This is book # 3, in the Brooklyn Bruisers series.  This book can be read as a standalone novel.  For reader enjoyment and to avoid spoilers, I recommend reading this great series in order.

Lauren loves her job.  Today, she hates her job.  She has to come in contact with her past and the only man she has ever loved.  There might not be enough to drink in the world.

Mike knows he messed up big time.  Every single time he and Lauren are in the same room together the old pain is back.  He wants to help her heal, but he wants her to himself.

This story tore me apart.  I felt all the emotions.  These characters are already so real to me  Great addition to the series.  I give this book a 4/5 Kitty's Paws UP!

This was a quaint old mystery, and the writing was suffused with a surprising amount of humour (it helped birth the “character sets pocket on fire with pipe” shelf). Originally published in 1908, the narrator is an elderly spinster who gets mired in a murder investigation when she leases a house in the country for the summer. The mystery had a lot of twisty bits but I got tired of the endless foreshadowing. That said, it was still a fun read, and I might seek out more of Rinehart’s books in the future.

I read this for booklikes-opoly Free Friday #1. I’ve seen different page numbers (I actually read the Gutenberg version), so I’m going with 192, which seems reasonable and nets me $4 for my bank (new total: $136).

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20 %

8 %

Series: Amelia Peabody #1

I didn’t like the tone this book started off with, and I found Amelia really annoying, at least at the start. She grew on me once she picked up Evelyn as a companion, however. I did like their interactions. Amelia, a rich Englishwoman, has travelled to Rome from where she plans to sail on to Egypt to winter voyaging up the Nile when she encounters Evelyn, who seems a suitable replacement for the paid companion who had recently become ill and had to be sent back home. So Amelia and Evelyn both set off for Egypt where they do some sightseeing and hire a boat to take them up the Nile. Partway through their voyage they fetch up at an archaeological dig where strange happenings occur and a mummy seems to have come back from the dead. Maybe. That’s the mystery.

I had guessed a lot about the resolution of the mystery although I’ll admit I hadn’t quite worked out every detail. I ended up enjoying the book despite the rough beginning, so I may look into whether my library has the next one. Eventually.

I read this for booklikes-opoly square New Orleans Station #14 “Read a book that involves overseas travel”. Since Amelia has travelled first to Rome and then travels on to Egypt, I think the book fits. At 226 pages, with the new rules in effect, this nets me $6 for my bank, bringing my total balance to $132. Yay!

Previous update:

72 %

Author: Sarina Bowen

Title: Pipe Dreams

Series: Brooklyn Bruisers

Cover Rating:

Book Rating:

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Mike Beacon is a champion at defending the net, but off the ice, he’s not so lucky. A widower and a single father, he’s never forgotten Lauren Williams, the ex who gave him the best year of his life. When Lauren reappears in the Bruisers office during the playoffs, Beacon sees his chance to make things right.

Lauren hates that she’s forced to travel with the team she used to work for and the man who broke her heart. There’s still undeniable sexual tension running between her and Mike, but she won’t go down that road again. She’s focused on her plans for the future—she doesn’t need a man to make her dreams of motherhood come true.

Lauren plays her best defensive game, but she’s no match for the dark-eyed goalie. When the field of play moves to Florida, things heat up on the beach.

One of Mike’s biggest fans doesn’t approve—his teenage daughter. But a true competitor knows not to waste the perfect shot at love.

Pipe Dreams was a book I almost didn't finish, it almost landed in my DNF pile. I can't believe it. A Sarina Bowen book. But I just could not for the life of me get past the whole reason for the new relationship, or how Mike just went about going into it, I didn't like him as a husband, I didn't like him as a father, I didn't like him at all.

Mike was one of those characters that constantly put me off everything he did and why he was doing it. I just couldn't get past it.

Lauren deserved a better partner out of the deal, she was a decent chick but I just didn't think that she and Mike were a good fit.

Until next time book lovers...

Krissys Bookshelf Reviews received a print copy in exchange for an honest review from Berkley Publishing. All thoughts, comments and ratings are my own.

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Pipe Dreams (A Brooklyn Bruisers Novel) - Sarina Bowen 

I'm such a sucker for second chance romance, but I have to admit, I was sure the way this was going to go. I should have known that I was in good hands with my girl, Sarina Bowen, because PIPE DREAMS was the stuff I get in a puddle of girl goo over.

Mike and Jessica have a past. They spent a wonderful year together, but while Jessica was planning for their future, Mike was heading back to his ex-wife and daughter. Their relationship needless to say didn't end on a positive note.

But now they are back in each other's presence. Jessica is having to work in the front office for the Brooklyn Bruisers, her basic nightmare come to life. She doesn't know how she's going to get through the playoffs having to see him again after spending the last two years avoiding anything dealing with hockey. Now that she's around him all the time and the sexual tension is running high. The past is still in their way though, not to mention Mike's teenage daughter who does not approve of Mike's blossoming relationship with Jessica.

I really enjoyed this one. I did, and it was just about perfect. I was so mad at Mike. He messed up big time with Jessica. And now, he's coming back two years later wanting to just pick up where he left off. I'm glad that Jessica made him work for him a bit. i didn't want it to be too easy. I felt for him. I know it couldn't have been easy to be a single father and widower. But, I wanted to strangle him for just not opening up to Jessica right from the start.

I loved how hot these two were together. Mike was yummy. Just scrumptious. The sexual tension was off the charts and when they finally did...wow. I just don't know how Jessica was able to hold off as long as she did. I don't think I would have been able to.

My only issue with PIPE DREAMS is that I wish we saw them being a couple a little longer before it went right into the HEA. We saw a lot of their past but they didn't build together in the present as much. I wanted to relish that more. I felt like that was missing. Other than that, this one was perfect!

PIPE DREAMS is the third book in the Brooklyn Bruisers series. It could easily be read as a standalone, but I think that if you start with this book, I guarantee that you will go back and read books one and two. I found this author when finding the Ivy Years series and I fell in love with the way she writes. I love the stories of the characters, and PIPE DREAMS was no different. I just can't wait to see who will be next to fall in the story.

*Advanced Reader's Copy provided by NetGalley and Publisher in exchange for an honest review*