“This was the stuff of fantasies. It was reckless and unexpected, and that made it even sweeter. Skin to skin, each new sensation was bright and overwhelming. “

Kindle 

This has one of my favorite troupes, second chance romance! As a bonus, we also get a hot hockey player, single dad, basically this book is my kryptonite. It’s the third book in the series and definitely my favorite which surprised me. Why, you ask? Because Lauren was an unlikely heroine at least I thought so.

 

Lauren was a very closed off, kind of mean side character that did not have a great first impression in the series. However, these can be the best kind of characters especially when mixed in with a great story. Their redemption is one I love because of their complicated, often extremely interesting backgrounds. Lauren hid a painful past that includes a fan favorite of the Brooklyn Bruisers. Once the layers of her story were revealed I was in shock, this was so surprising!

 

Lauren and Mike were set to have an awesome relationship when circumstances forced them apart. The book shows you how they started and I loved those little glances back. Mike is a character that I didn’t have to grow to love. His dedication to the sport and his teenage daughter proved he was a swoon worthy alpha hero that was ready to show Lauren he was HER #1 fan.

 

Mike pulls out the stops to win Lauren back. He has his work cut out for him because Lauren has completely changed. Their blossoming relationship came with many pitfalls but it was such a beauty to watch grow. Their chemistry is still red hot and not an issue. But, Lauren must figure out how she fits in Mike’s life with a full-blown teenager and it’s not easy. There’s one scene where they finally reach a point where they can talk that will pull at your heartstrings.

Series Order:

Rookie Move: http://amzn.to/2bRoFpp

Review of Rookie Move

Hard Hitter: http://amzn.to/2qNIaoX

Wow. I really enjoyed this second chance romance. Pipe Dreams is a well rounded story. The couple has tons of chemistry. We get lots of page time with them being a couple and you get to see why they love each other. There is new, current day story development, since they broke off their relationship two years before. There is a lot of emotion and there is a grovel. Our characters are people I can respect and so realistic. They act like the adults they are. They have responsibilities and they act on them, even when it breaks their hearts. And there is even a little hockey action! I wasn’t sure what to think once I saw there were flashbacks. I don’t like flashbacks. I feel like they take over the story. These did not, there were only a few flashbacks and the story was mostly told in present day. I did not want to stop reading this book.

I'd be lying if I didn't admit that I was a wee bit disappointed to find out this wasn't Nate and Becca's book when I read the blurb. I'd been waiting for their story for so long and I was convinced this would be it. Obviously it wasn't their story, but I did get a bit of Nate and Becca goodness during this story and, maybe more importantly, I fell head over heels for Mike and Lauren. There was no way not to love these two. 

Again, I'm a sucker for a great second chance romance and Sarina has a way of hitting those out of the park. (Wait, baseball idiom in a review about a hockey book? Just go with it. *wink*) She definitely did with Pipe Dreams. To say Mike and Lauren's past was complicated would be an understatement. They met and started dating while Mike was married, but after he caught his wife was cheating on him. We find out the progression of their relationship and split through a series of flashbacks. It was obvious how REAL the thing was between them from the very beginning. Once tragedy struck, they split and it broke my heart. I just loved these two together so much. 

Mike had a lot of lost ground to make up for once Lauren was back in his life. And boy did he ever. I might've had some issues with how he handled things in the past, but there's no denying the man was swoony. He was all in for Lauren, even as she pushed him away and continued to focus on her career and plans for the future. Did I mention I loved Lauren? This wasn't a situation where a breakup totally broke a woman. I mean yeah, she was obviously devastated, but she picked herself up and focused on her career and plans for the future — man or no man. *high five* Fortunately it is possible to have it all, as we found out here.

I loved this one from start to finish. It was super easy to fall for Mike and Lauren and root for them as things progressed. This was as swoony, sexy and even funny as I've come to expect from Sarina's books. I loved getting to see some of my favorites from earlier on in the Brooklyn Bruisers series — *cough* Becca and Nate *cough* — and I hope that this is NOT the last book in the series. There are more stories here to tell... and I'm greedy so I want them all.

FAVORITE QUOTES

"I'm not going home tonight. I want to lie in your bed and taste every inch of you."

I was both unsure and anxious to read this book because I desperately needed to know what made Lauren her current bitchy self.  She’s expressed her hate for all things hockey, even as she works for the owner of the hockey team and wants nothing to do with the players.  I knew there was a juicy story there!  Now she’s forced to take over for Becca, working closely with the team and even traveling with them.  Her old feelings for Mike Beacon won’t be easy to deny then.

