting better and better. Each time I read a book I think there is no chance that he will become my favourite and yet Sawyer Bennett proves me wrong time and again.

If you haven’t read the previous book in the series Lucas, I would suggest you read it first as this story line is concurrent with it.

I may well be in the minority but I really loved Van from the beginning. Maybe because he screams bad boy with a heart of gold, I have no idea, all I know is I was drawn to him and the feisty and saucy Simone Fournier who captures his attention despite himself.

From the outset it is obvious that Van is fighting his attraction for his room mate's sister Simone, also obvious that he has an extremely troubled past which is impacting him now. Simone is at a cross roads in her life after ditching her studies to become a doctor, she is uncertain what or where her future lies.

It is obvious that the Fournier family love and support each other , no matter what and this shines through in Van as Simone struggles with her future and her choices.

Simone is one fiercely determined, almost dominant woman, she knows what she wants and is determined to get her man; Van on the other hand is equally determined to stay away from her.
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Van and Simone together absolutely sizzle, their chemistry smoulders to a point where you expect them to explode. But is phenomenal sex enough to keep these two together or will their passion burn out? Can these lost souls, fight the demons within and come together for a happily ever after? Will they both dare to take a chance? Will Van be able to confront his past and let Simone in or will he turn away from her ? You will have to read Van to find out.

This series gets better and better and the Cold Fury team seems to me to be a family and I loved catching up on the previous couples and seeing what is happening in their lives.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book through NetGalley from the publisher.

A heroine that enjoyed being abused and dominated?? A h who was the pursuer in the relationship instead of the other way around? Ummm... no thanks.

There was not one redeeming quality that I liked in either character. This was just a book about sex and that is why it didn't work for me - no matter that it had a nice HEA at the end.

Van is another awesome book in what is an incredible Cold Fury series!! I love this team!!
I love Simone & Van! Simone is serious force to be reckoned with! She is the younger sister of Max and Lucas Fournier, and has dropped out of Dartmouth and she shows up at Lucas'place looking for a place to crash for a bit. Of course the uber sexy but stoic Van Turner is his roommate. She decides she likes this arrangement very much and that she really wants Van. She is like an unstoppable hurricane force wind made of sass, spunk, flirtiness and sexual energy! She has no inhibitions when it comes to her pursuit of Van. Now of course even though Van is not very welcoming, but trust me she does not go unnoticed. He does not want to want Simone for a few reasons. Besides the fact that she is his teammates' younger sister, he is not looking for a relationship and knows they wouldn't like that very much if he just hooked up with their sister. He has a lot of baggage that makes him feel like he is not worthy of anything more.
Simone and Van have hotter than hell chemistry and it becomes increasingly difficult to deny. Is it possible to break down the fortress Van has around his heart? Can he finally find peace from his past? Will Simone be able to convince him that if he takes a chance, she's got his back?
If you love this series, you will absolutely love this latest installment! It's fantastic!!

Van is the ninth, stand-alone book in Sawyer Bennett’s amazing Cold Fury Hockey series, and it’s an emotional, gritty and scorching hot love story. Van Turner is a professional hockey player, who is anti-social, broody, moody and downright grumpy. He had a traumatic childhood that continues to haunt him, and he doesn’t allow himself to get close to anyone. No woman has ever breached his mile-high walls, but his roommate and teammate’s litter sister, Simone Fournier, tempts him to lower his defenses for the first time ever.

Simone desires Van and sets out to seduce him with single minded determination, and she’s not swayed by his cantankerous demeanor or stinging rebuffs. He wants to resist her because he’s afraid of the ramifications if he doesn’t, but he simply can’t. Their chemistry is potent and electrifying and something profound is brewing between them, but Van’s past is complicated and his fears run deep. If anyone can melt his stone-cold heart, it is Simone. She is resolute, forthright and not afraid to fight for what she wants, and she breathes life into Van. His evolution is intense and emotional, and Van is compelling, drop-dead sexy and simply unforgettable.

USA Today's Happy Ever After

Hands down, Van Turner's backstory is the most compelling of all the Cold Fury men so far. I did not see that coming, but I couldn't put it down. I kept wanting to learn more, dig deeper into him and crack open that tough, thorny outer shell to get to the ooey gooey underbelly.

