Shenanigans: A Brooklyn Hockey Romance

4.5 stars — Characters are my bread and butter, and Charli and Neil are some of the best there is. Obviously both very complicated, but at their very core, absolute rock star people. Behind all of Charli’s bluster and anger, there’s a very damaged young woman. She is definitely the product of her upbringing, and it was heartbreaking to see the “lessons” she had learned from her childhood. She was closed off, and unable to trust. And yet, you could feel how much she wanted to trust Neil…and watching him break through her defenses was so satisfying. I loved that he melted her edges, but didn’t change who she was at the core — she was feisty until the end, she just knew how to bring it out at the right times. It was hard to watch her back get up in certain circumstances, but I understood where that stemmed from. Neil was so much more adorable than I was expecting. He was genuinely good and kind, but with a wicked side as well. I loved how conscientious he was about the role money had played in his life, and the down sides of that. He was so aware of how people saw him, and he fought so hard to make up for the shortcomings of his family’s wealth. I had totally forgotten that he was the diabetic on the team, and I appreciated that while it was a part of him, we got to see it more in a daily way — like it wasn’t meant as a plot thing…if that makes sense. Normalizing health issues/disabilities is always awesome in my opinion. I really loved that he could be such a boy at times. It contrasted perfectly with his sophisticated/bourgeoisie side. It brought him back down to earth. And Charli and Neil were absolute fire together. I loved the perfect balance of sweet and funny moments with absolute steam moments. They had lots of all the best kinds of chemistry. Obviously I’m already in love with the Bruisers and the Bombshells, and getting to see so many of them again was like coming home to family. We even got some cameos from characters I wasn’t expecting, and it was delightful. I just want more and more and more from this series, and from both of these teams. And there were some fun other secondary characters as well, one in particular makes me happy because it clearly looks like she’ll be in a near future romance. So yeah. Looks like Ms. Bowen sucked me in with another book made for my tastes. I love that she writes so many different kinds of characters, and everyone gravitates towards different ones. It means that I always enjoy her books, but sometimes some just stand apart, and this is one of them.

This is Neil and Charli's story. We were introduced to them in the previous book, Bombshell. Charli is 24 and a strong and independent red haired woman hockey player on the new women's team who is one tough cookie, and, in this story, we learn more about her past and where she comes from. Neil on the other hand is a rich boy who plays for the Bruisers and has had a major crush on Charli since day one, but she told him she had no interest in any hockey playing man. That is until one day he wakes up in bed with Charli in Vegas and they find out they got married the night before. I loved Neil so much he is the hero and the guy who is always there for Charli even as she tries to deny that she needs anything from him. She is the girl and woman that no one ever wanted and all she wants is to be loved and number 1 in someone's life. But her attitude is also why people stay away and so she doesn't realize what she has in Neil and in the other women players on her team until near the end of the story. At times she frustrated me a little because she is always fighting and I just wanted her to open her eyes and see how amazing she is and that she had people in her corner. Neil is a guy with friends and teammates but his family has never accepted him as he is. His love of hockey and his diabetes have kept him at a distance. That is until he meets Charli and he wants to be close to her but she fights him hard. I loved that Charli has his back as well and at times she saves him just as much as he saves her. This is the second book in the Brooklyn Bombshells series and while it stands alone, I suggest you read Bombshell before this book. It gives you a better understanding about who the Bombshell team is and all the new characters, I am absolutely loving the Bombshell babes and cannot wait to see who is next. I received a complimentary early release copy of this e-book from the author prior to release and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Soon being fake-married turns into roommates, then roommates with benefits, but Charli has done some things to get by that she's not proud of, and their marriage has an expiry date. This was solid Sarina Bowen, high-living billionaires, Amex Black cards, personal shoppers, and chauffeur driven limousines juxtaposed with a woman being paid $12,000 a year for a full-time job.