As team captain and enforcer, Patrick O'Doul puts the bruise in the Brooklyn Bruisers. But after years of hard hits, O'Doul is feeling the burn, both physically and mentally. He conceals his pain from his coach and trainers, but when his chronic hip injury becomes too obvious to ignore, they send him for sessions with the team’s massage therapist.

After breaking up with her long-term boyfriend, Ari Bettini is in need of peace of mind. For now, she’s decided to focus on her work: rehabilitating the Bruisers’ MVP. O'Doul is easy on the eyes, but his reaction to her touch is ice cold. Ari is determined to help O'Doul heal, but as the tension between them turns red hot, they both learn that a little TLC does the body good

Hard Hitter - Sarina Bowen Well, that was quick. 3.5

It was a nice piece of fluffy romance without gobs of angst despite a fairly hefty plot line, a sweet heroine, a sweet and devoted hero. And a Minnesota boy to boot. I'm not completely sure how he went from foster/group home to excellent hockey player but details...(hockey is expensive-many middle-income families choose which kid will play hockey etc etc, just saying)

All likable characters, with a plot line that was enough to add tension but not too much to distract and a sweet story overall.

Hard Hitter - Sarina Bowen 4 stars

I really liked O'Doul from Rookie Move, so I was looking forward to reading his story. At first I didn't find that there was much chemistry between Patrick and Ari, and I was a little disappointed. Maybe I wasn't totally behind Ari as his love interest. I'll be honest; a yoga instructor just isn't on my list of to-die-for occupations. It's like my disinterest in chef characters. While I love to eat, I have no love for cooking.

Just as I was ready to write the book off, something happened. The relationship between O'Doul and Ari ignited. Set my Kindle on FIRE. Then I couldn't read Hard Hitter fast enough. Even the idiot, stalker ex boyfriend didn't dampen my enthusiasm for the story. I found Patrick intriguing. Here is a tough guy who gets tied up in knots at the thought of fighting, and who hates being touched. Wow. To help get himself through some games at the level he expected for himself, he did something dumb. Something he regretted and wished he could erase from his history. He bought uppers in a bar. From Ari's psycho ex. And now he's afraid that that one stupid, stupid decision is going to blow up in his face. And is does. Big time.

While trying to dodge her increasingly threatening ex, Ari tries to avoid a romantic relationship with Patrick. She's never been on her own, having moved in with Vince when she was twenty-one, and she stayed with him for eight years, only breaking up with him after a scary, violent incident finally convinced her that her life would be happier, and longer, if she kicked him out of her house. While trying to stick to her plan for a single life-style, to enjoy getting to know herself better and stretch her wings of independence, she finds that she keeps sabotaging herself by caving into her insatiable desire for O'Doul. Ari keeps beating herself up for not sticking to her guns, but seriously - who could resist this guy? I have a soft spot for big, tough, yet tender heroes, and Patrick is one of the best of them.

This was a fun, diverting read. I enjoyed getting to know the hockey players better, as well as the supporting staff. The next book in series features Lauren and Mike, and while I'd rather read more about Becca and Nate, I'm looking forward to digging into Pipe Dreams.

This is the 2nd book in the Brooklyn Bruisers series.  This can be read as a standalone novel.  For reader enjoyment and understanding, I recommend reading the series in order.

 

Patrick has been hot for Ariana AKA Ari for a while.  Every time she is near, he feels the heat turn up to scalding.  The problem is she has not seemed to notice him in return.

 

Ari loves her job, and does not want to have to choose Patrick over the terrific position she has now.  She is worried her boss would not approve of the employees connection.  With all that she is still facing from past problems, she is afraid to try again.

 

This series is full of hot men!  I found myself laughing and crying right along with the characters.  I love how hockey can be hot and fun at the same time.  I give this book a 4/5 Kitty's Paws UP!

Sarina Bowen Hard Hitter is a smash.  Team captain and enforcer, Patrick O'Doul, does not like to be touched.  After suffering a hip injury, he has no choice but to seek help from the team’s massage therapist, Ariana (Ari) Bettini.  This contemporary sports romance is suitable for new adult and adult audiences.

 

When we were introduced to Patrick O'Doul in book one, Rookie Move, I was not a fan of his.  However, the more I got to know him; I really began to like him.  He had a trying childhood, being raised in a group home in Minnesota.  It explains a lot about his personality.  Ari is the perfect person to be assigned as Patrick’s message therapist.  With Ari’s help, he grows a lot throughout this story.  He is a good guy who owns up to his mistakes.  I like that he begins to open-up to his team mates because of his relationship with Ari.

 

I really like Ari.  She had a difficult breakup with her boyfriend of eight years, Vince.  He got himself into some trouble, which unfortunately spills over into her life.  Patrick finds himself trying to protect Ari from her Ex, whom he happens to know.  It causes some fascinating controversy in the story.

 

I really enjoyed the plot.  There were a lot of interesting details and twists.  HARD HITTER is fast paced a and kept me focused from start to finish.  I like how the chapters stared with the team’s standings.  I also like that “No Sleep Till Brooklyn” by the Beastie Boys is the Bruisers’ theme song.  Sarina Bowen does an amazing job with her second book in the Brooklyn Bruisers series.  I cannot wait to read Mike Beacon’s and Lauren Williams’ story next in book three, PIPE DREAMS.  I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.