I enjoyed the story of Max and Kendra. As a fan of the series, I was excited to read Max's story. He had dealt with the passing of his wife in past books, and I expected it would give a depth to this particular part of the series. It definitely was more than the typical romance. There were emotional parts to the book due to the situation. In some books I have read, some dark secret is discovered about the deceased spouse and so it is okay to move on without guilt. I was happy this book did not go in this direction; in fact his wife was spoken of kindly and her family was part of the book.

I enjoyed the interactions between Max and Kendra. They were entertaining and humorous. Overall, they were a fun, passionate, and sweet couple. Revisiting the characters from the past books in the series is always enjoyable, but this is definitely a standalone. I also liked that Kendra was related to Army and Lovey so you could watch her interactions with family, that Max's parents visited so you could see their interactions, and that Max visited NYC so the reader saw the couple in Kendra's element as well.

I recommend the book (and the series). My reason for the four stars instead of five was there was a bit of repetition throughout caused by the difficult situation and a couple of scenes seemed a bit far-fetched, but overall a great read.

Max Hall's story is one I've been looking forward to since his entry into this series was pretty tragic. A year later and he's doing better since his wife passed away. Now he's at Marc and Lovey's wedding and one thing he's realized is that he needs to get laid. Army and Lovey's cousin, Kendra Armstrong is beautiful, lives in another city and is right there before him. She knows the ground rules and is the perfect one night stand. His sole focus is to make back on the team and a relationship will just be distracting him from achieving his goals.

When he meets her at his teammate's weekend getaway, they take up where they left off with the same rules in place. Their chemistry is off the charts and they agree to hook up whenever they are in each other's city. But before they know it, a relationship is in place and the complications begin.

I really like Kendra's character. She has had a difficult past with relationships but isn't afraid to love again. Max comes across as determined and discipline but I felt he was a tad cowardly and made excuses to justify his reasons. But at the end, I think he just had to make that journey emotionally to overcome his fears and finally allow himself to love again. This book also has a crossover with the Bayard Hockey series. An emotional read with a lovely HEA.

I love this author and I really thought this book was cute. The characters have a chemistry you can't wait to delve into and the story is just the kind I was looking for. Overall a good read.

Been waiting and watching for Max's book. He totally broke my heart in previous books when he's wife was dying of cancer. So, I was overjoyed to see Max get a little lovin' with Kendra. I got mad at him for a bit, but he finally wised up.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

I voluntarily read an advanced reviewers copy of this book

Max Hall is a widower that is trying to find his way back into the world starting with a woman in his bed and his spot back on the Aces Hockey team. What should have been a simple one night stand with someone that knew the ropes quickly got out of control when one night turned into multiple nights and no strings became feelings.

The real question is can Kendra convince Max that she is worth taking a chance on or will he show her that his hockey stick is not only good at slap shots but breaking hearts? Read and find out!

Overall this book was pretty good. I felt very conflicted because Max's emotions were so raw that I did not know whether to love him or hate him. Kendra also left me conflicted because she was the classic example of a woman that wants what she can't have. I wanted her to realize that if he wasn't ready to fall in love then she should back off. But hey...I guess that is why I am single and based on this HEA she is not.
Good job Kelly Jamieson

I have chosen not to review this title. As always, I appreciate the opportunity to review the title.

Thanks,
Laura

SLap shot is the next in the book in Aces series and we get to rejoin the Aces and get Hallsy's story. Max had it all until then it went bad. Max lost his wife and now is struggling to get hockey back after the devastating hit he suffered.

At a teammates wedding, Max is exposed to a woman that starts to bring him back to life. Kendra is part of the Aces hockey family and well there is something about Max that draws her in. They start out with a non committed relationship that as we all know wont last forever.

This one was good. A no strings relationship turns into more. Max is bound and determine to get back on his dream of hockey and well enjoying Kendra while moving on isn't bad. IT's just a good read and I seriously enjoyed it a lot.

4 Stars

Anyone who is familiar with this series, will already be aware of Max Hall, who appeared in the previous titles, as an Aces player who left the team in order to spend time with his wife who was dying from cancer.

In Slap Shot max is still grieving the loss of his wife, but is determined to get his life back on track. He's hardworking and determined, stubborn and goal orientated. Max meets Kendra at his former team mates wedding, and the sparks fly. What starts as a one night stand, ends up being so much more. The moments between the sheets are very hot and steamy.

