While I think that Hooked on You, could be read by itself. I believe that it would be enjoyed more if read in order. This is my favorite of all the Chicago Rebels, books. Partly because of all the happiness that there is from the previous couples that are a big part of this book.

Bren and Violet's story is the one we've all been waiting for since the series began and it did not disappoint! Their slow-burn chemistry through the previous books set the stage for a beautiful love story. This book was extra special to me as I have a family history with recovering alcoholics, including my own husband who has been sober now for 10 years. Bren's struggle was written thoughtfully and his struggles were appreciated. Kate Meader is a favorite author of mine, and I have a new favorite couple!

This series has been explosive and addicting since the first book. I love this author and eagerly anticipate each book she writes. Hooked on You is no different. I've been impatiently waiting for this book. Violet and Been, they are sizzling hot. Their chemistry sizzles right off the page. I absolutely loved them. I also really loved how Violet connected with Bren's daughters. She was exactly what those three needed. I loved this book so much. I can't wait to read this book again. 5+ stars.

I LOVED this book. Remy in book 1 is still my favorite favorite, but Bren the grouchy Scot definitely gave him a run for his money. Bren and Violet were perfection!

Violet Vasquez is the youngest of 3 half sisters, all with the same dad: Clifford Chase, former NHL player, coach, owner, and all around TERRIBLE father. Violet however, is the only one who never met him. Her mom had a one night stand with Clifford that resulted in Violet's birth, and other than paying for a private Catholic school education, he wasn't a part of her life. When he dies and leaves his hockey team, the Chicago Rebels, to all 3 sisters equally, Violet is stunned. But, she figures she doesn't have anything to lose, and she moves to Chicago to abide by the terms of his will, and get to know her sisters. Violet is a breast cancer survivor, and though that was a very hard time in her life, she made it through it. Now, she's determined to still be the fun one, the life of the party, and the buffer between her 2 sisters. She doesn't count on her major attraction to the grumpy Scot team captain to get in her way. She definitely doesn't expect to fall in love with him, and his 2 daughters.

Bren St. James is an alcoholic. Well, a recovering alcoholic now. When he let his girls, and his team, down last year, his boss laid down the law: dry out, or you're cut from the team. He went to rehab, and now he's been sober almost a year. But, his ex-wife moved his 2 girls to Atlanta, and he's been fiercely missing them. When the opportunity arises for them to live with him again, he's thrilled, though truthfully the timing couldn't be worse. The Rebels are in the playoffs, for the first time in a LONG time, and his team needs his focus. Also, he'll be traveling a ton, and he doesn't want to drag them all over. He wants them to be home and stable. He needs help, and quickly. He's really not crazy about the tatted up youngest Chase sister being involved in taking care of his girls. Especially when he can hardly keep his obsessive lust for her under control as it is. What will happen if she gets even more involved in his life?

Bren and Violet's chemistry was explosive, and has been since book 1 in this series. They've been constantly dancing around each other from the start. Violet would flirt with him mercilessly, and he would gruffly attempt to ignore her. He's in recovery, and they advise no dating for the first year, and on top of that his girls need all his love and attention. But, Violet has gotten under his skin from the start, and once she's even more in his orbit, he can't let her go. I loved how they finally came together, and how well Violet fit into Bren's life, and with his girls, Cat and Franky. They had to fight hard for their happiness, and I loved watching them do it.

In all of these books, the thing I've loved the most has been the grudging respect between 3 women, which turned into a strong sisterly bond, which turned into love. The 3 sisters are all so different, and they all had such different experiences with their shared father, but they found a way to come together, and find common ground. I love their hard fought relationships with each other individually, and as a unit. They really are there for each other and they became true sisters throughout the series. I love their witty banter and their funny interactions, especially as they give each other grief when they each found their HEA. I love to see great relationships between women in books, be it friends or sisters, and this trio definitely fit the bill.

I have loved this series so very much, and I am just overwhelmingly sad that it's over. These sisters, and their men, have truly captured my heart, I loved pretty much everything about these books. A series long re-read is definitely in my future! I love this author's words, and her worlds, and I'm so looking forward to whatever comes next.

