Violet and Bren's story was a good one. Violet has always wanted a family but when she is given a chance to get to know her sisters she just wants to get out of dodge. Bren St. James is a mess and the last thing he needs is a relationship.

These two are damaged and find something in each other that completes them. Violet finds the family she has always been looking for. This was a great story of acceptance and support. I loved watching these two work their way towards each other and complete one another.

I listened to the audio and I had a hard time getting through it. The woman narrator made Violet sound more Russian than anything and the other accents weren't great. It was difficult to listen to but I wanted to get through the story.

Hooked on You by Kate Meader is a great fit for readers who enjoy watching characters with a shared passion for sports (hockey, in this case) overcome personal challenges, find common ground, and build a meaningful relationship amidst a slow-paced, emotional, and lighthearted romance.

Book 3 of the Chicago Rebels series, Hooked on You reads well as a standalone, but does mention history that might not be understood by a new reader. I don't believe it would take away from the enjoyment though.

This is the story of Bren and Violet. Violet is simple girl who inherited part of a hockey team. She's been through a lot in her life, and so has Bren. They are both working on bettering themselves. Violet in the way of going after what she wants and new experiences. For Bren, its staying on the straight and narrow. Hooked on You was a sweet and sexy opposites attract story. Bren and Violet complement each other well and have amazing chemistry. I loved the way they interacted with each other.

Hooked On You was an emotional read. The characters are both recovering from their personal demons and fight their attraction. Its well written and attention grabbing from the first page.

*4.5 star review*

Review Copy requested and reviewed on behalf of OMGReads.

What took me so long to read this one! This is book 4 in this series and is about Violet, the sister who was not raised by her father. She only gets her inheritance if the Rebels make the playoffs and she really knows nothing about hockey. She meets Bren right after she leaves the lawyer's office and on his first day out of rehab in a bar. Neither knows who the other is but there are sparks and Mr. Grumpy shoots her down. Now Bren is skating into the playoffs and his ex-wife has decided she needs a break and his girls are coming to stay with him and he needs to find a nanny. The last one he wants to help out is Violet. However, when he cannot find a suitable nanny and Violet is the one who steps in at a game with the Epi-Pen and saves Frankie when she has an allergy attack he pretty much begs her to take on the job. Close quarters and all and even he cannot deny they are not going to be able to keep their hands off each other, no matter how hard he tries. This one was so good. Two wounded souls and they really are perfect for each other. When you add in sarcastic teens and snarky preteens it is perfection.

Love this series. Each book keeps engaged. Was excited for Violet's book. She is so sure of herself but at the same time vulnerable. '

All through reading this series, I have been chomping at the bit to get to Bren and Violet's story. The build-up through the previous books in the series, the button-pushing flirting we got to see previously, did not disappoint now that I have (finally!) gotten to read their story.

Violet Vasquez is the least hockey-loving of her new-found sisters, having never met her father, nor been involved in the sport the rest of her new family has such passion for. When her father dies while she finds herself short on money and almost homeless, she jumps at the chance to show up in Chicago for her piece of the inheritance, only to find it comes with some hoops to jump through first. Bren St. James is the brooding captain of the Chicago Rebels, trying to turn his career, and more importantly, him self around in the eyes of his daughters after hitting rock bottom, when he meets Violet, one of the new owners. Suddenly finding himself with full custody of his girls with the playoffs starting, he is forced to stop ignoring his attraction to Violet, needing her to nanny. Cue the sparks!

This was by far my favourite in this series, bar none! Nothing wrong with the others (5-stars, all of them!), but there was just something about Violet that makes you want to both love and be her...her strength, tell it like it is attitude, and confidence was really fun to read! Plus Bren... -fans self-

5 stars! Wish I could go back and read it again for the first time!

This was a decent story and I somewhat enjoyed both the hero and the heroine. Violet and Bren were well-written characters. However, nothing really stood out making it a great book.

It's no secret I'm a fan of sports romances and I'm truly loving this entire series. Hooked on You is book 4 in the Chicago Rebels series and for me this is the best one so far. I loved Violet and Ben so much... talk about kindred souls... Violet wakes up one day nearly destitute to find she's now part owner of the Chicago Rebels...except she has to run it with her two sisters that she barely knows.

For Bren, he's a man that has really hit rock bottom and is now focused on his health, his daughters that he's thankfully got back in his life and playing hockey to the best of his ability, which is pretty darn good!! What he doesn't have time for though is Violet and how she wants to run things!!

There's a definite pull between these two and while they tried to ignore it, sometimes you just have to give in...and leading up to this acquiescence is some of the best banter ever!! Ms. Meader definitely came up with some fabulously snarky comebacks by both of therm.

But my greatest satisfaction is seeing these two come together and finding love and forgiveness when they were sure it would ever happen for them. This is a definite must read if you're a lover of hockey romances with a bright and witty heroine taking on a moody hero with all sorts of flaws!!

