Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Mary Jo – ☆☆☆☆
I've been waiting for this book for ages and couldn't put it down once I started.

The way that Violet and Bren have been dancing around each other has been entertaining to say the least, but the way that they look at each other when they think no one is watching is smoking hot.

Bren really steps up to the plate when Violet has a medical scare that leaves her overwrought and emotional. That's when you know he cares. He's done a lot of things that could have ended his career and has been walking the straight and narrow for quite a while. Yet when he finds out that Violet went to the doctor alone, he runs out of practice because he thinks that she doesn't need to be alone. He'll take the scolding from the team so that Violet will have support. That says it all.

Violet really likes Bren, but she's never been enough for anyone, including her father or her mother, so why should she think she'd be good enough for Bren. After all, he's a HAF hockey player and she's damaged goods. After all, the big C didn't only take her confidence, it took her breasts as well.

Watching Violet come to terms with her sisters and seeing Bren finally shake the mistakes of his past makes this book very special. I can only hope that we see more of the Rebels in either a spin-off or novellas because I truly hope that Kate Meader isn't through with this world she's built.


Sarah – ☆☆☆☆☆
Violet’s book is the perfect end to a new favourite series. I knew her story was going to be good – and it is fabulous. It is full of good feels – I was a blubbering mess after only a few chapters and it was impossible to put down.

This should be a heavy story. Violet is a cancer survivor who falls hard for Bren, a recovering alcoholic. But while Bren is a properly dour Scotsman, Violet’s quirky warmth and her irrepressible attitude bring humour and a sense of playfulness to a book that could otherwise have been a difficult read. And although I usually hate kids in romance, I have to admit that Bren’s daughters also add humour and joy to the story.

Beyond Bren and Violet’s story, this is also the final book about the Chase sisters and the Rebels hockey team. At the end of the season, the three women have brought their team of hopeless underdogs to the playoffs and the Stanley Cup is within their grasp. This final book is about the relationships between the sisters, the relationships between teammates, and the sense of family that has taken them all by surprise.

I loved this series from the start and it just keeps getting better across the four books. I love reading about strong, interesting women and I love that this series is as much about the relationships between the three estranged half-sisters as it is about the sisters’ romances. And there is enough hockey action to keep the interest of serious fans. And for me, this is finally a hockey romance series without the tired alpha male/vulnerable female character tropes that I find troubling. I love this series and I love how Violet’s story ties all the loose threads together in a perfect conclusion.


Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆☆
5 stars – like every other book in the series – but possibly my favourite of all!

This is book three, the last sister's love story – but there is a 2.5 addition to the series giving us Dante Moretti's love story, which is also a fabulous read. I would highly recommend that you read them in order, as there are underlying themes and plots which you would benefit from knowing. They are all really good books, so it will be no hardship.

Violet has been the sister on the sidelines all through the series, and now that the team and her inheritance are safe, she could leave. This is very disquieting for her, as she intended to feel nothing and just walk away, but over the months she has become close to her half-sisters. She also has not got over her strong attraction to Bren St. James – unrequited, but present nonetheless. Kate Meader has saved their story for last, and I loved every second of them working through their own issues, and those which they imagine they cause each other. There are so many wonderful, laughable, tear-inducing, sexy, moving moments, I can't begin to explain. It is in the small details, which explain so much whilst saying so little. Cade, Harper, and Isobel also manage to repay the interferences that ensured that they also found their happily ever after.

As well as getting a beautiful and much deserved happy ending for Violet, Bren, Cat, and Franky, we get to see everyone's story rounded out – and most excitingly of all, we get lots of lovely, successful hockey games which culminate in the ultimate success that they all desired and deserved. So they brought to fruition their father's dream, and succeeded where he failed. Truly a beautifully executed series, thank you Kate Meader.

I've been waiting for Violet and Bren's story for what felt like forever!  Kate Meader didn't disappoint in this sweet, sexy, broody, romance.  It was everything I wanted and then some.

Bren and Violet equally bring forth baggage and drama from their pasts.  Bren is dealing with a past addiction that ruins his marriage and almost makes him lose his daughters.  He's battling every day, fighting to be a better man, a better father, a better Captain for his hockey team.

Violet was raised by her mother, the by product of a weekend fling with the owner of the Chicago Rebels Hockey team.  In this series, Violet is the baby sister to Harper and Isobel.  She's a cancer survivor who hides behind her scars, both literal and figurative.