This was such a sweet second chance story.  Mike was adorably cute and even a bit clueless.  He made a huge personal sacrifice in the past that cost him the true love of his life and in the end he wanted her to be happy, even if not with him.  I have to give him props for being an all around good guy.

This story was definitely on the sweeter side for me without too much friction between Lauren and Mike.  It was nice that way.  They had enough heartache in their past and things to overcome to complicate their HEA more.  There was so much about Mike to love but especially how he made his daughter a priority, but then also made her understand Lauren’s place in his life.  He did a lot of delicate balancing between his personal relationships and his career, and it was a refreshing change to see someone handling so much responsibility and with his success.  This book felt adorably real.

As always, I loved the way the author includes hockey in the book and the whole team and girlfriends dynamic.  Lauren was welcomed into the fold of previous heroines, even after she tried to remain on the outskirts and pretend to hate everyone.  Seeing her soften and put down her walls was nice and done well.

All that being said, as much as I loved these two together I was eating up any glimpse of Becca and Nate.  I’ve been waiting for their book forever and I NEED IT NOW.

I am a huge fan of Sarina Bowen's and I have loved everything I have read from her. This series is one of my favorites of hers and I couldn't wait to get my hands on this book, even if I was a bit worried before reading it. If you have read the previous books in the series, you will recognize Lauren as the cold and snobby assistant to Nate the team owner. You do not have to read the previous books as this is a standalone, but having read them I wasn't sure that I could ever really like Lauren after seeing her previously. Sarina is a great writer though, so if anyone could pull this off I knew it would be her. 

Lauren and Mike were once in love, but then Mike made a choice that broke Lauren's heart. Since then she has done everything she can to avoid anything to do with him and the Bruisers. But when her boss Nate makes her take a more active roll with the team, Lauren is forced to face the man that destroyed her. Mike never forgot Lauren and hates that he hurt her, and is more determined than ever to make things right. But these two will have more than the past to worry about, as Mike's daughter could prove to be their biggest obstacle yet.

I really felt for Lauren. It was the last thing I expected, and yet I loved her when we got to see everything that had happened. It all became so clear, and I couldn't help but feel protective of her and my heart absolutely broke for all that she had been through. I loved seeing her open up to the girls here though and finally let them in on why she was the way she was. I loved their support and friendship, especially with how things started. I will admit that Mike was one that I struggled with a bit. While I understood his reasons for doing what he did and I saw things from all sides, I hated how things went down. It was clear that he was doing what he thought that he needed to, and yet he really hurt Lauren and that broke my heart as well as hers. He came out of it all looking good, while she hadn't fared the same. They had chemistry and a connection that had never died, yet there were a lot of really tough times and hurt that they went through as well. 

Overall, this was another great story from Sarina. She really knows how to write an emotional and captivating story that will have leave you with all the feels. This one was filled with heartbreak and sadness at times, yet it was also filled with love and support. I was surprised just how much I ended up loving Lauren, and I was so glad that Sarina let us get to know her and see beneath the tough and cold exterior that we had only seen before. This series is one of my favorites and one I definitely recommend if you are a contemporary fan and especially if you love sports romance stories. No one does hockey romance like Sarina Bowen, and I can't wait to read more from her!

**ARC Provided by Publisher**

​I really enjoyed Pipe Dreams. There was a perfect balance between romance and hockey. I loved that Mike and Lauren already had history, even if it was a little rocky. There was no obstacle that could diminish the love that they felt for each other. I enjoyed Mike's persistence. He didn't give up on what he knew was the one he was supposed to spend his life with, no matter how many times Lauren tried to push him away. The banter between them was entertaining and everything that happened with Elsa made the story a bit more realistic. There were some parts that were predictable but over all I thought this was a great read.

I loved Pipe Dreams from beginning to end, and when I finished I didn’t want to let the story go so I read it all over again! And the funny thing is I almost didn’t request this romance because I was afraid of frustrating drama from Mike’s teenage daughter giving Lauren a hard time.  I’m so glad I changed my mind because this was my favorite installment yet! Oh my stars, this second chance romance just filled my heart with happiness! 