Y'all, I wasn't actually sure there was going to be an ooey gooey underbelly for a while. Surly heroes are my favorite - and having first met Van as a secondary character in Lucas, I knew I was in for a treat with this one. Only - nothing about this book played out the way I anticipated that it would. That's not a complaint. If anything it's a nod of respect to Ms. Bennett who is dealing out surprises even nine books into this (fantastic) series.

There wasn't a whole lot of sweetness to this story, which actually made the sweet spots, when they were delivered, so much sweeter. I was frustrated sometimes. I didn't always know what to make of Simone - who tested my boundaries when it comes to strong female heroines - and there were for sure moments where I felt like Van needed a swift kick in the rear end. That is - these characters weren't always likeable to me. But they were fascinating. And as their stories unfolded, they wormed their way into my heart and by the end? Near full on swooning, you guys. Such a tremendous payoff.

The Cold Fury Hockey series is one of my favorites and Van was a fantastic addition. This one is a little darker, and a little kinkier than the others. It didn't always give me the swoony feels that I crave - I mean, until it did. And then they came in spades (and tears, and goobery smiles). This is definitely not one to be missed! And, as always, my greedy little grabby hands are already out for more (Reed!).

JANEANE

Woohoo, time to head back to North Carolina and spend some time with the hockey hotties from the Cold Fury.

If you have read Lucas, some of this will be familiar, as the timelines do cross.

I liked Van in Lucas - he is Lucas' team mate and house mate. But we didn't know much about him until now.

And what's not to love about him. He is sweet and loyal, but also caustic and cut off and broody.

Simone Fournier, sister of Fury's Max and Lucas - ahh, she is bold and brassy and certainly goes after what she wants and doesn't take no for an answer.

I could relate to her not knowing what she wants out of life. We have all drifted like her at some point in our lives

Now, I am not going to lie (and don't shoot me Sawyer). I have felt that the past couple of CF books the quality was slipping a little. Maybe it was that the author has a couple of different series out through the year and she was spreading herself a bit thin? Maybe it was just me and my expectations? Whatever it was, they just felt a bit meh to me.

I am glad to say that she is back to her great work with Van.

The characters are relatable. The story flowed well. The relationship from sex to more was organic. I wanted to slap shot Van in his mean mouth at times, but then he would redeem himself.

I love seeing a bit of the Cold Fury guys from the previous books, however I also love that you don't need to have read them to jump into this series.

I am happy that the series is continuing. Can't wait to see what that brings us.

BIANCA
Finally a new book in this adorable Hockey series.


VAN!!!

I already loved him in LUCAS. He was so not interested in Simone - and he still tries to stay strong against her mega-flirting. But of course it's not working.

Adorable.

But we also have to fix whatever Van thinks is stopping him from having a happy life.

Simone has a lot of work to do until they can ride off into their happy end sunset!

I loved reading it! Very erotic, adorable, funny, moving - great romance!!!!

And now hurry Reed!!!!!!


**will go live on blog and Amazon etc on release day**

First, I must confess I've read the entire Cold Fury series, so I'm definitely familiar with the characters. Love that the storylines overlap with Lucas's story, you get a slightly different perspective to the same interactions.
Vans backstory is much darker than I expected. So that was a surprise twist in what all the brooding came from. Someone turns out to be so much more than the little sister of Max and Lucas. She owns her sexuality in a way that is refreshing to see. She can be herself without being slutty and competes in a man's world. Of course she's still got a lot of growing up to do. Hope we'll revisit them in future books, would like to see where they finally end up.

I love a great sports romance and this book is just that. Van is the perfect BBF. You know the broken soul we all just want to cuddle with. He keeps to himself for good reason and I loved how Simone turned his life upside down. Simone took her time to grow on me but by the end of the story I felt I understood her better. I really enjoyed the writing and the pace of the book. There was just the right amount of angst to balance everything out, overall a very entertaining read. I look forward to reading more from this series in the future.

Wow. Van was nothing that I was expecting. I knew that the story, while a standalone, ran concurrently to Lucas so I thought I had an idea as to what it could be about but I was so so wrong. Van was so different than any of the other stories in the series, in some ways I adored and in some ways I had to grow to love the story and characters.

