Offside (The Barker Triplets #1)
by Juliana Stone
Blurb:
When
hockey phenom Billie-Jo Barker returns home and decides to play in the local
Friday night hockey league, all hell breaks loose. Not because Billie's talent
is in question, but because Billie is a woman. And though these are modern
times, some of the local guys still have a problem letting a girl into their
'men's club.'
Soon,
Billie is at the center of a small town battle of the sexes, with everyone
choosing sides. Her sisters. The townsfolk. Her friends. And yet, the only
person whose opinion she cares about doesn't seem to care much at all. Logan Forest,
the man who broke her heart when she was eighteen and the man she now shares
the bench with every Friday night.
She's
got a lot to prove and though Billie Jo Barker scores on the ice, will this
girl ever score with the man of her dreams?
Review:
I
have long been a fan of the paranormal romances by Juliana Stone, but I was
pleasantly surprised when I came across this new series about a relatively
normal family living in small-town USA. There was a lot to love about the story
individually and also as the beginning to an all new series.
Billie
is back in town after a heartbreaking ending to her career in professional
hockey in Europe, dealing with the loss of the one part of her life that has
always completed her. When an
opportunity to play hockey—even in a small town local league—presents itself,
she refuses to ignore it. But the local
boys don’t really want any female in their league, even if she’s a pro. Enter Logan Forest. He’s always been the one guy who broke her
heart, even though he never knew it. But
now he’s determined to make sure that her stubbornness doesn't lead to more
trouble than she can handle. But being
so close to her ignites a whole different kind of desire, one more powerful
than anything he’s felt since a long ago summer and is becoming more and more
just the thing he needs in his life.
I
really enjoyed this story much more than I thought I would. I loved the strong female lead and the sexy
Logan was just what was needed to round her out. Billie and Logan burn up the pages with
passion and the sweetness factor cannot be ignored. I loved being able to experience the changes
that Billie goes through as she grows up a little bit and accepts the changes
that were thrust on her. Logan is a very sexy, alpha male for sure, but he has
a heart of gold and his love for Billie is heartwarming and fun to see.
There
is of course always the point in these stories when the past catches up with
Billie and Logan and the truth must come out.
Without spoiling the surprise I will say that the big secret between
them was very well written. Billie and
Logan are left to work through the discovery and their feelings about it, but
thankfully they are both strong enough to overcome.
The
hints we get about Billie’s sister and her old boyfriend are great, setting us
up well for the next story and making us unwilling to resist purchasing the
next book right away. Sneaky, sneaky
author, teasing us like this!
Overall
I’m really enjoying this series, though I didn’t care much for the youngest Barker
sister or her selfishness, hopefully when it comes time for her story she’ll be
a better human being. Billie and Logan
were great characters, both stubbornly clinging to their supposed rules and
then finally facing the fact that life is made to be lived and experienced not
forced into little boxes. The passion
between Logan and Billie is sensual and exciting to read, I even recommend
having a nice ice bath ready for after a few of the scenes. If you’re a hockey fan, or even just enjoy
winter scenery, you’ll love reading about their small town setting and seeing
how being from that environment has shaped them. Definitely a great start to a new series and
I can’t wait for more.
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