Great end to the series. Looking forward to the spin-off. Each installment got better and better. The only thing they don't mention is if Violet and Bren are even interested in having kids of their own. They are both pretty young. Can she have kids after having Cancer.

The one thing that is a little off to me is when Violet says at the beginning that her hair has purple in it, then all of a sudden it's pink. When and why did it change. It was just an odd transition to me. Mostly because Franky calls her pink and the author makes it a point to have Violet say her hair is purple. Then for the rest of the book it talks about her having pink in her hair.

I shed a lot of tears reading Hooked On You; tears for Bren St. James, a recovering alcoholic trying to lead his team to the Stanley Cup and reconnect with his two young daughters, tears for Violet Vasquez, a cancer survivor trying to figure out her place in the world while connecting with her half sisters while running a professional hockey team, tears for two young girls trying to understand why their life has been uprooted again, and tears because I knew this was the last book in this series and I have loved it so much. Two people both with something to prove find their way to each other despite their prickly personalities, interfering but well meaning family and friends, and lots of crazy, fun banter.

To say Bren St. James has been fighting an uphill battle is putting it mildly, he alcoholism led him to making a huge mistake with his girls and his ex-wife taking them to live with her new boyfriend far away and ordered to either go to rehab or lose his job with the Chicago Rebels. Eight months after getting out of rehab, his life is turned upside down when his ex-wife checks herself into a clinic for a “rest” and as the playoffs begin he has his girls full-time. He is thrilled to have the chance to reconnect with his daughters, but it some at the worst possible time and he knows that his ex will show up again soon just to f*ck with his head.

From the moment she met Bren, Violet Vasquez has made it her mission to try and get under his skin and in his pants, but she hates that he seems to have a less than stellar opinion of her. However when he sees how she relates to his children, he knows she is the best one to stay with them when he is on the road. Being in his house with his children only makes her long for him more, but she is determined to put that aside until he is ready and his children are adjusted to their new life.

I really loved the push-pull of Bren and Violet’s relationship and the fact they both were trying to figure out their lives, their new normal. There was something sweet about the way they opened up to one another and began to trust each other explicitly. I loved the slow burn to get to the physical aspect of their relationship and the little lies they told themselves that this was temporary. While at times they both frustrated me with their behavior, it was indicative of all the changes in their lives and the stress of the run for the Stanley Cup.

What I really appreciated about this book is that we got a lot of face time with Violet’s sisters, Bren’s teammates who have been there with him through thick and thin, and Bren’s children who had such a unique look on life and brought childhood wonder into what could have been a very heavy story.

I’m always sad when a series ends especially one that I have loved but with Hooked On You, Ms. Meader takes the Chicago Rebels out on a very high note
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PS—Kudos Kate for giving readers a little glimpse of some favorite characters from you Hot in Chicago series! And double Kudos for the Fleetwood Mac love, have been listening to Rumors nonstop since I finished reading the book!

I really enjoyed this sports romance story. I've read other books in this series, so I was really interested to see how Violet's story would turn out and I was not disappointed. Bren and Violet were relatable and charming. Really great writing and I will read more of this series.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley but all opinions provided are my own.

Hooked on You is a great example of what I love most about Kate Meader’s books: magnetic characters who feel believable, substantive storylines that are emotional without being overly angsty, and soaring HEAs that make every bit of difficulty feel worth it.

Meader sets up the tension between Bren St. James and Violet Vasquez at the beginning of the Chicago Rebels series, and thank God, it finally explodes in Hooked on You.

After beating breast cancer and learning that she’s inherited part of the Chicago Rebels, Violet has embraced living the Year of the V. She’s exploring different extracurricular interests, serving as team morale booster, & in her free moments, taunting Bren by alternately flirting with him and calling him Nessie.

Bren’s wanted Violet since he met her. But he’s a recovering alcoholic who’s trying to get his kids and his career reputation back, and the last thing he needs is the distraction/addiction he knows Violet would be. Unfortunately for Bren, it’s much easier to avoid Violet when he hasn’t hired her as a temporary nanny for his kids.

This book is brimming with humor, heart, & the magic of the second (third, fourth, etc.) chance. Bren and Violet’s attraction toward each other is fantastic: simmering & bubbling & you’re waiting for it to finally burn out of control. Their story, too, is charismatic as they both gradually give the other their trust, moving from a vaguely antagonistic relationship to one where they support & comfort each other…in between their rounds of steamy sex (brava, Meader!)

Kudos to Meader as well on writing characters who are choosing to be better/stronger/follow their happiness. Bren in particular made big mistakes, but he’s redeeming himself, making the necessary choices every day to be a better dad, team Captain, and man.

This book was worth the wait.

This review was a long time coming. I had a digital ARC for this, and due to technical difficulties ALL books I downloaded on two days last year disappeared! Once I realized, it was too late to re-download, but then this book went on sale, and I bought it, and I read it, and I LOVED it!

