ARC Review, Excerpt & Giveway: 5 Stars for Rookie Move by Sarina Bowen

The first novel in a sexy new series featuring the hockey players of the Brooklyn Bruisers and the women who win their hearts—from the USA Today bestselling author of the Ivy Years series.

In high school they were the perfect couple—until the day Georgia left Leo in the cold...

Hockey player Leo Trevi has spent the last six years trying to do two things: get over the girl who broke his heart, and succeed in the NHL. But on the first day he’s called up to the newly franchised Brooklyn Bruisers, Leo gets checked on both sides, first by the team’s coach—who has a long simmering grudge, and then by the Bruisers’ sexy, icy publicist—his former girlfriend Georgia Worthington.

Saying goodbye to Leo was one of the hardest things Georgia ever had to do—and saying hello again isn’t much easier. Georgia is determined to keep their relationship strictly professional, but when a press conference microphone catches Leo declaring his feelings for her, things get really personal, really fast....

PreOrder Here!

Amazon |  Barnes & Noble | iBooks | Kobo

Excerpt

“Come right this way,” Georgia heard her coworker and roommate Becca say, the clomp of her Dr. Martens echoing through the grand old passageway. “Nate is excited to meet you.” Becca was the owner’s assistant, and Georgia lingered half a second to wave her down and offer her a donut, too.

But Becca didn’t happen to look in Georgia’s direction as she led a tall man down the corridor. Something about his gait snagged Georgia’s subconscious. So she took a second look.

And that’s when her heart took off like a manic bunny rabbit. Because she knew that man. She knew the chiseled shape of his masculine jaw, and the length of his coal-black eyelashes.

Oh my God.

Omigod, omigod, omigod.

“How was your flight?” Becca asked him, oblivious to the fact that Georgia was spying.

“Not too bad. I got in late last night.”

The sound of his voice fluttered right inside Georgia’s chest. It was the same smoky sweet timbre that used to whisper into her ear while they made love. She hadn’t let herself remember that sound in a long time.

Now it was giving her goosebumps. The good kind.

“Welcome to Brooklyn,” Becca said while Georgia trembled. “Are you familiar with the area?”

“Grew up about thirty miles from here,” he answered while chills broke out across her back.

Holding her breath, Georgia eased her office door further closed, until only a couple of inches remained. She could not be caught like this—freaked-out and speechless, hiding behind a door.

The movement caught Becca’s eye, though. Georgia saw her turn her head in her direction and then pick her out in the crack where the door was still open. Becca raised one eyebrow—the one with the barbell piercing in it.

All Georgia could do was close her eyes and pray that Becca wouldn’t call out a greeting.

There was a pause before Georgia heard Becca say, “Right this way, please.”

Quietly, Georgia stepped into her office and shut the door. After flipping on the light, she let her briefcase and pocketbook slide right to the floor. Only the folder that Nate had given her was still in her shaking hands. She flipped it open, her eyes searching for the new player’s name on the page.

But she didn’t even need the paperwork to confirm what her racing heart had already figured out. The newest player for the Brooklyn Bruisers was none other than Leonardo “Leo” Trevi, a six-foot-two, left-handed forward. Also known as her high school boyfriend, the boy she’d loved with all her heart until the day that she’d dumped him. And now he was here?

“Thanks, universe,” she whispered into the stillness of her office.

What I thought about Rookie Move

Sarina Bowen starts a new series with the wonderfully romantic Rookie Move, set against the backdrop of the fictional NHL team franchise, the Brooklyn Bruisers.

Georgia Worthington is "number three" for the Bruisers, and although she hasn't officially been handled the title of director, she's in charge of publicity for the team. As she prepares for the press conference to announce the new coach of the team, who just happens to be her father, father and daugher are both in for a huge surprise.

Leo Trevi has worked hard to achieve his dream of playing in the NHL, working his way up through the minors to a position on the Bruisers.  His world is about to tilt when he discovers his new coach hates him already and the woman who dumped him in high school works for the team. 

So starts one of the most romantic sports books I've read this year.  In this second chance story, Georgia and Leo have much to deal with -- he's a rookie with a coach who wants to trade him before he even gets to play, and she's still dealing with a very traumatic life-changing past. Rookie Move is the story of their road back to each other.

Leo is the star of the book, at least for me. He's the perfect alpha man -- strong and commanding when he needs to be, and super sexy and sensitive with those he loves. He had my heart early on and I just loved him more as the story progressed.  Georgia also struck a chord with me -- she's focused on her career and has to deal with being a woman in a male oriented field. She's worked hard to get over what happened to her and not let it define her. It didn't take long for me to get invested in Leo and Georgia's happiness.

There's lots for Georgia and Leo to work through and Rookie Move deals with a lot of emotions in a very realistic and loving way that made my heart swell when it looked like they were making progress and hurt when they fell a step in their journey back together.  
  
The Brooklyn Bruisers and the trade deadline give this book awesome pacing and made me feel like I had an insider's view of the team. Rookie Move also included some well-described on-ice scenes that I absolutely enjoyed.  I love it when a sports romance actually includes some page time for the sport and Rookie Move had some really engaging on-ice and off-ice team scenes that I loved and don't want to spoil. 

The team and it's management provide a nice set of likeable secondary characters (although I'm not sure about Odoul guy) and it was great to revisit with DJ from the Ivy Years series. I might be little partial to the team shrink too.*wink*

Sarina Bowen's story telling just gets better and better with each book I read from her.  This is a fabulous start to this series. Readers are going to be fighting over Leo for book-boyfriend. Rookie Move left me with a huge smile on my face, and I can't ask for much more than that.

Recommended.

ARC provided for review.  
 

 

Flash Giveaway
Thank you Berkley Publishing!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the Author

Sarina Bowen is a USA Today bestselling author of contemporary romance. She lives in Vermont's Green Mountains with her family, six chickens and too much ski gear and hockey equipment.

http://www.sarinabowen.com
 
https://twitter.com/SarinaBowen

https://www.facebook.com/authorsarinabowen?fref=ts