Sawyer Bennett is a master when it comes to sexy scenes. I was really looking forward to Van and Simone's story after reading the crazy tension between them in Lucas. I was definitely not disappointed!! I loved both of these characters so much. Van is the perfect, broody alpha male with a filthy mouth. He was absolutely perfect for wild Simone. Just a fantastic read from beginning to end.

ARC provided by NetGalley.

Straight up this has been my absolute favorite Cold Fury novel. Van is a broken soul and I instantly gravitated to him in the last book so this one I fell madly in love with him. If I didn't think Simone was perfect for him I would shove her into a locker. Simone is a bad girl in a naughty package and she is just what the closed off and traumatized Van needs.

This book is a complete stand-alone and is absolutely phenomenal, but if you have read Lucas, the previous book, just know this one backtracks a bit into that timeline before moving on. It is Simone and Van's perspective and it tells what was going on behind closed doors that we didn't see while Lucas was chasing after Stephanie.

The writing was amazing. This author draws a reader in immediately with her characters. The plot was one I was dying to read even before she ever had it written. Van was so intriguing as a secondary character that I could not wait for his story. I knew he would have a doozy and boy did he! Simone was interesting with her confidence and strength. She was passionate, free, and open. I really loved that about her. When it comes to heat this book is downright dirty and I loved every minute of it. I can not extol enough words to express how much I loved this book without giving away all the good parts. Van was just so hot he left me breathless and I want one. I extremely and very highly recommend him, er this book.

5 Staying Shiny Stars!!!

With each Cold Fury book that Ms. Bennett writes I fall in love hard with the characters and Van is no different. Van and Simone are two people that are floundering in totally different ways. We met these two in Lucas's book and while the books parallel each other, you don't necessarily have to read that book to follow this hard fought for love story.

Simone is a young woman who has made a few decisions unbeknownst to her family and one of those decisions is Van. And I say it that way, because he's her total focus right now, whether he wants to be or not...she's a woman on a mission....

"He's a total bad boy, and I want him. I foolishly, petulantly want him.

I have to give total credit to this girl. She's relentless in her pursuit and some of her shenanigans totally had me cracking up!

"I decided if I was going to have a stalkerlike lust for him, I'd spare no weirdness on my part."

Van on the other hand, is a man that has closed himself off to the world and while this has completely worked to his advantage for his hockey career, in every other facet of his life, it's left him to be very lonely and the part that hurt my heart the most is that I don't think he realized it and he's missed so much life has to offer him....until Simone crashes into his life.

For as much as Van didn't want this woman, she brightens his days and soon his nights! Oh boy, when he finally acknowledges her as more than the bothersome little sister of his teammate, all bets are off....

I'm tired of your games, little girl. No more flirting. Get in my bed and get naked. I'm going to show you what happens when you aren't smart enough to stop provoking me."

Talk about the bed being on fire with the way these two go at it!! I don't think Simone knew what she was in for when she set her eye on this brooding man. And for as much we think she's a confident and strong young woman, there's still inside her some self-doubt and while Van is still fighting his feelings for her, with these few words, he shows that his heart just may be cracking for this beauty....

"I think it's impossible for you to do anything but shine, in or out of this bed."

Oh cue the swooning music!!! Little does Simone know what Van keeps locked up inside him and WOWZA!! I literally was shocked and my feelings for Van completely went from thinking he was just a non-feeling wretch of a man to having a warmth fill me and complete understanding for every one of his actions up to this point. I give total credit to Simone for not letting him push her away after this secret comes to light.

It's not all hat tricks for our H/h that's for sure. Lots of ups and downs, more freaky deaky sex that had me fanning myself and lots of emotions swirling around. I absolutely adore these two together and Ms. Bennett has written a book that reinforced why I'm so addicted to all things Cold Fury Hockey!

Cold has never been so hot…

There can never be enough of Cold Fury Hockey so I was thrilled to dive into Van and Simone’s story. There had been tantalizing glimpses in prior stories of both Van – stoic and aloof – and of Simone, who was anything but…

Van was an intriguing character from the start with his crusty façade and his ‘don’t get too close’ philosophy. Of course, there are usually reasons for that and Van’s history proves that out with a story that is as heartbreaking as it is intriguing…

Simone was the exact opposite of Van’s quiet character. She was outgoing and uninhibited, open to possibilities. They should be oil and water but somehow they were not. Physically they meshed – ooh did they ever – and as things played out there was a bit of yelling, some stony silence and a lot of door closing even as the sexy sparks flew.

