I am never disappointed in a book by Kelly Jamieson and while I felt like the relationship got a bit lost in this book, I was rooting for this couple who were so good together. Talk Hockey to Me was a wonderful addition to the Bears Hockey series. ~ Slick – Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews
Synopsis:
Timing. Hockey careers are made or broken on it, and mine has taken exceptionally broken road. I’m not a star. I’m a grinder, I work hard, and I’m finally at the point I can put the past behind me and get the fat, long-term contract I deserve.
But my agent–the man who stuck by me through every crash and burn–has had a heart attack. I need another agent now, or my one chance for the good money will slip through my fingers. Kate’s a rookie, but she loves the game like I do, so I pick up the phone. And I wonder if she remembers that one night in Cancun as vividly as I do.
Kate
Hockey. All my life I’ve lived it, breathed it, played it. Now it’s my business. As an agent, I’m tied to my phone at all hours, but nothing prepared me to hear Hunter’s voice. The last time I saw him–three years ago–there was a lot of bare skin and horny hormones involved.
I’ve handled it all in my short career–sexism, harassment, being broke, being laughed at. Resisting the attraction between us should be easy. Until it isn’t. And Hunter’s past shakes his confidence hard enough that he could make the worst decision at the worst possible time…
The third book in Kelly Jamieson’s Bears Hockey series deals with some serious issues that aren’t always discussed in sports or by men, mental health and the treatment of women involved in various aspects of professional sports. I applaud Ms. Jamieson for bringing these issues into her book and for the way it was handled. I enjoyed this book although it felt a bit heavier at times than her normal work and I felt like the relationship got a bit lost because of the unique situation the hero and heroine were in. Don’t get me wrong, it was still a good book but I would have liked more time with the hero and heroine as a couple instead of business associates. While it was obvious these two had a fantastic friendship and yes that is always a good foundation for a relationship but they spent a lot of time reminiscing about the past instead of learning about the people they’ve become over 5 years or so they were apart.
Hunter Morrisette and Kate Bridges were both star hockey players in college and became friends during that time. Hunter was a bit older having delayed college after a tragedy left him broken and with PTSD. Kate was enjoying being a student an on her own after taking over the care of her younger brother and assisting her dad after her mother passed away when she was 16. Shown in a flashback towards the beginning of the book, we get the run-down of their college years and the fact that over their time there they became friends and then one night on a trip to Cancun with their friends they crossed the line after too much tequila. Hunter leaves and Kate realizes that she while she had feelings he obviously didn’t and while he had a good reason for going one she understood more than most, it still stung. Now 5 years later, Hunter needs a new agent and he wants her and while she knows she’ll do the best job or him she’s not sure she can be around him in any capacity.
I loved the friendship between these two and it was easy to see they understood one another very well. On top of that there was a good dose of appreciation and admiration going both ways which gave them a very good foundation from which to work. While Kate is determined to get him the best contract both monetarily and time wise, Hunter is adamant about not playing for the team that wants him the most no matter what something Kate pushes him on. I appreciated that Kate challenged Hunter and made him face his fears even when he didn’t want to because they were holding him back from getting what he wanted out of his career.
Bringing in Easton and Josh from the first two books in this series who were also in the accident that caused Hunter’s PTSD brought to light how they were all affected by it and helped them to put things into perspective and figure out a way to move forward. Having these three young hockey players be the face of Mental Health issues in this work of fiction is something that would be so helpful in real life.
Add in Kate who was not only smart, but tough and resilient as a sports agent in a “man’s world” and you have to very likeable characters you can’t help rooting for. I love the time spent with Kate’s dad and brother and the heart to heart talk with her Dad as he brought up his concerns about what her relationship with Hunter could do to her fledgling business forcing her to look at things from all angles.
I am never disappointed in a book by Kelly Jamieson and while I felt like the relationship got a bit lost in this book, I was rooting for this couple who were so good together. Talk Hockey to Me was a wonderful addition to the Bears Hockey series.
4 stars
