What do you get when you mix a devastatingly handsome hockey player who doesn’t do casual with a blonde bombshell cheerleader who doesn’t do serious?
I was supposed to be taking the summer off from dating. . . and flirting. . . and men in general. A cleanse. It sounded great in theory. But theory went out the window when my own personal kryptonite sat on the barstool next to mine.
Six feet, five inches of stacked muscle and chiseled features, he exuded a cocky confidence that was hard to miss and even harder to resist. This man was delectable. Like a decadent piece of chocolate cake, tempting me to indulge.
And that was before I knew how he tasted.
The rules were simple:
One night.
No names.
No strings.
Until my handsome stranger turned out to be the hot-as-sin star forward for the Philadelphia Revolution hockey team. A single dad with two adorable kids who tug at my heart strings, and a family almost as obnoxious as my own.
But Cross Wilder isn’t looking for a hookup.
And I’m not looking for a fairytale.
The question is. . . do I have a choice?
I was sure I’d like this book but I was wrong: I absolutely LOVED it. Everly and Cross were so much more than I expected and just such amazing characters. I would give this book ten stars out of five if possible. They meet completely by chance in a bar and the attraction is instant but what should have been a one-time thing turns into flirty texts and so much more.
Everly doesn’t want to like Cross, especially when she finds out he’s a he’s a single dad to two of the most adorable kids she’s ever met. She’s horrified to learn he’s a hockey player because athletes, especially hockey players, are a no for her. But there’s something about this man she can’t resist so no matter how hard she tries to stay away, it’s just not possible. Just wanting him isn’t enough though because she’s got some heavy baggage. Her ex was a special kind of awful and she’s been hiding from an ugly truth, one that has affected her life much more than she ever realized before now.
Cross knows Everly has been hurt and she’s scared: of him, of falling for someone, of trusting anyone again. Breaking through her walls won’t be easy but there’s no question in his mind she’s worth it and he’s determined to show her he’s worth the risk as well. I particularly love the way he helped her deal with her past without trying to take charge and letting her take the lead. Cross Wilder has a top spot on the book boyfriend list without question. Everly’s strength and determination were exactly what I wanted for her and made my heart happy.
Their story was sweet and steamy with a lot of emotion and heart. The supporting cast is amazing as always, helping to bring this world to life. I particularly loved Cross’ confusion as everyone referenced Sam and he had no idea why, but the whole gang is fantastic. Can’t wait for more in this series because I want to read all the stories. I’d like to thank the author for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