“No. It should be no, no, no. Given my past… what I could become…It should be no.”

I loved digging deeper into both Van and Simone’s characters as they wrestled with life-altering changes as well as each other. Simone was outgoing in an “in your face” kind of way that could only be described as charming. She owned every bit of her sexuality and was open and honest about it. Pushy in fact. A good pushy, but pushy as Van fought their sexual chemistry at every turn.

Heat and emotion to tug at the heart as well as affect the temperature, another great story added to the Cold Fury library! ~Diane, 4 stars

After reading Lucas, I was mildly curious with Van. He was brooding and a little mysterious. I wanted to know more. So when I saw that his book was next in the series, I was glad for it. Van keeps people at arm’s length and doesn’t let them in. He has secrets and wants to just be alone. However he meets his match in Simone, Lucas and Max’s little sister. She goes after what she wants and she sets her sight on Van. There is a lot of push and pull between the two. The attraction is there but while Van does his best to ignore, Simone is trying to push through. It was fun with the back and forth. But boy when these two get together, just steamy. It wasn’t just the chemistry, the interactions with Van and Simone were good as well. I liked them together. Van’s secrets were the underlying current and I couldn’t wait for it to get brought to the surface. The storyline was interesting and the characters were nice. Overall, Van was a pleasant story.

I loved Van! He appears to be so standoffish and broody, impenetrable walls. Then he meets Simone and cracks start to form. He tries to stay away from her, tries to keep her out. All that does is push Simone harder. Something about him calls to her. The more he pushes her away, the more she longs for him. He is intrigued by her sass and determination and soon finds he can no longer keep her away.
Van has reasons for why he is the way he is. I was grabbed by him from the start and wanted to know more, wanted his history. I loved watching his transformation, seeing him open up a little more and more for Simone. When his world came crashing down and he pushed her away, my heart broke for her.
I cried, giggled, and swooned at the end. I think Van just may be my favorite Cold Fury player.
Wonderful job, Sawyer! I look forward to what’s next.

I received an ARC for a honest review. I love the Cold Fury series! That being said......I have my favs and not so favs. Van falls in between. The hero is definitely dark and tortured....for good reason! I don't want to give anything away, but his family life was horrific! The heroine, Simone came off as annoying in the beginning. She is the little sister in Lucas and even then I found her annoying and spoiled. Because of this, I was not looking forward to this book as I have with the other books in this series. Van runs concurrently with the Lucas storyline. The way she pursued Van was too much and her career choices were just plain wacky. BUT she does redeem herself as the story progresses in her loyalty and patience with Van......although she seemed to give up a bit easily in the last part of the book. Regardless, she was the perfect girl for Van, in that she really understood him and brought him out of his self-imposed exile. Also there was a lot of sex in this book......dare I say a bit too much? Now I am re-energized for the next installment!

This was great! Honestly, I think that this may be the hottest book in the series so far. If you follow my reviews, you probably already know that I am a huge fan of the Cold Fury Hockey series. I jumped into the series with the second book and haven't looked back although I should probably check out the first book at some point. This is a series that works great as stand alone books but fans of the series will appreciate seeing well loved characters for just a bit. Van is a excellent addition to the series.

I went into this book hoping that I would like it as much as the others but not sure that I would warm up to Van as a Hero. Let me assure you that was not a problem because I fell completely in love with him. He has such an interesting history that really explains some of his behaviors. He is really a great guy that has spent his life trying to remain distant from other people.

Simone was something else. She is the baby sister of the two Fournier brothers that have been the Hero of their own books, Max and Lucas. Simone is at a crossroads in her life and is trying to figure out what direction she wants to go. One thing that she knows she wants is Van and I loved watching her go for what she wants. I loved how Simone isn't afraid to take risks and was so willing to put her heart on the line.

This book actually takes place at the same time as the previous book in the series. You do not need to read the previous book to enjoy this one but I really enjoyed seeing certain events from a different perspective. The book opens with Simone moving into the house the her brother shares with Van. The chemistry between Simone and Van was wonderful and grew throughout the story. If you are looking for a steamy story, this one brings quite a bit of heat. I just loved this pair together.