Kendra is a sweet, kind, nurturing, and sensitive. She has a background in psychology, but has a very interesting job. Kendra is also Lovey and Duncan Armstrong's cousin.

Max is a flawed character, which in my mind makes him all the more endearing and relate-able. His struggles with his grief and the guilt of moving on and rebuilding his life is quite plausible and understandable.

I loved that the characters who appeared in the previous titles in this series, were so prevalent within this title.

Overall Slap Shot is a emotional, sexy, steamy, angsty read. Whilst there are moments that are both heartwarming and heartbreaking, there is a lot of hope and fun in this title. I Will be eagerly anticipating more of this series.

I've really been enjoying reading Kelly Jamieson's Aces Hockey series, and this book was no exception. Her characters are fun and well written, and there's a minimum of unnecessary drama in each book. I also love that we get to revisit old friend from previous books.
Kendra was the type of heroine that I'd actually like to be friends with. And the fact that she was a strong, independent, sexual woman with ZERO slut-shaming made her even better.
I like watching Max struggle with, and eventually come to terms with the fact it was ok to fall in love with Kendra. That moving on didn't mean he was forgetting his dead wife. It felt like a very natural journey for him and not at all forced.
I've got a couple of the previous books in the series left to read, and I'm looking forward to it!

This is my new favorite book by this author! I cannot say enough about it!

Max...if you read any of the other books in this series, you knew his book was going to be a tough one. He had a wife that he absolutely loved and gave up everything for when she became sick. When she lost her battle he was left alone to pick up the pieces. What I appreciated was that the author didn't hide how difficult this was for Max. She didn't have him going out and sleeping around for the last two years trying to forget her. She didn't have him suddenly feeling that his wife was a rotten person (I read this in a book recently) who he didn't really love. Instead she showed a true battle of what it's like to lose someone you love. The emotions were raw, the behaviors at times were tough...but it was all true. I also appreciated how she brought into the picture his wife's family and the guilt he felt with them.

Kendra was an amazing person...her psychology background obviously helped her understand what Max was going through but at the same time she struggled like anyone would when they fall in love with someone who is still in love with someone else. I loved that she didn't just roll over and take Max's shit, but actually called him on it and stood up for herself.

I couldn't wait to finish the book to find out how the hell these two were going to make it work. I wished there had been an epilogue but knowing this author we'll be seeing more of these two in the future.

4 out of 5 stars

This novel was the first for me in this series, but I didn't have any trouble jumping in and enjoying Max & Kendra's story!! Max is a widow who is determined to get back on the ice and play hockey again. Kendra is attracted to him and they agree to a purely physical relationship that is supposed to be one night only...but that turns into two which keeps going. I enjoyed the way the story was told from just Max's perspective because all too often we hear from just the girl and I like getting inside the guy's heads and seeing what they're thinking!

This book was well paced and enjoyable. I think I'll have to go back and read more of the Aces stories!

We met Max in previous books when we find out that his wife had cancer and he was taking time off from hockey to be with her. Max has been in a funk since his wife passed away and he's trying to get back to getting in shape for hockey. Everyone is concerned about him and wants to help him start living again.

The first person that brings any spark of interest is Kendra. They meet at a wedding and things begin to heat up very quickly. Max feels such guilt about betraying his wife, but Kendra is understanding and so begins a mutually beneficial relationship.

Kendra and Max have been through their share of heartbreak and it's nice that they begin to help each other heal. Such a touching story that had me teary-eyed one minute and smiling the next. It was nice seeing characters from other stories: it's like visiting old friends. I've read many of Ms Jamieson's books and they never disappoint. Waiting patiently for the next book.

The synopsis for the story pretty much covers the details of this story, so I'm not going to rehash it in the review. There aren't many surprises in Slap Shot -- it's basically the story of Max Hall moving away from the grief that he's been experiencing since his beloved wife became ill. Kendra is a sweet girl, a relative of one of Max's former teammates. They both agree to a sex-only/no-relationship arrangement.

Yeah, like that ever works.

There isn't much tension besides Max's struggle to find a place for all his feelings about his deceased wife and make room for someone new. I did like how Kendra handled the reality of the situation once she realized her feelings.

Slap Shot was a sweet tale of finding happiness again. It's almost all told in Max's point of view, so you really get to know him. He's a nice guy. I really liked his journey to get back on the team as well.

So overall, an enjoyable read.

