Jacqueline's Reads: Rookie Move (Brooklyn Bruisers #1) by Sarina Bowen [REVIEW]

Hockey player Leo Trevi has spent the last six years trying to do two things: get over the girl who broke his heart, and succeed in the NHL. But on the first day he’s called up to the newly franchised Brooklyn Bruisers, Leo gets checked on both sides, first by the team’s coach—who has a long simmering grudge, and then by the Bruisers’ sexy, icy publicist—his former girlfriend Georgia Worthington.

Saying goodbye to Leo was one of the hardest things Georgia ever had to do—and saying hello again isn’t much easier. Georgia is determined to keep their relationship strictly professional, but when a press conference microphone catches Leo declaring his feelings for her, things get really personal, really fast....

4.5 Hot, Wow, Yes! YAY! Stars
I usually post my reviews closer to publication date, but since I’m going on leave soon, I wanted everyone to know what a wonderful story I just read.

I could seriously binge read Sarina Bowen books. I recently started to read this author and I can’t believe I went years without discovering her. I’ve read the reviews and they are all true. Her books are fabulous!

I’m not a mega fan of sports theme books, but I do love a good hockey player book and Leo is the next alpha male Hero to watch out for. I loved Rookie Move and it’s a sweet second chance novel that I couldn’t put down. I read this book cover to cover.

Leo and Georgia dated in high school. They were soul mates until something happened to Georgia and everything changed. What I love most about this read is that I love a good second chance novel and I love that Georgia’s issues weren’t the big mysterious plot twist of the book. Oh no, it was an interesting point of the book, but there’s so much more to the story and I felt like that made the writing really fresh and new.

Georgia is the PR rep for the hockey team ad Leo is the new rookie player. They haven’t seen each other in years and it feels awkward, but they power through for the sake of team. I love the dynamics between Leo and Georgia. I love how they don’t know how to act around each other, but there’s this crazy chemistry and bond between the two. I couldn’t get enough of it.

Leo is still attracted to Georgia, but it’s been years and he doesn’t know how to pursue her. Georgia is confused and going through the emotions.

Rookie Move was everything I looked for in a sport theme light-hearted read. It was engaging, it had characters I could connect to and the writing flowed easily. I was really happy with this book and I recommend to everyone!

An ARC was provided

“Come right this way,” Georgia heard her coworker and roommate Becca say, the clomp of her Dr. Martens echoing through the grand old passageway. “Nate is excited to meet you.” Becca was the owner’s assistant, and Georgia lingered half a second to wave her down and offer her a donut, too.
But Becca didn’t happen to look in Georgia’s direction as she led a tall man down the corridor. Something about his gait snagged Georgia’s subconscious. So she took a second look.
And that’s when her heart took off like a manic bunny rabbit. Because she knew that man. She knew the chiseled shape of his masculine jaw, and the length of his coal-black eyelashes.
Oh my God.

Omigod, omigod, omigod.
“How was your flight?” Becca asked him, oblivious to the fact that Georgia was spying.
“Not too bad. I got in late last night.”
The sound of his voice fluttered right inside Georgia’s chest. It was the same smoky sweet timbre that used to whisper into her ear while they made love. She hadn’t let herself remember that sound in a long time.

Now it was giving her goosebumps. The good kind.
“Welcome to Brooklyn,” Becca said while Georgia trembled. “Are you familiar with the area?”
“Grew up about thirty miles from here,” he answered while chills broke out across her back.
Holding her breath, Georgia eased her office door further closed, until only a couple of inches remained. She could not be caught like this—freaked-out and speechless, hiding behind a door.
The movement caught Becca’s eye, though. Georgia saw her turn her head in her direction and then pick her out in the crack where the door was still open. Becca raised one eyebrow—the one with the barbell piercing in it.

All Georgia could do was close her eyes and pray that Becca wouldn’t call out a greeting.
There was a pause before Georgia heard Becca say, “Right this way, please.”

Quietly, Georgia stepped into her office and shut the door. After flipping on the light, she let her briefcase and pocketbook slide right to the floor. Only the folder that Nate had given her was still in her shaking hands. She flipped it open, her eyes searching for the new player’s name on the page.

But she didn’t even need the paperwork to confirm what her racing heart had already figured out. The newest player for the Brooklyn Bruisers was none other than Leonardo “Leo” Trevi, a six-foot-two, left-handed forward. Also known as her high school boyfriend, the boy she’d loved with all her heart until the day that she’d dumped him. And now he was here?

“Thanks, universe,” she whispered into the stillness of her office.