Together Bren and Violet are fire on the pages.  Their chemistry is amazing and they bring out the best in each other.  Violet's passion, sassiness, and assertiveness may have distracted Bren, however it really spoke to who her character was. Bren brought a really powerful perspective to the story.  He's suddenly in custody of his two girls, after almost a year in recovery of alcohol addiction.   His team is in the playoffs.  Violet is a distraction that he can't ignore, yet he's so worried she'll derail his plans.

The sexual tension and flirty nature of this couple really brought something special to the story.  I was rooting for them on page one.  Hooked On You can be read as a standalone, however it's so much more rich if you've read the entire series.

* I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader’s Copy of this book *

**I would absolutely positively recommend this title. I would however recommend not reading it as a standalone title.**

Violet Vasquez had no contact with her biological father, a serial cheater and the owner of the Chicago Rebels hockey franchise. So when he leaves the franchise to her and her two sisters, it is a bit of a shock. However she settles in and makes her place in the team and with her new family.

Since the beginning of her tenure with the Rebels, Violet has sparked and fought with the captain of the Rebels, Bren St. James. Bren is a recovering alcoholic who is struggling to maintain custody of his two daughters while entering the stressful playoffs. His daughters require more care than he can give, so he hires Violet to nanny for them while he works his way through the playoffs.

This books was just so enjoyable. Violet is a cancer survivor and suffers from feelings of abandonment due to her father never reaching out. Bren is hanging on to his sobriety by a thread and has so many ambitions and desires that it is sometimes hard to decide what to go after first. I hope I'm not making this sound like a dark and depressing book because it is not. Even though it has deep themes, it is such a fun read. Would highly recommend.

I'd been anticipating this book for a while now, and it didn't disappoint! It was great to see Violet and Bren work through their respective issues, and fall in love with each other while doing so. I loved how Bren wound up being a single dad in the book, and how he wound up having Violet stitch them all into a family unit. It was a quick read, but a very satisfying one! What a way to end the series!

I tend to turn away from books that have a heroine who is that free-spirited, wild child kinda character but I’d been drawn in by the other books and already started to fall for Bren … and Violet too, I admit. She’s not one of those in your face, “I gotta be me” kind of people. Instead she’s a glorious mix of daddy issues and seize the day mentality. Having faced cancer at a very early age she’s pretty set on living life to the fullest and you gotta admire that! If doing that also involves teasing a broody, sexy Scot … well, that just makes for even better reading :)

While Bren has his reasons for being so broody (he did fall into the bottle pretty darn far), he’s working hard to get his life back on track. It’s been almost a year but he’s serious about being the man his daughters, his team, and at some point a partner deserves. He’s still a little unsteady on his feet so he’s trying to avoid anything too tempting – and Violet is oh-so-tempting.

Returning readers will have enjoyed seeing bits and pieces of their dance over the last few books but it is so very satisfying to get it in full detail. Meader has never failed to deliver the feels and she does it again here in spades. And not just with Bren and Violet. While I loved how she made sure that readers understood where those two were coming from every step of the way, I think I might have loved the relationship Bren has with his team just as much as finally getting this particular HEA :)

The end of Hooked on You had me in tears. It was a bittersweet ending for this trilogy. I loved reading about the journey that the Chicago Rebel sisters had gone through; surviving personal troubles, hardships of owning a hockey team, finding sisterhood and of course, love.

This installment finishes off with the last sister, Violet, who has had the toughest time. Growing up with only with her mom, battling cancer, and trying to find her way into her estranged sisters’ life. Now that she’s part owner of the Chicago Rebels, she’s finding her way to deserve the spot. Though she doesn’t plan to stay, she’s slowing finding reasons to stay. That being her sisters, and of course the broody Bren St.James.

The hardships with Violet’s health, Bren’s trouble with his ex-wife, custody battle and his past with alcoholism humanized them. It made it easy for me to relate to their issues. I especially love that they had their priority straight. Their romance was sweet, and Bren is all kinds of hockey hotness. Kate Meader did an extraordinary job with this book and I give an overall five-star rating for the whole series.

