Our flame was extinguished before it even got to glow. But damn, I can still feel its warmth, and it’s nice to know he can too.

Guys, guys, guys. You need to be reading this series from Victoria Denault. Slammed is only the second book of hers I have read and yet, I am already addicted to her style of writing. There’s just something about it, about this book. I don’t know that I can quite explain it, but it’s tangible and it’s real and it just maybe doesn’t have a name. Except for WOW. This book absolutely has that WOW factor that truly fantastic romance novels do.

And maybe it comes from Elijah. After all, the man is swoon personified. From his terrible (and terribly hilarious) pick-up lines to the way he calls his girl “Sweet Dixie” to the obstacles he’s fighting to overcome in his relationship and career, this man encompasses everything—Every. Single. Thing—a hero in a book like this should. But then again, as the heroine of this terrific tale, so does Dixie.

So, maybe it was she who elevated this book to the next level. I mean, her sass was on point—funny yet appropriately cutting when necessary—and her vulnerabilities able to make her feel so very human. I love-love-LOVED the hell out of her and her family, not for the first time. Dixie and her sisters (“The Sorority”, as their brother, Jude, calls them) charmed and amused me in Score, and Ms. Denault manages to somehow make them even more charming and amusing this time around.

In fact, everything was even more this time around—and, as someone who loved the first book, that’s saying something. There’s not a thing about Slammed I would change. It had me from page one and became a book I simply did not want to put down. And when I reached the perfect ending, I just wanted to rewind and start all over again. And if that doesn’t convince you that you need to be reading this book, then that’s okay.

That just means I get to keep Eli all to myself.

“Are you propositioning me?”
“I’m just warning you.” I shrug. “I’ve gotten better-looking, and when you see me again you’re going to want a sequel to that kiss—and a whole lot more. And I’m willing to let that happen.”

~ FIVE Save A Horse, Ride A Goalie STARS ~

I do love hockey and I do love hockey romance books. Plus I have been loving Victoria Denault's books so I just couldn't wait to read Slammed.

This book focuses on Dixie and Eli and I have to say I love those two together.

I have loved every minute of this books. It is fun and I was hooked from the very beginning.

I give this 5 out of 5.

This story was somehow both a light, easy read and a highly emotional one at the same time. It had an insta-love feel to it while simultaneously feeling like a slow-burning romance. This book is basically an enigma in the absolute best way.

I get so excited when I’m able to really fangirl over the heroine as easily as I swoon for the Hero. Dixie was strong, independent and basically just all around badass. She struggled with her feelings for Eli and her need to keep her distance for her career stability, but I love that she didn’t just simply stop being a kick-ass PR ninja because he was around. She stood up for herself to anyone who needed to be stood up to, even when it was Eli.

Eli was just perfect too. He’s a man who knows what he wants and isn’t afraid to go after it, but still recognizes and respects boundaries. The way Ms. Denault wrote him and the way he was dealing with his previous injury was fantastic. She made it so it was a powerful aspect of the story when he is finally forced to confront it but not so much that it became Eli and Dixie’s entire story.

Throw in the secondary characters and the subtle showcase of Jude and Zoey and their current life together and this book was everything I’ve come to expect from Victoria Denault. Well-developed characters, just enough heat to keep things interesting and a story so well-written you’ll walk away feeling like you were a part of it. Bring on the next book Ms. Denault. I’ll be waiting.