Let's start by talking about how Simone had to grow on me. At first, her non-stop flirting, over the top aggressive sexual pursuit of  Van and generally immature behavior had me rolling my eyes. While in most romance novels it is the man being relentless to win the girl, in Van, it was Simone pursuing him and Van constantly telling her it was not going to happen. That being said by the halfway point I was warmed to her, she knew what she wanted and knew that despite how he acted Van wanted her. By the end of the book, I absolutely loved how she stuck to her guns and was confident in who she was. Simone might have been young and flapping in the wind when it came to what she wanted in her future but when it came to knowing who the man for her is, she was completely confident. 

Now for Van! His story was difficult and his childhood has completely shaped the man he has become. He is closed off, brutish, and determined to be alone. Then Simone forced her way into his home, his bed, and his life. She is his roommate/teammate's little sister and off limits, and yet when pushed to the edge of desire he can't help but fall. I loved this broken hero. He wasn't always kind or thoughtful but when he fell he fell hard. In my opinion, if you aren't going to read all the books in this series this is not one you want to miss. Easily read as a standalone, trust me you want to read this EXTREMELY HOT hockey book! 

4.5 Stars
~miranda

I hate to say this, because I am a big Sawyer Bennett fan, and have loved most of the Cold Fury series, but this one was a big miss for me. I absolutely hated Simone. She was a selfish spoiled brat who thought of no one but herself. She won't listen to anyone, but expects compliance from the guys. And let's not forget the incessant sexual harassment she engages in. If a man acted the way she did we would be up in arms. Sneaking into a guy's room, who has already told you no, while naked? No. So I ended up skimming a lot. Just not a winner for me.

Simone Fournier just showed up at her brother’s house with her suitcases announcing she dropped out of college and that she’s moving in. Lucas, not a happy camper with this news, allows her to sleep on the couch since his roommate Van has the other room. As Simone sets her eyes on Van, right there and then, she decides she wants him. Van being all broody and quite refuses her advances, that is until Simone continues to push him to the point he can no longer say no. Van has lived his whole life angry at everyone and this is why he is one of the best hockey enforcers with the Carolina Cold Fury. No one knows the secrets that he keeps. Well until Simone finds a box under his bed. When he confesses, Simone becomes his biggest supporter and their relationship starts to change. However, Van doesn’t do relationships. He knows he will eventually hurt Simone, so he decides to cut her out of his life. Realizing his mistake, can he win her back, or has gone so far that he can’t fix it.
Loved this book as I love everything Sawyer Bennett writes.

It's time for more hockey with the best team, the Carolina Cold Fury. And this time it is Van Turner and Simone Fournier who are trying to not fall for each other or at least that is what Van thinks anyway.
Van is the closed-off member of the team, he doesn't let any of his teammates get close, so why should he let a woman get close. With what we learn about his past and the secret he is keeping, it is no wonder that he has built walls around his heart. What he doesn't expect is the way that Simone storms into his life and demands his attention. And she doesn't stop until she gets what she wants and that is herself in Van's bed. But Van feels guilty because he thinks that her brothers, who happen to be two of his teammates, will think he took advantage of her and will break her heart. Once Van makes Simone understand that there is no relationship, it is just pleasure, he is in and the fun begins.
Simone has left college and is staying with Lucas and his roommate Van. And she wants Van and will have him. She has turned up the flirting but he seems to be immuned. But after a little trick, she seems to set the beast free in Van and she is enjoying every minute of it. Although she knows there will not be a relationship between them, she can't help the feelings seeping through.
What happens when her brothers learn about her and Van? Will she survive if when things end with Van? Will she end things with him when she learns about his past? Will the Cold Fury win the championship again?
I love everything about this series and I think with each book that I have a new favorite, well I think Van has moved his way into my heart and in the number one spot. I laughed and I cried for him and with him and Simone. This story was fantastic and all I can say is if you haven't started this series, then you should and I hope you loved these men as much as I do. So sit back and enjoy!
**Copy provided by the author and publisher through NetGalley and this is my honest review**