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Hard Hitter  By  cover art

Hard Hitter

By: Sarina Bowen
Narrated by: Nicol Zanzarella, Rock Engle
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Publisher's summary

From the USA Today best-selling author of Rookie Move comes the second novel in the series that's hot enough to melt the ice.

He's a fighter in the rink, but he's about to learn that playing nice can help you score.

As team captain and enforcer, Patrick O'Doul puts the bruise in the Brooklyn Bruisers. But after years of hard hits, O'Doul is feeling the burn, both physically and mentally. He conceals his pain from his coach and trainers, but when his chronic hip injury becomes too obvious to ignore, they send him for sessions with the team's massage therapist.

After breaking up with her long-term boyfriend, Ari Bettini is in need of peace of mind. For now she's decided to focus on her work: rehabilitating the Bruisers' MVP. O'Doul is easy on the eyes, but his reaction to her touch is ice cold. Ari is determined to help O'Doul heal, but as the tension between them turns red hot, they both learn that a little TLC does the body good.

©2017 Sarina Bowen (P)2017 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

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What listeners say about Hard Hitter

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Enjoyable 2nd book of a hockey romance series!

I loved this story by Sarina Bowen, she has an amazing way to write incredibly really characters dealing with very serious problems in an endearing and real way. The narration was good - I thought Rock Engle did a great job! Nicol Zanzarella is a wonderful narrator though I didn't really think her voice suited this character as well as other narrators could have, though it did not detract from my enjoyment of the audio version of the book.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

You can always find love in unlikely places.

The issue that I had in Rookie Move was the fact that the narrators did not fit the characters. In this book however the narration was ten times better. I don't know if it's because of the fact the hero and the heroine are both older so the voices match with the character profiles or if I am overlooking the voices. Either way everything about this book was close to perfect.

I loved Patrick and Ariana's relationship. It didn't start with instant love or instead of lust it just started off with two people trying to navigate this weird crazy world that we live in. Patrick has a lot of issues and all of it is understandable. Ariana has a lot of issues which is also understandable and the fact that they could overcome their issues together was great for me. There was a lot of drama within this book but it wasn't unrealistic drama. Sometimes an author will put drama for drama sake in a book but yet I didn't feel that way about this.

I love the fact that Patrick knew what he wanted and he went for it. Ariana on the other hand had a lot of convincing in order for her to know that Patrick is the one that she wants. I am glad that Sarina Bowen did not leave loose ends with in this book. There was a question that needed to be answered throughout this entire book and I almost thought that she would not answer it. I do believe that is one of the main reasons why she did not want to get into a relationship with Patrick because of his feelings pertaining to that subject.

I really love this story and I cannot wait to read Pipe Dreams. I really hope the narration in this book was not a fluke. Because if it is I'm going to be really disappointed and annoyed.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Hot hockey hunks, sexy swoony romance

I loved Hard Hitter!! Team captain and ‘enforcer’ Patrick O’Doul fights on the ice in games and fights his chronic pain. He fights against allowing team massage therapist, Ari Bettini from getting under his skin and exposing his well hidden weaknesses.

Hot hockey hunks, sexy swoony romance, humor and emotion... everything I could want in my romance book and all read to me by amazing narrators! I’m extra glad that I went with the audiobook for this story. I’d be very happy if these narrators could read all my books to me!
-5 Stars!-

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2 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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MY FAVE SO FAR!!! LOVE LOVE LOVE THESE 2!!!

Patrick and Ari!! Oh I loved this one!! I love Patrick...I want my own Patrick!! These 2 both had baggage and both of them needed to be loved the right way! Patrick beats people up and takes a beating for work, and being a foster child that had to fight his whole life, he is prickly and non trusting...Ari is coming off a bad relationship and is still trying to shale off and a dangerous Ex....Together they can conquer it all!! LOVED IT LOVED IT LOVED IT!!!! ALL THE FEELS!!!!

I AGAIN RECOMMEND!!!!

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Enjoyable.

Loved this story. Such well written characters and narration. Loved the bit of angst and the friendships.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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Swooning!!

Every girl needs a Patrick in their life! He checks all the boxes. What a great story- loved it!

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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Nice story. Great chemistry. Boys will be boys.

I absolutely loved when guys were man-splaining. Made me laugh. Do guys even have these conversations about how to get the girl and keep her? would love to be the fly on that wall.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great book

such a good book! narration was better than book 1. can't wait for more Bruisers!!!

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Another great hockey romance from Sarina Bowen

What about Nicol Zanzarella and Rock Engle ’s performance did you like?

I loved both the performances. I really thought they both brought the story to life. I usually favor listening to male narrators and Rock Engle is now a new favorite! I will be looking for more titles that he's narrated.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

A bit too long for that, but I did my best to find excuses to keep listening!!!

Any additional comments?

Sarina Bowen is one of my newer favorite authors. She has never disappointed me and her hockey stories and characters are among my all-time favorite romances ever. If she writes it, I read it.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Liked one narrarator, not the other

Any additional comments?

Fine Sarina Bowen story, as usual. Particularly liked the reveal on O'Doul's backstory. Unfortunately, I found myself becoming impatient with Ari, partly because of her angsty repetitiveness, but mostly because the narrator used the same Mae-West drawl throughout. I found myself rolling my eyes and cringing by the end. Liked Rick Engle's voicing of O'Doul's tough-guy/sweetie persona, though.

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