4.5 of 5 Stars

Kate Meader scores a hat trick with book three in the Chicago Rebels series, HOOKED ON YOU. After never meeting her biological father, Violet Vasquez inherited a third of the Chicago Rebels hockey team, along with her two half-sisters. She doesn’t plan on sticking around after the season is over. Meanwhile, the Chicago Rebels captain, Bren St. James, needs a nanny. With the playoffs at stake, Violet takes the job. This contemporary sports romance is suitable for adult audiences.

I like Bren. He is a recovering alcoholic. His kids mean the world to him. His ex-wife, Kendra, is a piece of work. Violet is good for him. Violet is an amazing character. She survived breast cancer. She doesn’t feel like she fits in. She doesn’t realize the impact she has made on everyone’s lives since she moved to Chicago. She’s fun and encouraging. Bren and Violet both grow throughout the story.

I enjoyed HOOKED ON YOU. It was an entertaining read. The characters faced relevant obstacles. I love the Ferris Bueller’s Day Off scene. That was classic.

I have enjoyed the plot of the Chicago Rebels series. It is unique and charming. The new management at the Chicago Rebels is unconventional. I love that the team supports and appreciates them. I recommend reading these books in order. I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.

Hooked on You was a sweet, wonderful and very satisfying conclusion to a series that I will definitely miss now that it is over!

Violet and Bren have been antagonizing each other since the beginning of the series but it was also obvious that the two had a ton of chemistry. Both characters have deep and rich backgrounds and a lot going on in their lives. Bren is still within the first year of his sobriety and not only dealing with that but also trying to be a better father to his girls and win the trust of his team back. He feels he has too much on his plate to deal with Violet and AA recommends waiting a year before getting involved in a relationship. Violet is in what she calls "The Year of the V" after surviving breast cancer. She is still getting to know her sisters, figuring out where she fits in and what she wants with her life. Both Bren and Violet felt a bit like outsiders and both were struggling to make a "new" start in their lives. The first half was very much a slow burn and the pacing was slower. There were some great moments with Bren and his girls and some great moments with the secondary characters. I loved Violet's relationship with Cade and I enjoyed how her relationship with her sisters progressed.

There were some very hot, sexy moments between Bren and Violet but this was more about family dynamics (Bren and his girls and Violet and her relationship with both Bren and his daughters and her sisters). There was still the trademark humor and we got to see plenty of the previous characters whom I adored (Remy, the incredibly hot Canjun, Vadim the hilarious and sexy Russian and my favorites Cade and Dante who are just sizzling together).

This book brought everything full circle and wrapped up the overall plot in a fun, romantic and very satisfying ending. I've loved every minute of reading this series and highly recommend it.

this is a first read for me by this author and wow what a great read. I loved the main character I really felt like I connected with her.
I am now going to read the other books by this author.

As a proud and avid Kate Meader fan, I have been waiting (impatiently) for Bren and Violet's story since the beginning of the Chicago Rebels series. Grouchy heroes are my catnip and Bren had a scowl that gave me shivers. As always, Ms. Meader manages to surprise me with the emotional depth and intensity of the story she weaves.

Bren is the Scottish pro hockey player, recovering alcoholic, single father we have been rooting for since the first book. Violet is the seemingly flighty, half Puerto Rican free-spirit/hockey team owner looking for a place to belong. The chemistry between Bren and Violet has been crackling for the first three books in this series so I knew it would ignite once Bren and Violet were unable to resist their pull.

What can I say about this book? The sexual tension, the heart, the complex family dynamics? I loved it all. Bren was an unexpected delight. He was warm, kind, had a hot accent and was king of the sexy talk which is always appreciated. He traveled a tough road to get to stability but was completely committed to his positive path and his warmth of spirit translated through the page.

Violet was one of my favorite types of heroines executed to perfection. She is fun and irreverent with a deep core of caring. Her relationship with Bren's daughters had me tearing up at points and busting a gut laughing at others (penis eating slugs, y'all).

My favorite aspect of any Kate Meader novel (besides the central relationship) is the family of character she invites you to be a part of for a entire series. I am not normally a sports romance lover and Ms. Meader made me a believer. I cannot recommend this whole series enough. Each book reads easily as a standalone but I suggest starting at Irresistible You and falling in love from there.

**I received an ARC of this book in order to provide an honest review**

Ahh, the final hockey-franchise-owning sister has found love!