I simply love this series!

Violet Vasquez’s late father was an uber popular hockey legend who has recently passed away and willed his NFL team, the Chicago Rebels, to his three daughters. All three women had different moms, but unlike her sisters, Violet grew up without having hockey in her life at all. Being bequeathed a hockey team seems all good until she realizes her father’s conditions—the half-sisters must run the team...together! The problem was she didn’t know her sisters—like at al! What initially started out as awkward sisterly bonding has now turned into the three women forging a genuine connection! The real shocker is being that hockey isn’t her thing, Violet never imagined she would be falling for one of the Rebel’s star players, Bren St.James! For a girl who had absolutely no intention of putting down roots in Chicago, Violet just may shock even herself!!

Having read the prior installments, I have always eagerly anticipated Violet’s book! Trust me when I say Hooked On You did not disappoint!!! From the beginning of this series, Violet always seemed like a fish out of water in the hockey world and I think it was perfect what Kate Meader had in mind for her! I LOVED Bren and my heart melted for him the moment I saw what an awesome dad he was! Violet and Bren have a constant back and forth banter that will have you laughing out loud, but they were also an amazing source of support and strength for each other which I found so moving! Hooked on you is a total 5 star read that you will not want to miss!!! If you are a romance fan, this is a series you need to put on your reading list!

***ARC received for an honest review***

I'd tried Kate Meader before and felt no spark. But Alex (my blogging buddy) loves her. And Alex has the best taste in books. So when I saw this ARC I thought "what the hell?" Such a good decision!

I haven't read the other books in this series (and I'm gonna fix that quick-like and in a hurry). So I only knew Violet and Bren for about 5 minutes before I fall madly, deeply and completely in love with them. A few times during the story they approached a precipice where I felt they might do something stupid and crush my young, fragile love. But every time they did not-dumb things and pulled it out like a champ.

Bren's an alcoholic, single-dad, hockey captain, and kind of jerk. Violet is a tatted, team-owning, unmoored, pistol who lacks self-confidence. These two burn for each other. And their fire is so damn fun to experience. After nine months of tangoing around one another Bren and Violet are forced to reckon with their feelings - and see how huge they can become.

I adored every minute. Steamy without being skeevy. Giggle-worthy. Swoon-worthy. With a supporting cast that stole my heart (y'all don't even have to guess what I'm gonna be reading all weekend.) I don't wanna say that Kate Meader wrote the perfect athlete romance here...wait, oh hell yes I do! From a non-believer to worshiping at the altar of Meader in a few short pages. Oh, how the mighty have fallen.

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The heart and soul put into each book in the series was on display in the unique personalities of the characters, and their individual stories. Even flawed, another side to the below the surface fragility of the characters brought out just how human emotions can be either a healing salve or regression to a unrecoverable state...Ms Meader very adeptly brought out how each can heal or destroy.

There was the perfect balance of tension and expectations in Bren and Violet's story to keep me on the edge of my seat watching the romance unfold...not to mention some pretty terrific play by play of the last moments of a championship game.

The humor with which Violet approached life was contagious...her jokes, used in her own unique style to bring Bren's daughters comfort, made me laugh nonstop:
What did babycorn say to momcorn?
Where's popcorn.
What did the ocean say to the shore?
Nothing it just waved.

Violet's inner monologues were what took her personality over the top, demonstrating how lifelike and authentically human this author made her characters. The uniqueness of her methods to bring Bren and his daughters joy were priceless, i.e., Ferris Bueller's Day Off. Her razor sharp wit and banter brought vibrancy to everyone surrounding her.

And finally, the secondary characters brought the warmth and heartbeat that took it over the top and out of the territory of just another sports story.

This ARC book was complimentary, provided by the Publisher and NetGalley. I am voluntarily providing my honest review.

I love Kate Meader, have loved all her series and this one is up there too! We have Bren who is a recovering alcoholic and is earning back the love of his daughters and the acceptance of his team. Bren is very attracted to Voilet one the the deceased owners long lost daughter and she gets under his skin and he is a grump to her. Out of necessity Violet ends up working for him as his nanny and the sparks fly, but so do the issues..Read it!!! you will Enjoy!