An ARC was provided for review.

Loved this beautiful and heartbreaking story!! This was such a good book! I loved sports romances and this one did not disappoint! The characters were very likable and real. Loved the banter between them and the chemistry was off of the charts!! I look forward to reading more from Kelly! I highly recommend this book!

This story was a really good story. Max Hall took some time off of hockey to be with his dying wife and now he is back. He is working hard and wants it to be his sole focus. He doesn't have time for women or relationships. When he meets Kendra at a wedding, he thinks it might be a good time for him to "get back in the saddle". He just wants one night....which of course turns into more nights. Kendra is a breathe of fresh air. She is witty and smart and brings life back into Max's world. They both decide to give casual a try, but as you can imagine, that never works.

This book has a lot of emotion as Max tries to move forward in his life. He battles with grief and moving on and when it's OK to love someone else. Kendra has family issues of her own and tries to downplay how much they've hurt her. The story was good and definitely held my interest. I liked the characters and even shed a few tears as Max and Kendra found their way. Another good read in this series.

I am trash for hockey romances and this one did exactly what I wanted it to - it made me smile, grin, swoon, laugh, and even cry a little.

Who?
Max, a professional hockey player, who is trying to get back on the roster after taking time off following his wife's death. Kendra, an intelligent and independent entrepreneur, who was a sort of "fixer" with a big heart.

What?
After a wedding encounter, where sparks flew, the two mutually decided to a strings-free, physical relationship.

Why?
I instantly shipped these two. They had a natural ease with each other, and I loved that Kendra was able to get through Max's numb layers, and help him slowly climb out from under his grief.

I was really impressed with the amount of sports talk in this book. We are taken through Max's comeback process, as well as, training camp and some games. I enjoyed reading about all that stuff a lot more than I expected, but let's be honest, I was all about the romance, and this one did its job taking me through a whole spectrum of emotions.

It was fun to watch their relationship grow and change. They kept saying it was all sex, but you could see there was a lot more to it through their interactions, their texts, their phone calls, but the road to their HEA was not an easy one. Max was still grieving and trying to reconcile his growing feelings for Kendra with his love for his late wife. He struggled, and Kendra struggled, and I sighed and cried a little, but in the end, I think Jamieson did an admirable job finding a balanced solution.

I usually read duel POV romance stories, so this was a little bit of a change for me, as it is told almost predominately from Max's POV. It worked really well though, because the major obstacles to this relationship were Max's issues, and I think it was important to be inside his head, and see things from his perspective. It was great seeing the juxtaposition of his manly and mushy side, and overhearing the conversations between him and his teammates, who were also his friends and confidants.

Overall: A fun and heartfelt friends-with-benefits to more romance, which features a hero and heroine you couldn't help but love.

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Avid Reader – ☆☆☆☆
M/F Romance
Triggers: Click HERE to see Avid Reader’s review on Goodreads for trigger warnings.

This is the first book that I have read in this series and I wish that I had gotten to read them all. I never felt that I was missing anything, so I don’t believe that you need to read the others in order to enjoy this one.

Max is just getting back to his old self. After a devastating loss, he is setting a goal to get back on the ice and get the Stanley Cup. We get to watch him go through a grueling process of getting back in shape and mentoring new players who want to make the team.

Kendra is a successful woman who is now on to her second career. She began as a therapist and knows that everyone goes through grief and loss in a different pattern. She meets Max at a wedding and sparks fly.

Max and Kendra’s romance is a whirlwind until it’s time for them to come back to reality – Kendra lives in New York and Max doesn’t. They continue with their friends with benefits and when someone changes the rules, they have to decide if they are going to fight for their relationship.

Max struggles with his guilt and Kendra struggles with knowing what her place is.

I really enjoyed their story and thought that it was fairly well developed. You could feel the change in the relationship and know that something was coming to head.


Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
This is the fifth book in the series – and I would recommend that you read them in order to get the full story, especially before this one. My only disappointment is that the blurb gives away too much as far as I am concerned. But luckily I dove in blind, knowing that I wanted to get Max's story fresh, and have just read it before reviewing. I say this mainly because in the book the fact of his wife's death, and how he reacted, comes out naturally and is worked beautifully into the story, so it is a shame to know all that before being able to read it.

Max has been a peripheral figure for a few books due to his wife's illness, and I am sure that their story caused a few tissues in readers' hands – it did in mine. But this book brings back hope and a second chance at his career, and possibly at love. His dedication to getting back into the sport is not matched with an intention to love – in fact, he deems it to be a betrayal of his past.