I would recommend this book to others. I had so much fun reading this sexy romance with great characters. I can't wait to read more from Sawyer Bennett very soon!

I received an advance reader edition of this book from Random House Publishing Group - Loveswept via NetGalley.

3.5 stars

5- 4 stars

I found this to be sadder then the others in the series. It takes place the same the same time as Lucas so observatories overlap a bit. We finally find out why Van is so brooding..
He had a troubling childhood but was able to overcome his past and worked towards a brighter future.
I wasn't a big fan of Simone. She had her eyes on Van and no one was stopping her. Almost to the point of uncomfortable. I also found her to be immature for her age. She dropped out of school because she needed find herself but wasn't sympathetic about his past.
The pair had chemistry for sure. They were explosive at times. I wish Van could have found peace before he did but the final chapter and the epilogue was sweet.

I received a ARC for a honest review.
.

Can't express how much I loved Van and Simone. I love when the heroine is a strong, sassy woman who enjoys sex and is not afraid to go after what she wants. I love stories that have the heroine breaking down walls from a person who is very broken. I know most stories are like this. But this is different. Van does not easily give in to Simone. He fights to keep her away for a long while. There are many reasons for this. One being she is the sister of Max and Lucas, Van's teammates. Simone showed up unexpectedly at Lucas' and Van's house to crash while she gets her life in order. And she immediately started flirting with Van. She was driving him crazy until he couldn't stay away any longer. But as usual, he promised her only sex, no attachments. When I found out the real reason for him keeping his distance with not only Simone, but all people, my heart broke. What Van went through was simply unimaginable. And I understand why he is withdrawn. It was such a touching way watching Simone fight for him. It was so heart warming watching him fall for Simone. Even though he never admitted it. This is yet another perfect romance written by Sawyer Bennett. Everything's she writes I fall in love with. She is a great story teller!

This is a great book; this is the ninth book in the Cold Fury Hockey Series written by Sawyer Bennett. This book can be read as a standalone, but once you read it you will defiantly want to go back and catch up with the other book in this series. As one of the league’s toughest enforcers, Van Turner is ruthless on the ice. He plays hard because it’s the only way to channel the rage boiling inside, and a reputation as an A-hole is better than everyone knowing the truth. Van has spent his entire life running from a secret that’s kept him from getting involved in relationships—or accepting lucrative deals with East Coast teams. Then the Carolina Cold Fury makes him an offer he can’t refuse and meets a woman he can’t resist. This is a great book with a wonderful story and well developed characters. This book will keep you reading long into the night. If you are looking for a great book, then you need to read this book. I am looking forward to reading the next book by this great author. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader’s copy of this book. The free book held no determination on my personal review.

Loving this series so hard!

Van may be my favorite yet. We met him in "Lucas" as well as getting to know Simone, the Fournier little sister. Simone is headstrong, stubborn, and sassy while Van is headstrong, stubborn, and broody. But together - wowza - what a couple!

This one has so many feels. I loved the way Simone wears Van down with her relentless pursuit; I loved to see Van's walls crumble. But the pain of seeing his angst over his past and familial connections was hard! There is heartache - which seems to be standard with these Cold Fury men - but the journey is pleasurable even with the pain.

"I make a fun friend, and if you're interested in a benefits package with that friendship, I'm f***ing dynamite in the sack." Holy moly - she's a sassy one!
"When a naked woman walks in your room, and you already know she's the hottest ***k you'll ever have, there's just no turning her away."
And the best one: "I know that you are it for me. I will never love another soul the way I love yours." Heavy sigh.

Love, love, love this series and Sawyer Bennett delivers!

"I submitted a request to the publisher to read and voluntarily review an uncorrected advance copy of this book via Net Galley.

Where to do I even begin? Sawyer Bennett is by far one of my all time favorite writers, there isn’t one book that she has written that I didn’t read. I get so giddy with excitement when I know that she’s releasing a new book because I know that it will one story that I get lost into, even if it is for a few hours. That is one of the reason’s I love her work, you just know that when she writes she has the best interest of her readers because she gives us her all and that’s exactly when she did when she wrote “Van.”

