Zack
Cold Fury Hockey # 3
Cold Fury Hockey # 3
By: Sawyer Bennett
Releasing June 9, 2015
Loveswept
Blurb
New York Times bestselling author Sawyer Bennett goes for a hat trick with the latest romance in a sexy series about cool-as-ice hockey players and the women heating up their lives.
Warning:
The following contains spoilers from a cliffhanger in Garrett.
Rising star Zack Grantham has been stuck in
a downward spiral of grief that has put his career on hold. Back on the road
with the Carolina Cold Fury, still crippled by emotional baggage, and now a
single dad, he’s in need of some serious help with his son. But while the nerdy
new nanny wins his son’s heart, Zack isn’t sure he’s ready for a woman’s
touch—even after getting a glimpse of the killer curves she’s hiding under
those baggy clothes.
Kate Francis usually keeps men like Zack at
a distance. Though his athlete’s body is honed to perfection, he refuses to
move on with his life—and besides, he’s her boss. Still, the sparks between
them are undeniable, tempting Kate to turn their professional relationship into
a personal one. But before she makes a power play for Zack’s wounded heart,
Kate will have to open him up again and show him that love is worth the fight.
Link to Follow Tour: http://www.tastybooktours.com/2015/03/zack-cold-fury-hockey-3-by-sawyer.html
Goodreads
Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23834720-zack?ac=1
Goodreads Series Link: https://www.goodreads.com/series/125350-cold-fury-hockey
Goodreads Series Link: https://www.goodreads.com/series/125350-cold-fury-hockey
Author Info
USA Today and New York Times Best-Selling Author, Sawyer
Bennett is a snarky southern woman and reformed trial lawyer who
decided to finally start putting on paper all of the stories that were
floating in her head. Her husband works for a Fortune 100 company which
lets him fly all over the world while she stays at home with their
daughter and three big, furry dogs who hog the bed. Sawyer would like to report she doesn’t have many weaknesses but can be bribed with a nominal amount of milk chocolate.
Sawyer
is the author of several contemporary romances including the popular
Off Series, the Legal Affairs Series and the Last Call Series. She will
be releasing her third book in the Cold Fury Hockey Series with Random
House Loveswept, June 2015.
Website: http://sawyerbennett.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bennettbooks
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BennettBooks
Rafflecopter Giveaway (Loveswept & FLIRT
Mugs and Select Ebook Bundle)
My heart feels like it’s going to leap out of my chest as I stand at the sink and wash the griddle clean. It’s actually kind of a pleasure to clean up in a kitchen like this. I’ve never been in a home this nice, and it’s hard not to stare around in wonder at all the shiny. His kitchen is übermodern, with sleek blond-oak cabinets and stainless-steel handles. The counters are done in black granite with flecks of gray throughout and the sink is a massive single bin made of some type of stone.Zack sits at the table on the opposite side of the L-shaped kitchen counter with Ben as they eat their breakfast. His eyes remain pinned on me, a mixture of anger and confusion.He clearly doesn’t like me and I have no clue why. I expect him at any moment to just fire me. I can see it in his eyes…That’s what he wants.There was a moment when Ben hurtled his little body at me that I cut a glance at Zack, and I saw fury wash over him. It scared me so bad, I almost ran out of the house right then. But I didn’t because I really, really, really need this job. Without it, I’m just one bus ticket away from being forced to return home to live with Daddy in our dingy tin can of a trailer in the backwoods of eastern North Carolina. And I promised myself when I left home five years ago, as much as I adore my daddy, I would never let that happen.So I pulled on all of my available confidence that I’ve built up over the years along with my sheer will to survive and promptly ignored Zack and his dirty looks and started to clean his kitchen. He didn’t say a word, just watched me as I worked and sometimes would make conversation with Ben.I’m just wiping down the counters when Zack picks up the empty plates and walks over to put them in the dishwasher. When he’s finished, he turns to Ben and says, “Why don’t you go upstairs and play in your room a bit? I need to talk to Kate about a few things.”“Can I watch TV?” Ben asks.“Sure,” Zack says, and Ben jets from the table and pounds his way upstairs.I rinse out the dishcloth in my hand, wring it, and then fold it over the faucet. Turning to Zack, I find him leaning a hip against the counter with his arms crossed defensively over his chest. His gaze is frosty when he says, “What exactly did Delaney tell you the job would consist of?”Man, he intimidates the hell out of me. He towers over me, and even though he has the face of an angel with dark brown hair and whiskey-colored eyes perfectly supported by a strong jaw, so much animosity is radiating off him that I think he may be the devil.I know all about Zack Grantham. That’s because I love sports. All kinds of sports, but in particular, Cold Fury hockey. When North Carolina got its first professional ice hockey team, I had just started sixth grade. But I remember sitting on the ratty green corduroy-covered couch in our trailer, and Daddy and I rooting for the Cold Fury. Of course, often he’d be drunk and passed out by the third period, but at least for two periods we’d have a good time bonding over our mutual love of the sport.I’ve followed the team closely ever since. Of course, I’ve never been to a live game, that being an absolute luxury I could have never afforded, but because every game is broadcast locally, I rarely miss one unless I’m