Violet Vasquez has never been a quitter. Born into a far-from-perfect family dynamic, she's managed to handle most of life challenges. So accustomed to going it on her own, and living to please herself, it's been a challenge to let anyone in, even her sisters. You sense her shrewdness, vibrancy and zeal from the very first page. Bren St. James is the kink in her plan to cut and run, but all good sense seems to evaporate from her when he's near. He and his girls slowly but surely remove all the good reasons she has for leaving.

Bren knows he's far from being a saint, but he's not taking the fact that he got a second chance - in hockey, with his daughters - for granted. From the day he met her, Violet has always personified the purest form of temptation, and keeping his distance from her has become something akin to torture. With a lot more to lose this time around, Bren has to be sure what are the most important battles he needs to fight.

I really enjoyed the way Bren and Violet's romance developed. It wasn't quick and crazy (though that can be hot!). Rather, it was a slow, steamy build-up. I found that they complemented each other well. I loved the bond Violet shared with Bren's girls, too, bridging the gap between father and daughters.

I found this to be a truly great end to this series.

I voluntarily read & reviewed an ARC of this book.

I've really enjoyed getting to know the sisters who've been put in charge of the Chicago Rebels hockey team when their dad passed away, and each book in the series has shed some light on their relationship, as well as the team as it's made it's way through the hockey season. With the end in sight, Hooked on You gives us the story of the last sister, Violet Vasquez and team captain Bren St. James.

Violet is a breast cancer survivor, ready for the 'Year of the V'. She had no relationship with her father, conceived from an affair and growing up with her single parent mom. When she becomes part owner of the Chicago Rebels team, an arrangement that may be over sooner rather than later depending on how the team does, she is thrust into a new life and a new family with her half sisters. She also finds herself attracted to grumpy, moody and recovering alcoholic Bren St. James but knows it's best to keep her feelings to herself.

Bren is desperate to find a nanny for his two daughters Catriona and Francesca. Divorced and fighting for custody, he almost lost his chance when alcohol led him to make some serious mistakes. Sober for almost a year and regularly attending AA, he's got a chance to make things right with them - and go for the ultimate hockey trophy, the Stanley Cup. Though he's reluctant to hire Violet at first it's more because of his own untimely attraction to her rather than her fitness for the job. Lusting after the nanny is such a cliche. But the more Violet is around, the more he finds her hard to resist, especially when she's definitely as into him as he is into her. They've both had their challenges and struggles, and when they open up to each other about them it creates a new bond. Will the end of the hockey season mean going their separate ways or a new start together?

Kate Meader has done an excellent job of wrapping up the series with this fun, sexy and emotionally charged romance! The hockey season started with book 1 of the Chicago Rebels series, and now we are into the playoffs, where things get particularly intense! As always the hockey scenes on and off the ice are well described with team cohesion and the bromance between the players a big part of the fun and lighthearted moments of the story.

For Violet and Bren, emotional baggage is never far away and finding that they can confide in each other leads to a deeper friendship and trust, that eventually becomes more. Bren will do anything for his two girls, and Violet understands this. What she doesn't get is that Bren is rapidly considering her part of his family too. The relationship Bren has with his pre-teen daughters is one he works hard at improving, the guilt of his previous choices a constant worry. Violet also develops a strong relationship with the girls, one of trust and honesty.

Bren and Violet have a slow burn romance that eventually culminates in some super sexy scenes as they give into the attraction to each other. Having to hide their relationship is an extra complication, not because she's a team owner and he's a player (since her two sisters also have relationships with hockey players) but because of his custody battle and the optics of him sleeping with the girls' nanny. His ex-wife Kendra is a piece of work and she shows up periodically to cause some trouble throughout the story, especially as Bren gets closer to the Stanley Cup. In the end, things happen for the team as they are meant to (no spoilers!) and most importantly, Bren and Violet and the girls get their well deserved happy ending. I'm going to miss the Chicago Rebels but I can't wait to see what is coming next from this author!

Review has been posted on Goodreads and on sale sites.

What do a washed up alcoholic has been hockey player and a snarky woman who has daddy issues and appears to be both flighty and superficial have in common?

On the surface? Not much, but beneath the stereotypes and first impressions are two people trying to make things right, trying to figure out their place with the Chicago Rebels, with their family, and with one another. Because despite his broodiness and her free-spirited personality…despite their respective fears… despite the fact that Bren St. James seems unimpressed by Violet Vasquez.