Lauren and Mike met eight years earlier when she started working for the Brooklyn Bruisers Hockey team.  Mike was married with a toddler, but they had an instant rapport. They got to know each other well, and while they silently lusted over each other, they never made any inappropriate moves.  It wasn’t until four years later when Mike’s marriage dissolved (his wife’s doing) that anything romantic happened between them.  But from that point on it was like a spark touched dry tinder and ignited, and it was complete bliss for two years until Mike one day walked out, and shattered Lauren’s heart.  Lauren has spent the last two years avoiding hockey like the plague, putting her heart back together, and working on finishing her college degree. But when Nate’s right hand assistant for the hockey team gets sick, he needs Lauren back in the Bruiser’s office, and right back into Mike’s path again.  

Seeing Lauren back with the team brings back the happiest memories of Mike’s life. He broke it off with her two years earlier when his life became a depressing shit storm, thinking he was doing Lauren a favor, and she’d move on.  Seeing her still alone, when he’s now in a position to actually have something to give, Mike’s determined to get her back. But Lauren is hurt, and angry, and Mike figures out just how badly he screwed things up.  

My heart went out to Lauren, because she was blindsided by Mike leaving when they were making permanent plans, and the betrayal hurt! She’s angry and bitter, rightly so!  I did feel bad for Mike when everything was revealed, but still, I was so upset for Lauren! An explanation would’ve helped her so much.  For Mike to win her over again there needed to be the appropriate amount of groveling before she accepted him back, in my opinion.  And this is where Mike shined, because he was an absolute prince! I adored him!  He handled his daughter pretty well in this situation, too, which was a complete relief. 

Mike and Lauren’s second chance romance touched me deeply!  My heart hurt when they hurt, and soared with joy for this couple who finally got a much deserved HEA! Pipe Dreams is going on my favorites shelf, and I’m sure I’ll do another re-read at some point. 

Nate and Becca have to be next, right? I’m wondering if their story will be concurrent to Mike and Lauren’s because there was a lot going on with them here.  I can’t wait to fill in some of the blanks, but I was happy at a few revelations we got from Lauren and Mike’s eyes.

Sarina Bowen's series about hot hockey players gets better with every book. And Mike Beacon may just be the best book boyfriend this year. This man is honorable and determined and a really good dad. Without a doubt, he's the sexiest Bruiser yet. 

I didn't know how I'd feel about Lauren's book. She's always been kind of awful to everyone around her. We discover in Pipe Dreams that there's a very good reason behind this, and I loved watching Lauren's cold attitude slowly change as her orbit starts to expand to include hockey and Mike once again - two things she used to love, but had to give up. 

Lauren's relationship with Nate is especially sweet. He's her boss, but he seems like a really close friend as well. And Nate is definitely a friend you want to have. Not only is he loaded, but he gives good advice and friendly nudges in the right direction when they're needed. 

Mike is a veteran on the team. One of the oldest guys, he has a thirteen-year-old daughter, a dead wife, and feelings for Lauren that haven't died out for years. His story is definitely a sad one - his choices were not easy. He and Lauren had 18 perfect months before he had to leave her, and although I think the way he went about it was all wrong, his reasons behind them were true. 

Mike's determination to get Lauren back in his life isn't dampened by anything - not her constant refusals or his daughter's vehement objections. A man who knows what he wants is super sexy, and Mike may be the sexiest of them all. He wants that love back, and he's not going to stop until he has it. This man is unbelievable. 

There's actually some movement on the Nate and Becca situation in Pipe Dreams, so I don't know if they will get their own book or not. Especially since neither is a player. But, I loved their little side story that was running parallel to Lauren and Mike's. 

There's tons of hockey action in Pipe Dreams as the Bruisers enter the playoffs and start the hunt for the Stanley Cup. Sports books with very little sports action are always a bit disappointing. So, I was glad that this one was full of all the sports action that makes sports books one of my favorite sub-genres. 

Pipe Dreams not only didn't disappoint, but it blew me away with it's passion, it's excitement and it's honesty. I certainly hope that this isn't the last we've heard from the Brooklyn Bruisers.

I seriously do not know how Sarina Bowen has the time to write so many books but I'm glad she does. She's one of a few of my must-read authors; I'm so there whenever they have a new release out. 

So here I am talking about Pipe Dreams, book 3 in the Brooklyn Bruisers series. I'm predicting some burst ovaries with this one because it's a second-chance romance featuring a single dad and the woman he had to give up in order to take care of his family. There's some heartache from the past mixed in with deep desires that never went away. Give those ingredients a good shake and you have some major sexual tension vibes flowing through the pages.