*I received an ARC from NetGalley for voluntary review

Despite only seeing one hockey game in my life, I’m actually a big fan of hockey romances. There’s something about the fast paced and physical game that makes for very attractive heroes. Minus the missing teeth of course. Victoria Denault has been a consistent favorite of mine in the hockey genre and I’m very sad that this is her last hockey book for a while. Slammed continues the San Francisco Thunder series. In the previous book, we were introduced to the heroine, Dixie, whose older brother, Jude, was the hero. Dixie works in publicity at the hockey team and is very careful to keep her relationship with her brother a secret. She wants to succeed in her job by her own merit and not because of who she is related. She meets the hero, Eli, one night when they get trapped in an elevator together. They share a passionate kiss but she learns later that Eli plays for the farm team of the Thunder. A year later, Eli, gets called up to the Thunder and their attraction reignites.
There is a definite rule-breaking attraction within this book. Dixie is very aware that she can lose her job if she and Eli act on their chemistry. However, the more time they spend together, the harder it is for them to resist each other. Within this book, Denault explores the double-standard for men and women in professional field. Dixie desperately wanted to work for the Thunder because it has a ground-breaking female owner. However, if she has a relationship with Eli, she will be the one to get fired while he will barely get a slap on wrist. With the current sexual assault scandals in the news now, this feels even more relevant. In addition to the sexual politics, Eli and Dixie are both interesting characters. Eli is a goalie who suffered a near death experience in the net while playing hockey in college. That trauma has affected his game but he is too stubborn to attempt he needs help. Dixie, on the other hand, is dealing with her father dying of ALS and her whole family moving to San Francisco. While a career-threatening relationship might not seem good, the support for Eli is exactly what she needs. The issues both characters face makes their relationship all the more satisfying. This was definitely an exquisite romance and continues to make Victoria Denault a must-read author for me!

Dixie works PR for the San Francisco Thunder hockey team, which her brother also plays on. But she uses a different last name so no one knows that they’re siblings. She wants to succeed on her own merits. She’s very driven.

Then along comes Eli, the goalie for the Thunder’s farm team, the Storm. Elijah has hilarious, cheesy pick-up lines and he and Dixie have great chemistry. But the Thunder has a no fraternization policy. Except, Elinis on the Storm, not the Thunder. So Dixie and Eli get together in secret, and fall hard for each other. But what happens when Eli gets called up to the Thunder?
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SLAMMED deals with forbidden love, a traumatic injury that haunts Elijah, a dying father, a dysfunctional family, and a life-changing decision.
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I have to mention one thing to the author. I live in San Jose, down 101 from San Francisco. My daughter lives IN San Francisco. The only people who refer to San Francisco as “San Fran” are people who don’t live here. We simply refer to it as “the city.”

Slammed by Victoria Denault is sexy as hell. It's funny, sweet, and charming, too. A publicist and a hockey player team up as a steamy duo. Their lust and attraction create a heady combination for this tale. But rules are required and one of them could lose everything...

Victoria Denault's writing is superb. I was cheering all the way for both protagonists. I laughed a lot through these pages. The tension between the hot hockey goalie and the daring publicist, was intriguing. I couldn't stop reading...they kept the story alive. It felt three dimensional. Their family lives are different and each one is suffering from their own issue. Eli's parents are strict and unemotional. They never supported him or his brother. Then there's Dixie and her big bold family. They're loud and annoying at times but overall, a super friendly group. Dixie's father's health seems to be taking a nose dive...her career isn't what she thought it would be, and her role model isn't the person that she thought either. Then, there's the stupid rule of no relationships with the hockey team...yet, she and Eli are breaking it anyway. Eli got cut upon the ice awhile ago and it haunts him. He hasn't been the same college hockey guy since the accident. Dixie pushes his butt into accepting help from a sports psychologist. As their heat builds so does their secret relationship...there will come a time they have to let it out or break it off...

Neither Dixie nor Eli want to let go...

Slammed is one of the best sports romances that I've read in a long time. Victoria Denault knew how to draw my attention to the characters and their issues. She was a pro on hooking me onto the plot. It went by so fast, I couldn't believe it. Overall, I highly recommend this sexy unforgettable novel to all.

I can’t put my finger on what exactly made it so, but this book felt deeply romantic to me. Like, I can’t even tell you how many times I sighed and swooned, and generally bubbled over with happy-hearted satisfaction. Slammed somehow managed to be adorable, sexy, giggle out loud funny, and full of whatever that magic it is that puts butterflies in my belly and giant blissed-out smiles on my face. To put it simply: I loved it. L-O-V-E-D it.

