Resist (Stingrays Hockey #2)
Mari Carr
Blurb:
The
Stingrays call goalie Coulton Moore their gentle giant. The tall, imposing man
is the team’s rock, their steadying influence on and off the ice. However, that
mild disposition disappears completely when the beautiful bartender he’s been
lusting after from across a crowded bar is attacked. Then, it’s all bets off as
he steps in to defend her, protect her, and claim her as his.
Ainsley
doesn’t have time for any more men in her life. Between serving a rowdy bunch
of guys in her family’s dive bar, caring for her ailing father, and dealing
with her brother and his ever-growing pile of gambling debt, her cup
overfloweth when it comes to the male population.
When
her brother’s enemies track her down, looking for retribution, a sexy, dominant
stranger steps forward to save her. At first, it’s simple enough to accept his
help and his kisses and his tantalizing touches because, after a lifetime of
crap, she figures she’s due a night of mind-blowing passion with Coulton, the
hottest man she’s ever met.
The
problem begins when morning comes and he informs her what they shared was never
going to be just a one-night stand. Nope. Coulton, the stubborn, determined,
possessive man is settling for nothing less than her.
And
forever.
Themes: Contemporary
Rating: 4.5 stars
Heat Rating:
Review:
I knew when this series was announced that I was
going to love these guys, mostly because they seemed to be just what I needed
at this time in my life—men that are strong but sweet, love women without being
gross about it, and unapologetically male. Mari Carr started this series as a
spin-off of her Italian Stallions, flowing right from the Wild Irish series and
I love getting glimpses of those characters and settings as these sexing hockey
players live their lives and find love in their own unique and interesting
courtships. While I absolutely loved this story, it was definitely a different
take on a story from most of the romances currently in my TBR and a bit of a
twist for Mari too in my opinion. Her heroine was definitely one that has been
repeatedly hurt in her life by everyone she has counted on and has basically
given up on hoping for a positive improvement for herself—resigning herself to
a mediocre existence and just surviving. We get a unique view (for most of us)
of a part of the population that is often forgotten and it reminds us to be
humble and appreciate how good we have it if we aren’t struggling for ever scrap
and begging for every bit of happiness and respect in life. I loved seeing our
hero give her the love and admiration she needed to remind herself that only by
refusing to give up on herself can she find a way out of that life. I am really
looking forward to the next story in this series and cannot wait to see more of
both of the previous couples as more of these hockey hotties lose their hearts.
Ainsley Hall knows when the beast of a man walks
into her fathers drive bar that he doesn’t belong and he is going to be
trouble, but Coulton Moore turns into so much more that that. Coulton isn’t
sure what pulled him to wander into the dive bar on a whim one evening, but the
first sight of the sexy tattooed bartender with more attitude than any entire offensive
line keeps him coming back. She has no idea why he keeps coming to the bar and
flirting with her even after she refuses to go out with him, but when he
arrives one night just in time to save her from two attackers that she is losing
a battle against she can’t deny she is happy for the assist. But as she spends
more time with her savior, slowly getting to know him and seeing the sweet side
of him, Ainsley can’t deny that there is so much more to Coulton that just a rich
athlete out to use and discard her. Coulton is determined to dig past the
quills and shell that Ainsley presents to the world because he believes that
she could be the woman of his dreams and getting past her insecurities is all
he wants to do. But when her world crumbles as the worst possible time, has
Coulton gotten through her enough to prove that she can not only lean on him
but trust him to also be there to lift her up and give her the love she needs
to truly live her dreams in life, or will she push him away once and for all,
leaving him broken hearted?
How do you explain a couple like this and the
connection that Coulton fought against every barrier Ainsley tried to erect in
order to build solidly for them? Coulton is the ultimate Gentle Giant and I loved
seeing him interacting with his friends, family, teammates, enemies, and
Ainsley because even those he wanted to tear limb form limb (for hurting Ainsley)
he also treated with fairness and never fought dirty. I loved seeing his
sweetness, silliness, and willingness to make a fool of himself just to bring a
smile to someone else, he knows his worth and he doesn’t constantly need
reassurance about his importance, being truly humble, but Ainsley is the only
one with the ability to make him vulnerable and fearful. He was so cute when he
was trying to show her how the “other side lives” even though money isn’t
really important to him, just a way for him to spoil those he loves and give
back to those in need. He is truly one of the last few good men in the world
and I loved watching him work so hard to prove that to Ainsley and show her
that she could depend on him and give him her hurt and he’d never hurt her or let
her down. Ainsley is the best human embodiment of a porcupine I’ve ever seen
written, truly, as she fights back against ever wonderful thing or soft hand
that is offered to her because she has been so burned and hurt in the past. Her
past is so filler with people and circumstances that have left her defeated she
doesn’t even look for a way out of her life anymore, having given up on ever having
a chance at a future where she isn’t having to drag herself through the muck of
her current life every minute. When Coulton tries to show her a brighter
option, she continuously tries to either cheapen it or make it into something
less important than it truly is, so that she can find excuses to take it
without it being as important as she feels it is. Once he finally breaks
through to her inner softness, forcing her to admit her pain and her true hopes
for the future I really began to like her so much more. I have no issue with a
woman toughening herself up to protect herself, but I was afraid she’d hardened
her heart so much that Coulton would have no hope of ever finding a way to earn
her trust and love.
Mari knew what she was doing when she named this one,
because I was truly unable to Resist reading Coulton and Ainsley’s story
beginning to end without stopping. If you love a story of two people with an
inexplicable connection, working through baggage, with spice, danger, and
laughter thrown in for fun than this story is for you. Coulton is a beautiful example
of the type of sexy protector so many women as looking for in life, one that
stands beside us, fighting with us instead of for us, but knowing that sometimes
we need him to step in and carry us away from the real world and treat us like
a princess. His love of his work, teammates, family, and friends rounds him out
into a perfect gentleman while his spicy side leaves us more than satisfied as
Ainsley drags him repeatedly into the bedroom for antics. Ainsley has lived the
kind of life most of us only understand through stories (either books, TV, or
news reports) filled with constant vigilance against dangers, heartbreak, and
abuse, and it has certainly left her with piles of relationship baggage. I was
right there with Coulton hoping that everything in her life could be improved
and she could finally get a moment to just breathe in a safe and loving
setting, not having to be constantly vigilant and worried about the next drama
coming at her. Once she was able to take that breath, she did find a way to
move forward, opening her heart and allowing Coulton to prove how perfect they
were together, even though she continued to have fears. The connection and
chemistry between these two are undeniable, even if she tried through most of
the book, and the passion is definitely off the charts. I loved every moment of
this read, even if I had a few moments of confusion until I realized the
timeline overlaps book one (Restraint) a LOT, so be prepared there. I am dying to read
Preston’s story (Rematch) soon and I know
that one will be a doozy as he falls in love and has to find a way to convince
his woman to accept him as more than a booty call. Mari has outdone herself
with this series for sure and I am becoming more invested with each impressive
Hockey Romance.
*eARC provided by author for the
purpose of an honest and unbiased review. No compensation was provided.
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