Mike and Lauren are both extraordinary people for all their strength and weaknesses having been through a disastrous breakup that saw both of them come away with broken hearts and dreams. So one can understand why Lauren wants to stay the hell away from hockey, the Brooklyn office and most of all Mike, Mr. Heartbreak himself. But she's forced to be there and even the most strong-willed person in the world would have trouble facing off with him. Mike is naturally ecstatic to see her again though cautious about how the interaction will go between them. He knows he left her in pieces but he doesn't get the full picture until now when she finally throws it all at him. Yikes!

I think one of the positives of their story is that it's about perspective, the kind that you gain with distance and time apart. Having been through the worst both Lauren and Mike can look back and say what they did and didn't handle well. And this go round nothing is left unsaid. Once they get through that awkward and painful ceremony of asking for and receiving forgiveness, they can start over though with some changes.

I thought Pipe Dreams was a good read even if I was iffy about how badly Mike wanted to accelerate things with Lauren. For example, I was a bit surprised that he insinuated himself into a major decision in her life and that she initially went along with it without either of them discussing the impact of that decision on some important people in their lives. That's solely my hang up and how I read that particular situation, and to be honest I liked that it had me thinking about how I might respond in such a scenario.

There is no shortage of love for Sarina Bowen here at Bibliojunkies. We adore her and everything she does. I believe there's a fourth book in the works and frankly, I'm hoping that's Nate and Becca's story. They've been in the background this entire time and we've caught glimpses of Nate's distant pining and Becca's adorable obliviousness. I want more, and I have to know, please! Anyway, Pipe Dreams, read it and enjoy yourself!

~ Bel

Pipe Dreams was everything I expected and more! There was times I didn't understand Mike but I came to understand his choices! The love that Mike and Lauren have is so unreal! They had their little complications along the way but were able to over come them for the future they always wanted! Plus we got to see the rest of the team and learn something about a certain couple! You must read to find out who!

I love this series! I was so excited we got Lauren’s story! This is the third installment in the Brooklyn Bruisers series.

Lauren is Nate’s right hand man and isn’t thrilled to be working in the Bruiser’s office. She is a not a fan of hockey and would rather be anywhere else. We finally get some answers as to why she doesn’t like hockey. I have been so curious what her reasons were. I’m not going to tell you, you’ll have to read it to find out. My opinion of Lauren changed after understanding why she’s the way she is. 

Mike was the former captain of the Brooklyn Bruisers but stepped down when his wife got sick. He made the best decision he could for his family and couldn’t worry about anyone else’s feelings.

There were so many twists I didn’t see coming and at times I felt bad for both the main characters. The whole time I was routing for Mike and Lauren to finally get their happy ending. I understand why Mike did what he had to do. I loved every minute of this book and this is by my favorite of the series.

Pipe Dreams is the third book in the Brooklyn Bruisers hockey romance series but can very easily be read as a standalone romance if you have yet to read the first two.  Pipe Dreams is the second chance romance story of Lauren Williams, who works for the owner of the Brooklyn Bruisers and the Bruisers starting goalie Mike Beacon.  Mike finds himself a widow with a teenage daughter and is once again face to face with Lauren, the only real true love of his life.  Lauren was so in love with Mike and they were planning their life together when Mike was forced to make a choice, one that left Lauren alone and heartbroken.  Now two years later she is forced to help out with the team and is reminded of what they once shared and the heartache she still feels.

 

Although the books in this series can be read as standalone, I must say reading them as a series is very enjoyable as we get to see past and future characters of the series in each book.  Seeing past stories continue on in future books and getting a bit of background on characters of future stories really makes me love this series.  This series is written and third person POV but they are well written and shortly after starting each book the third person POV tends to fade away for me.

 

I must say that after reading and loving the first two books in this series I was really excited to get Lauren and Mike’s story.  Sadly, although this was a sweet story, I didn’t love this one as much as the first two.    Pipe Dreams starts off in present but flashes back and forth at times to two different times in the past, two years ago as well as 4 years ago along with quick flashbacks within the scenes.  For me the flashbacks just didn’t work well.  I also found the story to be very predictable and at times it fell flat for me.  This one didn’t pack the punch that the first two did but was still enjoyable.

 

I enjoyed both Mike and Lauren’s characters in this story.  I loved that Lauren was a strong, independent and smart female lead.  I grow so tired of the “whiny damsel in distress” type characters that tend to do nothing more than grate my nerves.  Mike was your typical hockey hunk, big, strong and sexy but he was also sweet and caring.  Mike broke Lauren’s heart and how he did it wasn’t the best way but he was only trying to do the right thing for both Lauren and his family, so as much as I wanted to be mad at him, there was just something about him that made me only want to love him.