Out of the three sisters, Violet’s story is the one I’ve wanted the most. Throughout the previous books in the series, Violet’s seemed so full of life and grateful for what she’s been given, despite the pressures that come with it. Her witty comebacks and her passion to make every day count makes her extremely likable, which is why people can’t help but want to be around her, and while she doesn’t know much about the game of hockey, what she does understand is the value of family and the value of positive thinking.

Bren’s life is about as unstable as they come, which means there’s no way his focus should be on a certain firecracker who knows how to push his buttons like no one else. When Bren hit rock bottom, he could have lost everything, and he probably should have lost his C as captain of the Chicago Rebels, but thanks to Harper, he’s working on making amends and his number one priority, besides his hockey career, is rebuilding his relationship with his daughters, and it’s with them in mind that Violet becomes an integral part of all of their lives, turning their mutual attraction into a temptation that refuses to be denied, even though that makes everything much more tenuous for everyone involved.

Violet and Bren’s relationship is a slow burn in every sense of the word, which plays well with what both of them are dealing with on top of their developing feelings for one another. And while there are undoubtedly road blocks to creating a meaningful bond between them, it’s clear that they could be something so good with just a bit of effort.

I’ve absolutely loved Kate Meader’s Chicago Rebels series. The family and team dynamics grow throughout each book, which means by the time readers reach the final book, which is this one, it’s clear just how much the sisters mean to each other and gains the Chicago hockey organization makes with these passionate and intelligent women at the helm.

4.5 Poison Apples (The Fairest of All Book Reviews)

Ok, so I had In Skates Trouble on my kindle and I randomly opened it to read one day. It was awesome so I decided to hit up Amazon for the next in the series, and the next thing I knew, it was a few days later and I'd read the whole series and was so in love with these books! But alas, the last book, Hooked On You, was not yet out. I was devastated! I can be a little impatient....



Anyway, I was fortunate and got and ARC. Which I devoured in one day. I couldn't put it down! I had to know what would unfold for secret baby sister Violet and single hotstuff dad Bren. And oh boy... let me tell you! This book was ahhhhmazing! I couldn't put it down! There was so much goodness. These two circled each other and fought their feelings so hard. It was very entertaining, and also a little aggravating lol. I just wanted to yell and be like 'get it on already!' ;) They did... eventually :D and it was AWESOME! Emotions got a little high in this book. Violet was dealing with some things that were pretty tough. And so was Bren. Baby mama drama. Trying his damnedest not to fall (more) for Violet. Good times. One thing I really liked, was that they kinda became unlikely friends. They shared some things that Violet wasn't quite ready to share with her sisters. I don't want to really delve too deep, because this is definitely a book worthy of no spoilers. I feel like my thoughts are all over the place, but I know for sure I need you to know it was an awesome book and you gotta read it! Kate Meader has definitely found a new fan in me and I look forward to more books by her. The entire Chicago Rebels series is one I can see myself rereading in the near future.

Calling all fans of the Las Vegas Golden Knights and their Cinderella journey to the Stanley Cup Finals… Kate Meader’s last installment in the Chicago Rebels series, Hooked on You should be your next read. Filled with heart, an underdog hockey team run by women that no one took seriously, and the perfect team of misfits, this book has it all; there is even a cameo by a reader favorite couple from the Fighting Dempsey’s. I have loved this series from the beginning and reading it during Finals was absolutely perfect.

I really enjoy this author. This series wasn't as fun as Chicago fire but this book was my favorite of the series. The heroine was much less neurotic than her sisters. I loved the hero too. He had some great one liners towards the end just made me go "awww". The children added a refreshing element as well. Looking forward to more by the author!

Hooked on You (Chicago Rebels #4) by Kate Meader. I enjoyed books 1 & 2 in this series and this one was good, but not great. I was really looking forward to Violet and Bren’s story, but it fell just a bit short of my expectations. Bren was a tortured soul, recovering alcohol who is trying to balance sobriety, parenting, being a top notch hockey player. Violet is a little lost after coming to Chicago and figuring out where she fits in the world. Violet ends up filling in as a nanny for Bren’s kids. Violet doesn’t need the job, she is part owner of the hockey team. Anyway, romance ensues. The sex is hot though. The one thing that really, really stuck out for me is Bren’s ex-wife is made to be the villain. I am ready for this plot device to be over. We can have female exes in books without pitting women against each other.

