From the outside looking in, I live a charmed life: hockey legend for a father, my own promising future in the league, a great family, awesome friends.
It’s not untrue, but it’s not quite that simple either.
My dad’s advice has always been to make hockey my number-one priority—at least until I make it to the pros. So, going into my senior year of college, I have a plan. I’ll put in the effort required to pass my classes, play hockey like my life depends on it, and avoid relationships. All I have to do is stay focused on the end game.
It should be easy.
But when a woman literally floats into my dock, just before summer ends and my senior year begins, I can’t resist one last hookup. What harm could a one-night stand do? It’s not like we even exchanged numbers.
Everything is fine until I run into her on campus.
It’s a big school. I should be able to avoid her.
Except she happens to be in my class.
And she’s not a student.
She’s my professor.
I was excited for Maverick’s story because the Pucked series is one of my absolute favorites and this book delivered. It’s not really set in the same world because the kids are all grown and away at college so it’s new and different, but the original characters play important roles, which I love. Maverick’s story is shaped by his childhood and family: how he was raised, things that happened and how they still affect him now. He struggles at times but he’s too busy taking care of everyone around him to ever admit it and he certainly never lets anyone see it, until Clover.
Everything was innocent enough when they met, but that changed a few weeks later and there’s nothing they can do about it. She’s his professor so nothing can happen between them, but it’s not like they can just turn off their feelings. Clover is strong and independent but she has a real weak spot for Maverick, despite the danger to her career. Maverick feels guilty because he knows Clover has far more to lose, but he can’t stay away from her.
Clover is great and I liked everything about her, but Maverick Waters is next level awesome. He’s definitely higher on the book boyfriend list than Alex because Maverick is everything. There’s a lot of angst here beyond the forbidden attraction. He has a traumatic past he’s never really come to terms with and struggles with his place in the world. Sure, he’s good at hockey but is he really good enough to get drafted? Or are teams knocking on his door because his dad is Alex Waters? She has a psycho ex who did a number on her psyche but they’re both grounded and open enough to help each other overcome. I loved everything about Maverick and Clover’s story and couldn’t get enough of it. I received an ARC from Social Butterfly PR in exchange for an honest review.