 

The one thing I do love about this author’s hockey books is the great hockey action that she adds to the story.  And I must also say that the thing I loved about this book’s hockey action, it’s playoff action and the author has done a great job with writing it, I actually found myself getting excited with the action as if I was watching the game myself.  Guess it also helps that I am reading this one during the NHL playoffs, really helps set the mood.

 

Overall this was an enjoyable read and a sweet second chance romance.  I really loved that we got to see more of Ari and O’Doul as well as Georgia and Trevi but I love that we got to see more of Becca and Nate and hoping that in getting some of their story we will see their actual story in the next book of the Bruier’s series.

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, 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*

There is nothing Sarina Bowen writes that I don't love, and that especially includes her hockey romances. Sarina creates the most amazing, talented men who happen to have hearts of gold and I find myself swooning from the first page that I meet them. And Mike Beacon was definitely no exception! 

Family comes first for Mike Beacon, especially when it comes to his daughter. As a widower, Beacon tries his best to juggle being the goalie for the Brooklyn Bruisers and being a good father who actually raises his daughter. Lauren Williams has not wanted anything to do with hockey ever since Beacon broke her heart. When her boss requires her to travel with the team to help out, Lauren wants nothing to do with Beacon. Beacon, on the other hand, has other plans. With Lauren around a whole lot more again, Beacon sees it as an opportunity to set things right and get the love of his life back. But no matter how strong their chemistry is, Lauren is finally in a place where she's figuring out what she wants in life and doesn't know if she can risk another heartbreak again… 

Oh, man. Who knew a single dad could be so yummy? I loved the hockey player side of Beacon, but I think I fell for his father side so much more. He was so cute whenever he would spend time with his daughter and he really valued her emotions and feelings, especially when it came to Lauren. I loved how he tried so hard to balance his life as an athlete while still trying to be there for his daughter. And their babysitter/violin teacher/live-in friend was so awesome and I loved their family dynamics. 

This second chance romance was so addicting and lovable and just stole my heart. It was so heartbreaking watching Lauren have to be around Beacon after he had broken her heart in the past. We get to understand why Beacon made that decision, but it still doesn't make it any easier on Lauren. I loved Lauren's character and how driven she was. She was trying to be happy with how her life had turned out, so of course having Beacon back in her life freaked her out. Being around Beacon, though, allowed Lauren to show her softer side, not just to Beacon but also to those she worked with, and I loved watching her break down the more Beacon wooed her. And woo her he did! 

Can I gush about this book any more? As always, there was so much hockey in this one and I loved seeing the guys (and girls) from the first two books hanging out in this one. SO MUCH HOCKEY AND I WAS SO HAPPY. Seriously, I was one happy girl after reading this book and I could't keep the smile off my face. And did I mention this was emotional? Because I had some tears in my eyes at one point, which just shows how attached I became to these characters. All I can say now is that I NEED A BECCA AND NATE BOOK. GIVE IT TO ME NOW. Please.

PIPE DREAMS is the third installment in Sarina Bowen’s contemporary, adult BROOKLYN BRUISERS erotic, romance series focusing on the men and women of the Brooklyn Bruisers professional hockey team. This is Bruisers’ goalie Mike Beacon, and the team’s temporary office manager Lauren Williams second chance story line. PIPE DREAMS can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information is revealed where necessary.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Lauren and Mike) PIPE DREAMS focuses on the rekindling romance between Brooklyn Bruisers’ goalie and single father Mike Beacon, and office manager Lauren Williams, and the Bruisers run for the Stanley Cup. With the office manager Rebecca Rowley on sick leave, team owner Nate Kattenberger brought his former office manager, and current corporate employee Lauren Williams to fill in for the remainder of the season knowing Lauren’s history with team goalie Mike Beacon was icy and cool. Two years earlier Lauren and Mike were lovers; making plans for something more permanent when demons from the past forced Mike to walk away from the woman he loved. Fast forward to present day and Mike Beacon wants a second chance with Lauren Williams-a woman struggling with her attraction to the man that broke her heart. What ensues is the rekindling love between two people whose relationship was destroyed by secrets, miscommunication and Mike’s overwhelming need to care for someone from his past.

The relationship between Mike and Lauren is one of second chances. Lauren’s need to run from the man that she loves finds our hero begging for another chance to prove he is worthy of Lauren’s love.  Lauren’s struggles with a broken heart that has to be mended; her trust in Mike Beacon is tempered when the truth is revealed. The $ex scenes are intimate and seductive.