Favorite Quote: “I can’t be involved with anyone right now, not when I need all my strength for my kids and the play-offs. I’m barely holding on, Violet. I want to do everything to you. I want everything from you. I would consume you with need. Desire. Darkness. It’d be dirty and desperate and not very pretty. And I suspect you’re the kind of woman who needs more than I have to give. A hundred percent of my focus.”

Grade: B-

Oh, I just love when Kate Meader released another hilarious yet romantic book. And she did with Hooked by You. I know every reader was definitely waiting for the broody yet sexy Highlander, Bren St James, and the free-spirited yet beautiful Violet to hook up and begin their story. Well, their story definitely begins and it is definitely a journey to read along.
The broody Highlander Bren St James definitely has a terrible past but he is overcoming it. We get a preview of his past and it is definitely sad and dark how he was before. But I definitely give him admiration when he decided to change his self and be better. It takes a lot to change oneself but it is best when you decides to do it for your self. And he is. His little girls notice too that they get to spend some time with him which is fantastic news but it also puts a strain on him since he will need a nanny to watch his children. And gets who get to be the nanny?
That’s right, it’s Violetbut it definitely brought some challenges. Violet is beautiful and intelligent woman that she knew right away that her so called sperm donor was not worth her time whatsoever. But things changed when she discover she had breast cancer that she decided to live a free-spirited life which she decided to input with her sisters since they are in the need of it. Some may say that she reckless or too carefree but she is not and that is something Bren St James learn when she starts watching his children.
At first, they struggle to work with each other since Bren St James is a little judging of Violet. So you will see some sparks argument with each other. But it is too entertaining to read that you will get some laugh in it. Over time, Bren St James realize how lovely and sweet Violet is. It’s just she only share it with people who she loves. They get to build their friendship but they also get closer too. Their love scenes are burning hot that your definitely going to blush of how hot they are together.
Nothing is ever easy when you are in a relationship. It’s going to take some time and commitment. And that’s what going to take with Bren St James and Violet. They may be some fired up but it’s all good.
Hooked by You will bring so much laughter that you will be entertained all day while reading. It will also brings some hot scenes that you want Violet or Bren St James for yourself.
Five Star!

Discovering Kate Meader and her amazing series that is the Chicago Rebels was one of the best things to happen to me last year reading-wise. I devoured the first four books, more like two books and two novellas, in this series in about a month. Each book got better and better, but they also gave us a delicious taste at the one couple whose story I could not wait to get my hands on: Violet and Bren. The wait for their book, THIS BOOK, was TORTURE but I was so freaking happy when I was finally able to get my hands on it.

Violet Vasquez and Bren St. James have been tip-toeing around one another ever since Violet found out she inherited one-third of the Chicago Rebels after her biological father, Clifford Chase passed away. The teasing and jabs at one another have been the icing on top of each of the previous books. Especially since with each one of those moments, their sexual tension seems to increase ten-fold to the point that you just want them to tear off each other's clothes already. With the hardships both Violet and Bren have gone through in the past, I would say that a few sexy times between the sheets with one another is something they absolutely deserve. I mean, between Violet overcoming her battle with breast cancer and Bren's journey to getting sober and being there for his daughters, I think the universe owes them big time.

I really enjoyed Hooked on You, but I think that because I hyped it up SO MUCH in my head that when I finally read it, the story fell just a little short of my expectations causing me to not love it as much as I thought I would. The main reason for this is that I was expecting there to be more angst and sexual tension between Violet and Bren in the beginning and throughout the book. We definitely got a good amount, but I wanted MORE. After the build-up between these two over the course of this series so far, I was expecting more teasing, more angsty banter, and the sexual tension to reach a point of no return. Maybe I didn't connect with Violet and Bren as much as I thought I would, maybe I'm just being greedy, all I know is that this aspect of the book was just a tad bit underwhelming.

