Slap Shot: Bryant (Nashville Sound Book 2)

Gabriella Charbonnet is a driven pastry chef and the sister of an NHL player who protects her fiercely. Having survived an abusive childhood at the hands of her NHL stepfather, Gabriella has made herself one rule in life: no dating hockey players! She knows they are not all violent, but she is not willing to take that chance. Bryant Taylor is not only the hottest player in all the NHL, he is also Gabriella’s brother’s best friend and teammate. He is completely off limits, not to mention suffering from deep scars from his past, leaving him emotionally unavailable. But sometimes a connection cannot be ignored, pasts need to be faced, and rules need to be broken for two people to find happiness. 

This romance is a slow burn that will keep you turning page after page and soon becomes a full raging fire of passion and forbidden love. Gabriella and Bryant crackle with tension! The story is addictive and it is clear the author knows a lot about hockey or did her research! Gabriella is a fun character but sometimes seems materialistic and juvenile with her quick judgements or jealous rants. Bryant is a playboy, but only because he is hiding his inner pain. He is truly adorable inside and out. His family, however, is overbearing and the reader will be screaming at Bryant to stand up to them! There were several areas where the editing could have been more thorough, and the ending felt rather abrupt, finishing before the reader was prepared for it to, but overall, it was a fun and steamy read! 

Dahlia Gosney