Eli Casco. Lord, y’all. This guy. I could not have adored him more. Not even one tiny smidge more. He was my perfect hero: a little bit goofy, a little bit cocky, strong but kind and willing to move mountains for the woman he loves. I am so crazy about this hero. I loved his story so much. His chemistry with Dixie (whom I was already half in love with when she was just part of “the sorority” in Score) was an almost tangible thing for me. I connected with them basically immediately, my heart jumped right on board and I spent nearly the entirety of this book feeling like I was falling in love with their love story. And that is exactly how I want to feel when I’m reading a romance, so it’s safe to say that Slammed hit every single one of my sweet spots.

The Braddock family, who I first met in Score continued to charm the heck out of me. I loved the good-natured antagonistic relationship between all the siblings, and that pure, sweet, boisterous love that this whole family has for each other. I loved the emotional and heartwarming secondary storylines going on here, and I especially loved how that connected to, and facilitated the forbidden romance brewing between Dixie and Eli.

Honest to God, you guys, this book is the whole package. This is only the second book I’ve read by Ms. Denault but I’m emphatically, enthusiastically, and wholeheartedly on board for more. This book was just an absolute delight! If you like your hockey hotties full of humor, heart and heat, you definitely do not want to miss out on this story!

Loved this book. I love some hot sexy hockey players or any athletes. I have read a few of this series by this author and haven't been let down. She brings each character to life and you right into the book. Whether is the main characters or just one that is in the back ground. I like how she brought awareness about ALS into the story. Eli was a goalie on a farm team for the Storms and was making a comeback from a major college injury as a top Goalie and it was just a matter of time before he moved up. He played a pre season game with the Thunder and met Dixie and the attraction was instant. She kept pushing him away due to rules. He didn't give up. When they both needed each other they were there .

Slammed was exactly what I needed right now. It was a funny, sexy, sweet hockey romance and I finished it in a matter of two days, which apparently this year is quite a feat for me.

While I’m a big hockey fan (Go Stars!), as I’ve mentioned in reviews of Denault’s books before, by no means do you have to be a fan of hockey, or even understand it, to enjoy these books. It’s an aspect of the story that makes it fun for a hockey fan to read, but not such a large focus of the book that you would be lost. When it comes down to it, it’s really all about the love story.

And I loved Dixie and Elijah’s love story. They’re kind of forbidden lovers who fight hard to stay away from each other, only to discover that it’s much easier said than done. Both of their characters, and really most of the supporting characters, are super likeable. In my opinion, Denault is really great at developing characters, especially the periphery ones, which other authors can tend to not spend as much time or effort on. Her characters tend to have these loving families and friends, and it makes reading her interconnected standalones a real joy, because it’s like visiting the same group of people again, while also getting a fresh love story.

I did feel a little like there should have been more closure with a couple of characters, namely Dixie’s dad and her coworker Trish, but I’ll hold out judgment on those for now to see if they play out in future books in the series. I hope we see more of Dixie’s family, specifically her sisters, because they’re funny and sweet and I think her sisters have the makings of good heroines.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I definitely recommend it if you need something kind of light, fun, and sexy to read. Her solid writing, funny and witty banter, and loveable characters won’t let you down.

I absolutely loved Victoria Denault's latest book Slammed! It is an absolute must for any romance reader that loves hockey!

Rating: 4.5 Stars

I L-O-V-E-D this book! I am generally a big fan of hockey romances, and I have enjoyed the books I read in Denault's Hometown Players series, but this book just had the perfect combination of all my favorite elements.

Who?
Dixie Braddock, publicist for the San Francisco Thunder and kid sister of their star player, who is trying to keep the sister thing under wraps as she makes her way through the PR ranks of the Thunder's organization.
Eli Casco, an up and coming goalie, who came back from an injury to make his bid for the NHL and now must unpack his baggage if he hopes to earn a permanent spot on the team.