Everything else about this book, on the other hand, was absolutely adorable. Bren being a single dad on top of being this brooding, ice-hockey-playing Scotsman made his character that much more dreamy. Did I mention I have a thing for Scottish men? His daughters were just the cutest things ever. And then of course, you have Violet who is this bad-ass, opinionated, living-her-life-to-the-fullest heroine that just flipped Bren's life upside down the minute he met her. Their love story was the best conclusion to this series that I could have asked for because not only did it allows these two lost souls find one another, but it also allowed Violet to realize that her place in the Chase family was always meant to be. It also made me so happy and giddy to see the HEA's of each of the Chase sisters beyond what happened in each of their books.

If you love sports romances, READ THIS SERIES. That is all I can honestly say. You could start with Hooked on You but you won't get the full reading experience with this amazing cast of characters unless you start at the very beginning. Trust me you won't regret it.

The Good, The Bad, and Everything In Between

The Good
-Final installment lived up to the hype. I have been a fan of this series now, with its skillful blend of hockey and wonderfully fun, romantic pairings. Ms. Meader has a talent for creating great banter, well developed characters and while most of these romantic setups are a tad problematic (the boss getting involved with the employee is a double edged sword, but undoubtedly one of my favorite tropes. This series has at least made the women the ones in positions of power and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it. But the one I’ve been (im)patiently waiting for is Violet and Bren’s story. Now, I was concerned that when you wait for two characters to finally get their chance to shine, the stories can occasionally fall flat because it’s too dependent on the earlier books, and not enough time is given to developing their chemistry and emotional connection. No need to worry - Violet and Bren shine bright like a diamond of the first water.

-Awesome Puerto Rican heroine. Violet opened my eyes, in this romance and beyond. She made me realize what I was missing in my Romancelandia. She’s my first Puerto Rican heroine (and as a Puerto Rican woman on a racially diverse blog, this shocked and saddened me). She’s set me on the path to finding other Puerto Rican heroines, because I loved her so much. I’d seen glimpses of her life throughout the other books, but having her front and center was exactly what I wanted and needed. That she's the closer on a top notch series? Heaven.

I never realized how rare it was to see a Puerto Rican woman starring and shining in her own love story and how much that kind of personal representation would mean to me. She’s survived breast cancer, had a absentee father and a caring yet hard mother and this shaped her into a wonderfully empathetic, funny, vibrant and caring woman. She’s moved to a strange city and reached out to her half-sisters, all while keeping what makes her unique. She’s been brushed aside, people have tried to make her feel lesser and she refuses to let them. I loved her and she flat out guaranteed that this book is going to be one of my favorites this year, and I will always remember her.



-Sexy AF Scottish-Canadian hero. Oh Bren, the minute you were referred to a mashup of Jason Momoa and Gerard Butler with a Scottish accent, I was done for. *stares off blindly* Ok, so I lost focus after “Jason Momoa” but I can live with that. Bren’s been through his share of suffering, his alcoholism leaving him in a place emotionally where he knows he’s still vulnerable, but he cannot take his eyes off of Violet. She runs in his blood, and you can feel his desire for her coming off the page. Lord, I want to fan myself. Yeah, his love for Violet made me love him.

-Firsts done well. I will always be a big believer in how the Firsts of a romance can dictate the strength of my love, and here the first are sooooo damn sexy. Both characters are attracted, but the emotional component isn’t neglected for that attraction and it makes all the difference.
-Hockey plays its role well. Hockey is in this series’ blood and you get to enjoy the romance without losing sight of the ultimate hockey goal. There are game scenes that give that sense of urgency, and the climax was exactly what you hope for. Well…..

The (Mildly) Bad(ish)
-Hmmm. Ok, if I’m going to be picky (and ‘tis what I do), the final game should have been in Boston (the finals are always 2 home, 2 away, then 1 at each venue as needed) since the Rebels weren’t the home team. Only because I’m a hockey fan would this little detail even stick out to me. But I loved Violet and Bren so damn much that it didn’t matter in the long run. The drama of the ending wouldn’t be as impactful if it was completely accurate, so I’m officially over it.

Everything in Between
-Works as a standalone. Just be forewarned, you’re going to want to read the earlier books. The heroes and heroines all make an appearance and play their supporting roles to Violet and Bren and make this ‘verse that more vibrant and alive, and there’s no denying that I closed my kindle on a happy sigh.


The Bottom Line
I loved it, and Violet and Bren are officially my favorite couple of the series. If you love hockey, Latina heroines and sexy hot hockey players, do yourself a favor and read this book, fall in love then pick up this series. I highly recommend it.