Hard Hitter

Patrick O'Doul is a professional hockey player for the Brooklyn Bruisers and the team's enforcer - known for fighting on the ice. When the team hires a new massage therapist, Ari Bettini, their paths intersect as she helps treat his mounting injuries. Ari carries trauma from her past relationship and maintains strict boundaries with her clients. O'Doul struggles with chronic pain, sleep issues, and an increasing dependence on massage therapy to stay in the game. Their professional relationship begins to shift as they discover unexpected connections. The story follows their developing relationship against the backdrop of professional hockey, exploring themes of trust, healing, and the challenge of letting down emotional walls. The plot incorporates elements of sports, romance, and personal growth while depicting the physical demands of professional athletics. This contemporary romance examines how past experiences shape current relationships and the ways people adapt to move forward. The narrative touches on serious subjects including addiction, recovery, and the impact of professional sports on athletes' bodies and minds.

Readers found this sports romance engaging, with particular praise for the chemistry between physical therapist Lauren and hockey player Patrick. Many noted the realistic portrayal of chronic pain and addiction issues. Likes: - Character development, especially Patrick's vulnerability - Medical details felt authentic - Steamy scenes balanced with emotional depth - Hockey team dynamics Dislikes: - Some found the pacing slow in the middle - Lauren's ex-boyfriend subplot felt unnecessary to many readers - A few readers wanted more hockey action scenes Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (8,700+ ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (450+ ratings) Notable reader comments: "The author handles Patrick's massage therapy and pain management with sensitivity" - Goodreads reviewer "Lauren's profession added depth to the usual sports romance formula" - Amazon reviewer "Would have preferred less focus on the ex drama and more on the main relationship" - BookBub reviewer

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🎾 "Hard Hitter" is part of Sarina Bowen's Brooklyn Bruisers series, which follows a professional hockey team, yet uniquely features a yoga instructor as one of the main characters. 🏒 Author Sarina Bowen played hockey herself at Yale University, lending authentic details to her sports romance novels. 💪 The book tackles serious themes including domestic abuse and addiction while maintaining the romance genre's requirement for an optimistic ending. 🌟 The novel was praised by Publishers Weekly for its sensitive handling of difficult subjects and the realistic portrayal of professional athletes' physical and emotional challenges. 📚 Though part of a series, "Hard Hitter" is written as a standalone story, allowing readers to enjoy it without having read the previous books in the Brooklyn Bruisers series.