Can I give this book more than five stars?! I've read this whole series and this book is my favorite!! I mean what's not to like?! It has a hot Scotsman and a tattooed pixie!! I am very sad to see this series end! I'm pretty sure this is the last book and I wish it wasn't it was an awesome series!! I highly recommend it!! A huge thank you to netgalley and the author and publishers!!! It was an amazing read!! Definitely don't miss out on this book and the series!!

I think this is the strongest book in the series and one that I really enjoyed, with some reservations.

Violet and Bren were a great match, and I enjoyed very much the interplay between them, and the way they evolved from prickly and defensive to more open to being with each other. Bren's commitment to being a better man felt real, and his regrets and sorrows over his past were well done. I especially liked Violet as a cancer survivor, and the way she thought about her own body, and her description of herself through Bren's eyes. I don't think I've ever seen that in a romance before, and I think it's so important. I liked the evolving relationship between the sisters, and thought that was the best part of the series by far.

My reservation is that I'm not entirely sure that the Violet's identity as a young Puerto Rican woman was entirely accurate, and I just don't know how to judge that to say that at times it made me uncomfortable that she was basically a sassy Latina with a great ass. I'll leave Latinx readers to comment on that, but I'm worried.

Definitely the best book in this series for me.

I've been gleefully awaiting the simmering romance between Violet Vasquez and Bren St. James, seen in little glimpses throughout the Chicago Rebels Series, and huzzah what a pay-off!

After reluctantly accepting the challenge laid forth in the will of the dead father she never met with the sister's she never even knew she had, Violet has increasingly grown to love her new family and friends, however much it scares her. Still planning on leaving Chicago after the Rebels end their season, Violet isn't expecting to finally get her shot with the grumpy, sexy Bren St. James.

A year sober and suddenly gaining full custody of his two daughters while also taking the Rebels to finals, Bren needs help. He's reluctant to let Violet take on the duties of a full-time nanny because he wants her, badly. After seeing how wonderful Violet is with his girls, he puts his feelings aside, but some feelings are too much to keep hidden for long, consequences be damned.

I loved the tension between these two characters. Both have their baggage but the story never went full blown angst-y, which I loved. This is also the first time I've ever a book with described sex scenes that included a woman who's had a double mastectomy and reconstructive surgery. What a lovely, sensual, and IMPORTANT thing to see on the page. How many women will this resonate with? Countless. Having Bren see Violet as complete in her body as it is was absolutely fantastic and hot as hell.

Definitely add this to your TBR pile if you haven't already. In the interim, catch up with the previous books in the series because they are also great!

Hooked on You
Chicago Rebels #5
Kate Meader
5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Love this series!! All the characters are so likable and real. The author does an excellent job in telling a story. Great story from beginning to end. Loved that this story was about second chances and proving you can overcome bad decisions made in life.

Violet Vasquez never met her biological father, so learning he left his beloved hockey franchise—the Chicago Rebels—to her is, well, unexpected. Flat broke and close to homeless, Violet is determined to make the most of this sudden opportunity. Except dear old dad set conditions that require she takes part in actually running the team with the half-sisters she barely knows. Working with these two strangers and overseeing a band of hockey-playing lugs is not on her agenda…until she lays eyes on the Rebels captain and knows she has to have him.

Bren St. James has been labeled a lot of things: the Puck Prince, Lord of the Ice, Hell’s Highlander...but it’s the latest tag that’s making headlines: washed-up alcoholic has-been. This season, getting his life back on track and winning the Cup are his only goals. With no time for relationships—except the fractured ones he needs to rebuild with his beautiful daughters—he’s finding it increasingly hard to ignore sexy, all-up-in-his-beard Violet Vasquez. And when he finds himself in need of a nanny just as the playoffs are starting, he’s faced with a temptation he could so easily get hooked on.