What?
Eli and Dixie shared a kiss that they could not forget, and try to pick up where they started a year later. Just when it seemed both were ready to attempt to further this relationship, Eli is called up to the Thunder, and that puts him off limits due to the non-fraternization policy.

Why?
I loved so many things about this book.
• Dixie was fabulous. She was sassy and strong and went after things she wanted.
• Eli was so fun. I swear I smiled almost every time he was on page. He was also the more romantic of the two, and he made me laugh so much. I was actually reading his cheesy pickup lines to my neighbor at work, and we got a good chuckle out of them. They became something I looked forward to, and Denault wrote him some good ones.
• Dixie's family was fantastic. Her sisters were hilarious, and it was so much fun when all three were together. Her parents were absolutely adorable, and there was just so much love between them all. #FamilyGoals
• This is the sort of drama I enjoy in a romance too, because it was not between the hero and heroine, but it still complicated things for them. So, you get the tension, without the cliche things you normally see causing issues in a relationship.
• The banter was pretty top notch, and made me laugh tons. But there was also some really sweet and serious discussions, that made me swoon and sigh.
• I was so happy with the multiple dimensions Denault gave to both Eli and Dixie. Just when you thought that was all they had in them, a little something more was revealed. I especially loved seeing Eli's gentle side. He came through in a big why when he really needed to.
• A GRAND GESTURE!!! I am a diehard fan of Say Anything, and am a certified sucker for any sort of grand gesture. I thought the one Denault gave me was rather wonderful, and it came out of nowhere, so it was even better, because I didn't expect it. There was things that happened, which I expected, but I didn't expected it to happen like THAT.
• I want to list the brotherly love separately because both Dixie and Eli shared great relationship with their big brothers, and we got to share some really meaningful moments with them. I don't know about you, but I eat that stuff up.
• The ending was fantastic. I must be getting lucky with endings lately, because usually I complain a lot about them, but this one made me so happy. The last chapter, coupled with the epilogue just left me in a highly elated state.

Overall: This book checked off all the right boxes for me. A great hero and heroine, lots of feels, a hot and sweet romance, fantastic familial elements, hockey, and just the right combination of heat, humor, and drama.

The moment Dixie Braddock's eye's land on Elijah Casco she is completely taken with him, then he speaks to her, and the temperature in the tiny little elevator their sharing starts to rise...and her panties start to melt. The man is beyond gorgeous, tempting as hell, but also very off limits... the Thunder takes their no dating co-workers policy very seriously, and Dixie isn't about to lose her job over any man... no matter how hot he maybe!

Eli Casco is madly in love the moment he meets Dixie she has the voice of an angel and a gorgeous body to boot, and seems mildly interested, so he figures if he drops a few sexy lines she will be all his in a matter of minutes, but to his surprise she turns him down. And also quickly points out that them doing anything other than talking could land them in hot water, but Eli likes to take risks, and he wants Dixie... now he just has to find a way to get her to forget about those pesky rules and lure her in!

Slammed is a naughty little literary romp that is sure to leave readers hearts nice and toasty! This was such a good read, it had the makings of a perfect sports romance read, it came equipped with plenty of sports related content, heavy of the naughty stuff, and had just the right amount of heartfelt emotion. This is my second visit to the series, and I have to admit that Eli just edged Jude out as my favorite, he was sweet, protective, supportive, and had a naughty streak that could not be ignored! I really enjoyed watching the relationship between Dixie and Eli unfold, things may have started off as just a fling, but with each new meeting I saw it blossom into something more, they began to depend on one another, and find something in one another that they never knew they needed or wanted...it was truly beautiful to watch! This one has left me really excited for the next installment in the series, with each one I have read, Ms. Denault has continued to up her game, and take me by surprise...and I can't wait to see what she has in store for us next!! Highly recommend you get your hands on this one, you won't be disappointed with what you find!!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this title.

