Title: Face Offs & Cheap Shots (CU Hockey #2)
Author: Eden Finley & Saxon James
Genre: Romance
Publisher: Amazon/Self
Heat: 4 Flames
Rating: 4 Hearts
Synopsis via Goodreads:
JACOBS
For the last three years, I’ve lived and breathed hockey with one goal: team captain.
There’s only one thing standing in my way. TJ Beckett.
Beck is irresponsible and immature, and I’ve hated him since the moment we met freshman year.
Yet, the coaches see something in him I obviously can’t, and they refuse to choose between us. The captain spot is going to a team vote, and the team thinks that what we need are a bunch of challenges to prove our worth. Challenges that have nothing to do with hockey. Challenges that are throwing me and Beck together.
And he’s still as infuriating as ever.BECK
I have no idea why Christopher Jacobs hates me, and I can’t say I care. I like pushing his buttons, but the guy needs to loosen up. I’m going to win these stupid challenges easily and spend my senior year as hockey king on this campus.
Tormenting Jacobs at the same time will just be a bonus.
Even if I’m getting confusing feelings toward him, I won’t let it hold me back.
When it comes to competing, I’m all in, and nothing will get between me and the W.
Review: This book gave me a permagrin. I loved it! Beck could be a little OTT at times, but the rivalry between these two was delicious and at times, hilarious. It gets even more intense when they discover that the team is going to decide who will be captain between Beck and Jacobs. These two could not be more different. Beck appears to be a free spirit that comes from a very wealthy family and doesn’t take life too seriously, Jacobs, on the other hand, has worked his ass off to get to where he is and is completely incensed that he is not a shoe-in for captain that he has fought so hard to attain.
The two of them discover that the rivalry was likely sexual tension and they start fooling around.
“Fucking shut up, Beck.” His mouth slams against mine, and I stumble back, but I don’t get far because his big hands are there to hold me and pull me against him, and I pray to God he doesn’t let go.
But because Beck is still Beck, we have his trademark snark to provide the comic relief that endears him to me.
He steps closer until we’re toe to toe. “Someone thinks they’re clever”
“And someone wants the D.”
“I am a D-man.”
“Nervous?” Jacobs asks. “Does it feel like I’m nervous” I move our joined hands over my crotch, because I’m classy as fuck.
What I really enjoyed about this story is that since we did not see much of them in the first book, we got to see them grow as characters and show some vulnerability. As the book progresses, we see the layers of both of them fall away to reveal more of the people they are underneath the personas they are known for on the ice.
“Careful. You’re giving off the impression you might like me a teeny, tiny bit.” I smile against his mouth.
“Ridiculous.”
“Completely crazy.”
I kiss him again before pulling myself away. Before the elevator doors can close again, I throw back over my shoulder, “I think I like you a little bit more than that.”
I really loved these two and I’d be willing to bet that this will be my favorite couple of the series. While it’s not Heated Rivalry, which is probably my new #1 all-time favorite, it is a good enemies-to-lovers story that is well worth the read. It gave me the warm & fuzzies more than once while also being pretty steamy too!
Purchase Link | Amazon
This title is also part of the Kindle Unlimited library.