studying for an important test or something. And because I follow the team so well, I know exactly who Zack Grantham is.He’s an amazing player and, truth be told, if I could afford a jersey, I’d probably get one with his name on it. Or maybe Alex Crossman’s. Or even Garrett Samuelson’s. About four months ago, Zack was in a terrible car accident that killed Ben’s mom, Gina, and caused him to be kept out of the first half of the season with a fractured wrist. That has apparently healed enough that he’s ready to return to the team, and thus the need for a nanny for Ben.I was utterly stunned when I got a call from his sister, Delaney, for an interview. I had posted my résumé and qualifications on a website for nanny services, knowing it would be a long shot because most of my experience came from helping my sister, Kelly, with her three kids, and other various babysitting jobs. But at this point, I needed work, so I was applying to every place I could think of.“Now you seem to have nothing to say,” Zack growls, and my body jerks over the derision in his voice.“Sorry,” I mutter. “Um…Delaney said you needed a live-in nanny for Ben. That the position would be full-time until he started school in the fall, and then part-time after that. She said I’d be responsible for his care when you weren’t here and that I’d have to do basic household chores and stuff.”Zack nods at me, unfurls his arms from across his chest, and rubs his chin thoughtfully. “Delaney thinks you’re right for this job. I’m going to have to trust her on that.”“I am,” I tell him earnestly. “I’ll take very good care of Ben.”“You’d better,” he growls at me so menacingly, I take an involuntary step backward. “If you harm one hair on my child’s head, I will make you regret it. Do you understand?”The scared country girl inside me wants to curl into the fetal position and just shrink away from the threat in his voice. But I’m not that young girl anymore. I’ve pulled myself out of crappy circumstances and made a new life for myself. I’ve worked hard over the years to build up my self-esteem, and I’m not about to let this man tear it down.Squaring my shoulders at him, I give him a stern look. “I appreciate your protectiveness of Ben, and I’d feel the same way about my own child. I can assure you, you have nothing to worry about. But I have to insist that you treat me with some type of respect for the position I hold. At the very least, you don’t want to teach your son it’s okay to threaten and intimidate women, do you?”Zack stares at me, his amber-colored eyes turning almost a dark brown. He blinks a few times and shakes his head. “Are you always this blunt?”“I’m always this honest,” I clarify for him.
Source: eARC for Honest Review Courtesy of Loveswept via NetGalley
Genre: Adult Sports Romance
Part 3 in an ongoing series
My Zack Review ...
I wasn't sure how this book was going to play
out with Zack losing his partner at the end of Garrett. But it was done
well. We find out the truth behind Zack and Gina which gives a chance
to root for him to try and find true love and his HEA.
After
the accident that Zack loses his girlfriend and breaks his wrist. He
has had a hard time letting go of the past and guilt and moving on. Thankfully he has his son Ben and the Cold Fury to give him
something to live for and make himself move foward.
With
the help of his sister, he's forced to hire a nanny to help with Ben.
This helps, hinders and haunts Zack. He needs the help, but has a hard
time rectifying that someone else besides Gina is going to help him
raise his son.
Kate has learned life the hard way
but it has never made her hard. She needs this job as Ben's nanny so
she can continue with her masters, but she didn't expect the road block of Zack.
She knows Zack is battling his own demons but she wants to try and make
it better for him. But how can she make it better when she hides
herself?
Kate has learned to cope by being in the
shadows and not sticking out, but Zack's able to see more than her baggy
clothes and large glasses. Now he just has to keep his thoughts to
himself as he doesn't want to cross the line with his son's nanny.
Sadly
until Kate, Zack has been void of all emotions and feelings except
guilt after the accident, until Kate walks into their lives. With Zack
being a bit clueless he convinces the sweet supportive giving Kate for a
sex only relationship. We all now that this choice is going to
backfire for both of them.
It
starts as sex only but quickly turns into more from both sides. Zack
is a character that at times you love to hate. He has so many things going
for him, but when it comes to Kate he's so daft that you just want to
wring his neck.
As for Kate she has nothing but love to give Ben and
Zack so when she's finally had enough your heart aches for her. But
Zack has many demons to slay before he sees what is and what has always
been right in front of him.
As usually Sawyer has done
a great job with their chemistry and undeniable passion for one another
as well as the angst and heartache between this couple. I know this is
a fiction book but having some friends in the NHL, its hard at times to
see discrepancies, that takes some of the wind from the sails for me
while reading. However, if I didn't have that connection it wouldn't be
noticed or effect the story for others.
Cute Story! Loved Kate and all her happy and sweetness. Loved Zack even though at times his demons tore him apart. These two are so sweet together once Zack got his head out of his ass.
I do quite
adore this series. Zack's book was great but I have to admit I can't
wait for Ryker's book I think its going to be great from just the brief
intro of Ryker in this book.
3.5 Inner demon slaying thumbs up!
. 5
Lauren
Thank you for hosting ZACK today!
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