Hard Hitter

3.5 stars. The second in the Brooklyn Bruisers hockey romance series, Hard Hitter focuses on team captain Patrick O'Doul and team masseuse and yogi Ari Bettini. O'Doul is the quiet, mysterious, stalwart team enforcer, taking hit after hit and entertaining the hockey crowds with fights each night. But now the team trainers are forcing O'Doul to get massage therapy because he's experiencing serious pain during the lead up to the playoffs. Enter Ari, who has been through a terrible and recent break-up, and is trying to swear off men. Her touch and calm demeanor take a bit to get inside O'Doul's head, but once it does...their chemistry ends up being off the charts. But there are some serious skeletons in the closet and Ari and O'Doul need to figure out how and if building a relationship will work... while their pasts threaten to tear them each apart. I really enjoyed Patrick and Ari's story. Darker than Georgia and Leo's from the first book, Hard Hitter focuses on strong characters with a lot of baggage. I appreciated the amount of time Sarina Bowen committed to having them sort out all of their issues. The narrative is in third person, but each chapter alternates between Patrick and Ari's viewpoints, and they're both just...really good people who need each other. Patrick's story is haunting and frustrating, and I loved how much of a contrast there was between his public persona and his private one. In particular, his views on fighting in hockey, and his opinion of himself just felt so authentic. Ari, meanwhile, is in a really really awful situation with her ex, who's essentially stalking her. She really questions herself and her opinions throughout the book, and I appreciated that Bowen allowed her to be that cautious and vulnerable. I also adored the secondary characters - we get to see a lot more of Leo Trevi and Georgia Worthington from the first book, as well as Becca, Nate, Lauren and some of the other players on the team. I loved how naturally they all fit into Ari and Patrick's world. Can we talk a little about the love scenes, because they are some of the most...interesting that I've read from Sarina. Let's just say that the characters take full advantage of the benefits of a character's occupation. It's creative and sexy. There are definitely moments when Hard Hitter gets much darker than you expect it to - there are issues with drugs, addiction, domestic abuse and more that get dealt with. It's not a super light read. Yet the romance really works, and like the mysterious O'Doul himself, takes a bit to get to know. You'll be glad you did, though, because there are funny, sweet, kind, and sexy moments that will make you swoon...and make you wish desperately for the next book in the Brooklyn Bruisers series.

Sarina Bowen Hard Hitter is a smash. Team captain and enforcer, Patrick O'Doul, does not like to be touched. After suffering a hip injury, he has no choice but to seek help from the team’s massage therapist, Ariana (Ari) Bettini. This contemporary sports romance is suitable for new adult and adult audiences. When we were introduced to Patrick O'Doul in book one, Rookie Move, I was not a fan of his. However, the more I got to know him; I really began to like him. He had a trying childhood, being raised in a group home in Minnesota. It explains a lot about his personality. Ari is the perfect person to be assigned as Patrick’s message therapist. With Ari’s help, he grows a lot throughout this story. He is a good guy who owns up to his mistakes. I like that he begins to open-up to his team mates because of his relationship with Ari. I really like Ari. She had a difficult breakup with her boyfriend of eight years, Vince. He got himself into some trouble, which unfortunately spills over into her life. Patrick finds himself trying to protect Ari from her Ex, whom he happens to know. It causes some fascinating controversy in the story. I really enjoyed the plot. There were a lot of interesting details and twists. HARD HITTER is fast paced a and kept me focused from start to finish. I like how the chapters stared with the team’s standings. I also like that “No Sleep Till Brooklyn” by the Beastie Boys is the Bruisers’ theme song. Sarina Bowen does an amazing job with her second book in the Brooklyn Bruisers series. I cannot wait to read Mike Beacon’s and Lauren Williams’ story next in book three, PIPE DREAMS. I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.

This hit a lot of emotions I wasn’t prepared for it to affect! Patrick and Ari just always seemed so lost, but then when they were together, a peace and calmness surrounded them. They certainly packed an emotional punch, but they also provided some off the charts steam as well. Watching them both come around, forge bonds, and trust in themselves, was a beautiful thing to watch <3 p.s the bonding moments with the team, especially the suggestions for winning over a girl, were hilarious and sweet