Sure Shot by Sarina Bowen

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Title: Sure Shot
Author: Sarina Bowen
Series: Brooklyn #4
Published by: Indie
Release Date: May 12, 2020
Format: eARC
Pages: 307
Genres: Sports Romance, Romance, Contemporary
Source: the author
Reading Challenges: Lenoreo's 2020 New Release Challenge, Lenoreo's COYER Quarantine Edition
Find it: Goodreads ✩ Amazon ✩ B&N ✩ Google ✩ Kobo ✩ iBooks ✩ IndieBound ✩ Book Depository
My rating:

Blurb:

A new stand-alone hockey romance from USA Today bestseller Sarina Bowen.

On the eve of her thirtieth birthday, sports agent Bess Beringer is ready to make some changes. Armed with a five-year plan—indexed and color coded—she’ll tackle her personal life with the same zeal that she brings to her successful agency.

A big, tall, ripped hunk of hockey player who’s just been traded to the Brooklyn Bruisers is not a part of that plan. Mark “Tank” Tankiewicz has a lot of baggage. He’s a ride-or-die loner with a bad reputation. He’s on the rebound. He’s also the sexiest thing on two legs, and for some crazy reason it’s Bess that he wants.

She knows better. But then she falls stupid in love with him anyway. And for a while it seems like maybe he’ll do the same.

Until she asks him for the one thing he can never give her…

My Review:

I received a free copy through the author in exchange for an honest and unbiased review/opinion.

4 stars — This was a solid Sarina Bowen read — you got heart, you got fantastic relationships between characters, you got some insightful looks into issues facing couples that often aren’t discussed…

I really appreciated all the layers to Tank’s character.  I can’t go into all of them, because it would be spoilery — but he deals with some pretty big issues, and I appreciated the deep dive into all of that.  I mean, sure, he still made some boneheaded book boy moves (lack of communication anyone?)…but at least I understood a little bit why he was reluctant to talk about things.  I loved seeing him trying to work through all the changes going on in his life, and trying to fit in with a new team that used to be his rivals.  I appreciated the way he went after what he wanted from Bess, and didn’t shy away from it.  And I liked that he didn’t take too long ruminating over his feelings…his hang ups were about other things.

Bess was a fun, sassy, thoughtful heroine.  I appreciated all the things that were going on in her life, and that she was taking the time to really think about what she wanted out of life.  She had so many human aspects to her, it was so easy to feel for her over the lasting marks of her crappy childhood.  I loved seeing her develop friendships with Becca and Georgia, and I loved seeing the friendship she already had with Zara.  I appreciated the things she struggled with.

I thought Tank and Bess had pretty solid chemistry.  I loved how comfortable and natural they were with one another.  At the same time, I wasn’t totally sucked into the steaminess — but I’m starting to wonder if that’s me (since it seems to be a common refrain from recent books).

I think the standout for me in this story were all the other relationships that we got glimpses of — from Tank with his new teammates, Bess with her new girlfriends, Bess and Eric, both Bess and Tank with Henry…there was just so much goodness there.  There were fun antics, heartfelt moments, just so much for me to latch onto.  I especially loved the hints of a women’s hockey team — PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE say new spinoff series!!

As a totally random aside, I will admit that seeing my home province mentioned, even in super brief passing, was super exciting for me.  Saskatchewanian for life!

So why not a higher rating?  I was a teeny bit bummed at one of the aspects of the ending.  I predicted it from a mile away, but I had honestly been wanting the opposite…because it’s the less typical story ender.  But what are you going to do?  I honestly think most readers will be thrilled with the ending we got, I’m just kind of a weirdo.

So yeah.  This was a solid Sarina Bowen offering.  What I love about her characters is that everyone gravitates towards different ones as their favourites, and while these two weren’t my absolute faves, I still connected with them and loved their journey.