Most of the previous story line couples and characters play secondary and supporting roles including team owner Nate Kattenberger, and the woman he secretly loves Rebecca Rowley. I am hoping for Nate and Becca’s story line next. We are also introduced to Mike’s teenage daughter Elsa who struggles with the loss of her mother, and her father’s relationship with a woman she blames for her parent’s marriage demise.

The world building follows the Brooklyn Bruisers’ as they make a run for the Stanley Cup; a  championship season that takes the team to the final round. 

PIPE DREAMS is a story of second chances, forgiveness, falling in love and moving on from the past. There are moments of heartbreak, betrayal, romance and love. The conflict between our leading couple is easily resolved with little to no drama or anxious moments. The premise is engaging and realistic; the romance is sexy, seductive and spicy; the characters are spirited and passionate. PIPE DREAMS is a heartwarming and moving story about family, love, and second chances.

Copy supplied the publisher through Netgalley

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Please see my video review for my full thoughts on Pipe Dreams ~ https://youtu.be/i1NMQ7kMPy0

Just as with all of Sarina Bowen's books this book I felt that this story is a little deeper than your average romance.

She tends to explore different aspects of life when telling her love stories and you're left with an added life lesson in addition to your happily ever after.

Mike and Lauren's story was a little more emotionally difficult for me to read personally than the previous books in this series but I think that just made me love them more.

I give Pipe Dreams 5 out of 5 Krissy's Stars!

I CAN NOT WAIT to read Nate and Becca's story in the next book! ;)

Xo-K

*I was generously given an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

After not enjoying very much the second book in this series, this was one such a nice surprise. I didn't expect Lauren would get a book of her own, and then I would have never guessed who her love interest would be. This was the sweetest, most touching of romances. I love love stories with single dads, they always tug at heartstrings and this was no exception.

We have two amazing characters put in a very difficult situation and finding their way back to each other after a most painful breakup.

I have to admit I severely misjudged Lauren based o the previous books. We see her true self here and her ice queen attitude was just an act to hide a heart that felt too much. She was amazing and I could relate both to her pain and her hopes and dreams. We see an independent woman moving on from a terrible break up the only way she knew how. Getting a degree, working hard, trying to have a family of her own.

It took me a while to forgive Mike. It's not the fact that he left Lauren that I resent but the fact that he did so with no explanation. I just can't accept people not talking things through, just making up decisions and not discussing them with their partner.

Their coming back together was not easy for either of them. And M's kid didn't help matters. But it was worth all the hardship. It felt real and natural because finally, they were communicating. Mistakes were made and some lessons were learned the hard way but their HEA was a most deserved one. And oh, so sweet, a bit too sweet for my personal taste.

I'm not very fond of pregnancy and child-birth bits in romance, most often than not they feel too staged and not-believable to me as was the case here. It's a personal hangup rather than a weakness of the story.

If you are looking for a great redemption story of second-chance love with some fun and sexy times, some hockey players shenanigans, one special teenage girl, and an ice queen with the kindest and most forgiving heart, you should definitely read this romance.

DNF @30%

When I read the blurb I thought this was going to be a slam dunk for me. So many things I love......hockey player, single dad, second chances. I was super excited.

The book started off really good and I was eagerly reading, wondering why she hated him so much and what the big break up in the past was all about. 

Then we find out. And the book became dead to me. What a bunch of unrealistic ridiculousness. You want me to believe that they have been together a year and a half and live together and because his ex gets sick and needs some help (she legit needed the help) he's going to break off his current relationship? AND he's going to do it by never talking to this girl at all except for a phone call to say "I'm leaving you." A mother flipping phone call?? He lives with the girl yet NEVER tells her his ex is sick. What? Why? Who in the real world does this? I can't buy that two people love each other if they can't have very basic communication. I was befuddled. I polled my coworkers and some friends in a book group and we're all in agreement. Nonsense!! 

Extra annoyance cuz at the time this all happened he the team captain. You know what the major role of hockey team captains is? TO COMMUNICATE! They're the only ones on the ice who can talk to the refs. They talk to the owners, managers, etc. They do the press meetings. They do team community promo. They do interviews. They support the other players. They're involved in various committees that do various things (ie You Can Play project, substance abuse support etc). So Mike could do all this but could not go home, to the love of his life, and say "Hey babe, guess what? I need to help my baby's momma some cuz she's dying." 

I can not stand this type of bad communication dramas for the sake of drama. It is SO not my jam. 

The writing itself was fine so I'm just not going to rate this at all instead of 1 staring it. 

**ARC provided by the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review**