This story works beautifully, mixing together so many elements of the perfect sports romance. Plenty of training and hockey; lots of family and friends; and a couple of people who, in spite of many issues, work out what it is that is important in their lives.

Thank you, Ms. Jamieson, for writing the perfect story for Max.


Sarah – ☆☆☆☆
I’ve been waiting for Max’s book (with a box of tissues ready) since the first book in this series. Even from a distance, his grief had me in bits in the earlier books. In his own story, he is a year on from his wife’s death. He’s putting his life back together. He is desperately trying to earn back his place on the Aces. And then, he bravely hooks up with a bridesmaid at a friend’s wedding.

I loved following Max’s intense pre-season training regime in this book. The focus on the pre-season fight for roster places gives readers a fresh spin on the competitive excitement of a sports story.

I also loved that Kendra designs sex toys – and that she unapologetically talks about her job. She is feisty and independent and I warmed to her more than I have to some of the women in this series. She’s also in an impossible position, struggling to respect Max’s wife and his grief while also attempting to build a new relationship with him.

Probably because of Max’s terrible loss, this book feels more mature and more complex than earlier books in the series – it’s a more substantial read with complicated, grown up characters. I think it’s my favourite story yet.


Rachael – ☆☆☆☆
3.5 Stars

I've been waiting for Max's story. He's been through so much and I wanted to see him get his happy ending after all the sadness he had to deal with. Kendra was so perfect for him too. She is exactly the right combination of a well put together woman and a woman who is very colorful and not afraid to be who she is.

There was some really hard parts with Max dealing with the loss of his wife, but overall I really liked the story and the character growth we got to witness. Plus, it was interesting to see the vast majority of the story written from his point of view so we can really get a sense of what emotions he is dealing with.

However, I have say that while I have loved every other story in this series, this one was just really hard for me to sink into like the others. I can't exactly say what it was because I did like the characters and the plot line, but I found that I had to convince myself to pick up the book and read when normally I have a hard time putting down Ms. Jamieson's books.

This book was so much more than just a sports romance - it takes a look at what happens to someone after their spouse dies tragically. Can you allow yourself to move on? What about sex? When do you start living for yourself again? How do you handle the guilt? It was an emotional roller coaster for these two but it was done in a fairly gentle way - not overly angst ridden.

I enjoyed it a lot - a great deviation from the traditional story line!

I’ve read a few books of this series so far, but this one was my favorite so far, for sure. It’s so so good! This series is overall fantastic.

Slap Shot is unique compared to the other books in this series, given that unlike the other ones, this is told on the first person. I’m a huge fan of first person romance books, so YAY. Also, to add to the amazing and different things, this book is also told in single POV, through the man’s point of view! Which is another thing I LOVE in romances. First person, male only POV… YES! And to top it all off, the writing is amazing, and funny, and deep, and I was a fan from the first page.

The characters are also fantastic. We had already seen Hallsy in the other books, and I’m so happy he got his own story because he deserved it. He’s such a strong guy, and even though he’s a bit clueless at times, he’s still an amazing and loving person. Kendra is just the sweetest and fierce.

I absolutely loved the plot. This type of romance is not easy, because the author needs to find a perfect balance between showing how right the new romance is, without making the past relationship any less, and I think Kelly did an amazing job here. The connection between Kendra and Max is palpable, but I really liked how it developed slowly, from a physical thing to a lot lot more. And the chemistry?! Explosive!!!

Also, I loved the cameos from another of Jamieson’s series, eheh. So good.

I loved this book, and now I can’t wait to see what else Kelly Jamieson brings us. So far, I’ve loved all her books, but this one was off the charts. So yeah, if you haven’t started this series yet, get on it.

He lost his wife just over a year ago and he never, ever wants to love like that again. It hurts too much when you have to say good bye. She's fully embraced her sexuality and isn't afraid of a no-strings relationship. She's beautiful and he's ready to get back out there, so them hooking up is a no-brainer, right. All the cards are on the table -- just sex, no chaser, no relationship, no complications. Right, when has that ever worked?

This is an engaging story about two people who think they know what they want until they find what their heart needs and scramble to make sense of how to move forward. It's sexy, flirty and has heart. I recommend it.

I received an ARC of this book, from the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for a fair and honest review.