Dixie Braddock has worked her butt off to become a publicist for San Francisco Thunder pro hockey team. Having always dreamed of being successful and making a name for herself, Dixie is all business and rarely leaves time for a romantic life. That is until the very handsome, very charming and very, very single Elijah (Eli) Casco enters her life. Dixie is a “by the books” kind of gal and knows fraternizing is against policy, but Eli plays for the minors and she works for the pro’s....so technically not a problem! That is until he gets the call from the pro’s telling him they want him to play for the San Fransisco Thunder!!!! From that point, I couldn’t wait to see what Victoria Denault had in store for these two!!!

I LOVE sports romance novels and Victoria Denault always manages to “wow” me with all of her books!!! Slammed is the second book in the San Francisco Thunder series and can be read as a standalone, but I highly recommend you read the first book (Score) first because it was sooooooo good!!!! I enjoyed Dixie from the first novel and was thrilled she was getting her own book!!! I have to say Dixie and Eli could be my new favorite couple (I think I literally say that in every one of Victoria’s book reviews)! I loved how passionate Dixie was about her job as well as her determination to succeed. I knew it was going to take a really amazing guy to sweep Dixie off her feet and Eli was completely alpha with a generous amount of sweetness to make the perfect match for Dixie!! I was keeping my fingers crossed the entire book that they would make it!!! Of course, I am not going to spoil anything, but I will say Slammed is an addictive 5 star read that you will not want to miss!!

4.5 hockey loving stars!

I must admit... I love sports. So, I love a good sports romance book!

Eli is a goalie who is being called up to play in the NHL. Dixie works for the team whom Eli is about go to play for. Their romance is not allowed per her handbook. She knows it is wrong, but can't seem to stay away from Eli.

I loved this forbidden romance. More than that, I loved Eli and her corny pick up lines, his funny persona and the way her care for Dixie and her family.

This book was more about hockey. It was about the importance of family and for standing up for what you believe in. I thought it was a fantastic read!

*4.5 stars* Great feel-good hockey romance. Eli and Dixie were both sweet and a little sexy at the same time. I would definitely read more of the series.

The main reason I marked down at all is that I am not a huge fan of 1st person POV. I might have skipped if I noticed that to begin with and that would have been a mistake!

I really LOVE this authors writing and the first book in the series, Score was a book I read and re-read because I loved it so much. This book brings everyone from that book together and I really feel you should read that story first as it continues alotof the storylines from that book into this book.

This is Dixies story and she was in book 1 as the sister of book 1's hero Jude. She is in PR and she denies that Jude is her brother, as she wants to do her job without any judgements.. Jude's best friend is Levi was was also in book 1 and Eli, the hero of this story is Levi's brother.

So its a forbidden romance between Dixie and her brothers best friends little brother who they end up working for the same hockey team and they are told they will be fired if they fraternize. To be honest I felt this book missed something with Eli. He just was not as much fun as Jude was. And his story is more depressing and sad.

Eli had a neck injury on the ice and it really changed him. He met Dixie a year before and when he invited to a charity event they both start a flirtation, though they know its against the rules. To be honest I just felt the whole fraternization rules got to be too much. And Eli was more sad than a strong male hero that I like in my stories.

I also know this is an ARC and things are not going to be perfect, but this book had a lot of mispellings. Yeah I understand an occasional word is okay in an arc but this one had some big ones. Hopefully it will be fixed before printing.

The book was well written, it just seemed more depressing and not as fun as the first book. And Eli as hero, did not really do it for me. I like stronger, more polished and arrogant heroes and he just was not that guy. Dixie is still fun and I really loved her character. But the whole its against my job thing got a little overdone in my opinion.

I really love this series and this author and wish I could say I loved it. But it just was not a story I lved like I did book 1.