I’m looking forward to the next in this series.
Thanks NetGalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

WOW!!!! Kate Meader did it again. I have been waiting to learn about Violet's story and it didn't disappoint. I loved this story. Very entertaining, funny, heartfelt, and steamy romance story. Bren and Violet are my favorite. My only complaint is that this is the last book in the series. I want more. This book is part of a series but can be read as a stand alone. I would recommend this book.

This was by far my favorite Kate Meader book! I’ve been not-so-patiently waiting through four books to get to Bren and Violet’s story. Up until Hooked on You, Bren and Violet have had gruff (him) yet flirtatious (her) exchanges. You could sense there was a back story between the two but didn’t know the details yet. Hooked on You finally explores it all! As a recovering alcoholic, Bren is brooding, closed-off and trying to make it a year a sober, while taking care of his two daughters, mending relationships, and navigating a toxic situation with his separated wife. Violet is the joyful, life-of-the-party, honest Chase sister that we’ve all loved. Yet, Violet is dealing with her own demons – from daddy issues with her non-present father, the after-effects of a double mastectomy after battling breast cancer, and trying to find her place with her sisters and the Chicago Rebels organization. These two come together during Bren’s search for a nanny for his daughters, and it’s just smoking hot chemistry from the start. The pair start trusting each other, confiding in each other, and slowly realize that the other person is not what they expected. The other Chase sisters and main Rebels players are also in this book, so you get a follow-up look at the beloved characters from the other books in this series. There’s even a surprise cameo from another favorite couple from the Hot in Chicago series. I laughed, I cried, I devoured this book!

Kate Meader’s writing is always one that I look out for. There’s quirk, some humour and sometimes cheese, but it never fails to entertain. ‘Hooked On You’ closes Meader’s Chicago Rebels series and having come fresh off the scorching push-pull relationship of Cade/Dante, I really wasn’t sure what to expect with Violet/Bren’s story, even though this pairing had been hinted at from the very beginning.

A burly, surly Scot in trouble on so many fronts and a plucky, somewhat abrasive and determined-to-live-life-to-the-fullest cancer survivor? I took a breath and dove into a setup that was 3-books-in-coming and had my expectations exceeded on some fronts, especially when it came to Bren St. James.

As an alcoholic struggling with petulant pre-teens—the kind that swing between being difficult with everything and weird know-it-alls—I felt for Bren, his clawing back up into sobriety while doing everything he could to be a better man and a father. That Violet ended up as their nanny incidentally came as no surprise however, and I did enjoy reading how their initial rocky, contentious, sniping-type interaction smoothed out a little later on, held together only by sexual tension that Bren didn’t want to break for good reasons.

Meader’s exploration of what femininity might mean through Violet—having lost and reconstructed her breasts after the ordeal—was generally spot-on. With a hard front, a couldn’t-care-less, indifferent attitude that Violet put on, the shell of armour composed of sass, biting sarcasm and confrontational belligerence seemed too often like an over compensation for a vulnerable core. And I could, by and large, understand it. I got to grips with how fear could masquerade as courage and how the subtleties could be lost as Violet grappled with how she wanted to face life after cancer.

Still, while I understood Meader’s portrayal of Violet, I didn’t necessarily get to grips with her all the time. With a boatload of daddy-issues tattooed on her forehead and a chip on her shoulder a mile wide, I couldn’t help but feel that Violet was as easy to set off as a rocket, sometimes lashing out unfairly while taking on contradictory positions where Bren and his children were concerned. One moment she wanted to fight for Bren when his malicious ex-wife sauntered back into the picture, the next moment had her walking away with a dollop of self-pity because she’d assumed the martyr’s stance with him while assuming that he wasn’t ever going to put her first. For her immense courage in fighting the cancer, I did wish however, that she could have used that same courage with Bren (who truly had his hands full) when he needed it.

‘Hooked on You’ is nonetheless a pretty good read—Meader’s previous novella with Cade/Dante is probably my favourite—though honestly, I liked it more for Bren, who’s probably one of the best characters I’ve ever come across beneath the broody surface. There were bits that I thought lagged a little and parts where the back-and-forth got a tad tiresome, but overall, I’m still sort of wistful as I wave the Rebels goodbye.