Meader won me as a fan of this series with the very first book, and my adoration of the Chicago Rebels family grew with each subsequent installment of the series. I was fully invested in these three sisters as they fought to save this team, and I couldn't help but cheer them on in their quest to make the post season.

Every book was great, but I was chomping at the bit for Violet and Bren's story. Both characters were in the background, and there was this sizzle between them. It was time to get both their stories.

As expected, each had a past, which was marked with some sadness. However, Bren and Violet were survivors. Violet had fought back from abandonment and cancer. Bren had worked his way back from betrayal and addiction. They both still had a ways to go, and their best chances for success were with each other.

These two were an interesting pairing. He was sort of grumpy with A LOT of drama in his life thanks to his ex. She was vivacious and came off as the penultimate party girl, aka, the type of woman Bren didn't need in his life. However, when push came to shove, Violet was there in Bren's time of need, and he learned that there was a lot more to her than he originally thought.

It was beautiful watching them peel back those layers, and discover the person, who was underneath. They shared their hopes and fears with one another, and a beautiful friendship grew. Obviously, there were still the sparks and want to be dealt with, and as it always happens in romance novels, they succumbed to their attraction, but there was so much more to this pairing than just primal need.

Other things that delighted me:
• Loved seeing Bren being a dad. His girls were fabulous, and he was spectacular with them.
• It was great seeing the bond between the sisters grow, and seeing Violet allow herself to become attached to these people.
• Meader pumped up the good feelings as she took us through the post season. It was wonderful being on the road with the Rebels as they chased their Stanley Cup dreams.
• The ending left me in a puddle of feels, which I have no regret drowning in .

Overall: A wonderful way to end a series I throughly enjoyed, and will absolutely miss.

Hooked on You is the third book in the Chicago rebels series and I have to say that this series only continues to get better and better. from the moment I first started reading this story to the end I was compelled drawn into this storyline and the main characters. This was a fantastic read that I loved reading.

Woo hoo!!! Loved this one! Bren and Violet light up the pages together in this hockey romance. I loved the premise of this book and Violet's interactions with her sisters. Bren was a fantastic male lead and the chemistry between him and Violet was so well written and real that it just jumped off the pages and kept me reading far far too late into the night. Can't wait for the next one!

Another great book in this hockey series by Kate Meader I absolutely love these two unlikely pairs. The story development is great here and has a great mix of sports to romance which always works in this series. Definitely recommend

I have chosen not to read and review this tile. While the blurb drew me to the story, I was not engaged with the characters or the way the story was written.

I appreciate the opportunity to review this early title and am looking forward to the next title through your company.

Thanks,
Laura

***4.5 Stars***

There are no words that sum up how much I freaking love the Chicago Rebels series by Kate Meader, I am so sad that it is over...

We've seen and experienced everything in this series, from a cocky ragin' Cajun who can cook like a champ, a moody Russian, a sexy as sin MM couple, and now a single father romance with a hot Scottish man.Kate Meader has definitely put us all through the the wringer

Violet's story is the one I anticipated the most. There is something about her character that speaks to me on a different level than the others. I loved her sassy vibe and her no shits to give motto, especially considering everything this girl has been through. She's a free spirit, or at least that's what she strives to be. Violet has been through it all, from battling breast cancer to having to adjust to a whole new body image, you can see this woman puts on a front to please and help everyone around her, when on the inside she's just as scared as the next person in line. Her strength is admirable, she's a true warrior.

Bren is an anomaly, I didn't expect to love him as much as I actually did going into this novel. From the start I knew this man was troubled, but instead of letting that trouble consume him, he's decided to battle his demons the right way, and that starts with taking care of his daughters and giving them that stable household that they never had. I loved viewing the strong emotions that exude from this brute of a man, he's a freaking softie underneath all of that hard exterior.

I'm a huge fan of the Single Father Romance trope, Watching Bren try to make up for his past mistakes with his daughters was as heartbreaking as it was heartwarming. It took a bit for his daughters to warm back up to him. His little actions had my heart dancing. On a different note, I loved how Violet stepped in and became a nanny to Bren's girls. I loved the connection that grew between her and his girls. I loved witnessing the little moments!

I highly recommend this series to all that love Hockey Romances! I legit couldn't get enough!

Though Hooked on You is the final book in the series, I do believe it could stand alone. Ms. Meader does an overall wrap up of the series as well as the main story though, so it could be a spoiler if read first. Kate Meader does something I really like; she manages to take each series she offers and create a total world in whatever setting she chooses. Whether it's fire fighters or an ice hockey team, her references are good and her settings first rate. The lead couple in Hooked on You is well suited, the chemistry is obvious and their happily ever after is easy to root for. If you are a fan of family driven romances, occurring with an interesting framework, I recommend the series, as well as others from this talented author.

Sorry for the delay in sharing my review but it is included in a quick takes/bits & bites post I shared on the blog today - really good read in a series I love.