“ And the next time we’re together, Simone….I’m going own your cunt. I’m going to eat you out until you come all over my face, then I’m going to stuff you full of my cock until you’re begging me to stop. But I won’t. I won’t fucking stop until your pussy squeezes every drop out of me”

*clears throat* Well ladies, this is a little taste of the man I have fallen in love with by the name of Van. He is every thing I love in a male character. He’s all alpha male, damaged, beautiful, sexy and with a very dirty mouth. Van and Simone’s story is one that you will not want to miss. To watch Van give in to his feelings for her was so beautiful to watch because when Sawyer Bennett delivers one of her stories trust me when I say your heart will hurt with the ultimate feels but don’t fear because she will mend those broken pieces back for you.

“Well, you were my first everything, Simone. My first love. First devotion, My first heartbreak. My one and only relationship with a woman. You were my first confidant and companion. Simone….you were my first friend ever. My first……everything”

I mean, gah!!!! How can you get the ultimate feels with this line man, not only that but Sawyer Bennett writes some the hottest sex scenes ever and I must say that van is one naughty, naughty boy.

Another great book, just like I expected. Lots of emotions. This series can go on forever, as far as I'm concerned!

A-M-A-Z-I-N-G

“Am I still shiny?”

First I have to confess that Van is the first book that I read in the Cold Fury Hockey series. I do not know why!!! This book VAN, I had no idea what I was getting myself into when I started this one and I FREAKING loved it so so so much! I am a big fan of Sawyer Bennett’s books , She has the power to get the reader sucked in ,consumed by her story from the very first page.
I literally DEVOURED Van and I want to read it again.

Van is definitely the perfect ALPHA- He's cocky, bossy, stubborn but most importantly Freaking HOT! Van to put it mildly, is ONLY focused on his career and Etta . He's a man of few words. His entire life revolved around Hockey and is determined to be the best he can be. Being that focused doesn't leave him a lot of time to make friends and he is okay with that. He is known for being a loner. The background story of Van isn't pretty and his regimented life with everything in order and all focus done on the ice is totally captivating and so sad. Then comes along Simone who is the QUEEN of SASS and the story just takes off on the most heart-felt journey.
I love Simone- She appears at Luka’s door after dropping out from college, just a few months before graduating as a doctor. She doesn’t know what she wants to do with her life and is going to take so time off to think about her future. While she does that, she is going to stay with her bro and Van.
Simone has no filter and is going to pursue relentlessly Van who will not give her the time of day.
“This kiss is brutal, born of frustration and lust, and a final fall from any grace she may have once had from me”

Will Van yield to temptation? Will Simone manage to get Van’s attention? Will they get their HEA?

I seriously underestimated the depth and amount of the feels Van and Simone would give me. Van, is one of my new favourite book boyfriends.

“I’ve given you more than I’ve ever given another woman, but I’ve given you my all.”

Van was one of those books that absolutely grabbed me from the first chapter – It is so much more than a sports romance, it's a beautiful love story.

FIVE SHINY stars and beyond.
*Arc kindly provided by the author for an honest review.

Another winner in the Carolina Cold Fury Hockey series with compelling characters and well-crafted plot that kept me entertained and intrigued from the first word to the last. I enjoyed the emotion, humor, and spicy romance of this can't-put-down book.

I really liked the sizzling chemistry, repartee and dynamic between Van Turner, one of the league's toughest enforcers, and Simone Fournier, stubborn sister of two of Cold Fury's biggest stars. There were times I thought my Kindle would melt.

I received a free advance copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley and this is my unbiased review.

Good storyline and well defined characters pulled me right into the story from the very beginning and Simone and Van kept me totally engaged until the end!

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book.

Loved every minute of this! Well, I was a little iffy on Simone at first because she was so.... aggressive? Forward? But then I decided I loved that about her. It was exactly what Van needed. And Van is one of my new favorite men. He was beautiful and sexy but broken by a past that I've never seen done in a book before. Another great installment in the Cold Fury world.

Rude. Closed Off. Weird. Introvert. A-hole.

This is the type of man that Van Turner portrays himself to be, not only on the ice as an Enforcer for the Carolina Cold Fury, but also in his private life because he’s unwilling to allow anyone past the impenetrable wall he’s constructed. Van’s a pro at icing people out of his life, and because no one’s willing to look past his cold exterior, he lives a solitary life.

But Van’s cool demeanor is about to be turned upside down by a woman who is a relentless flirt and stubborn enough to penetrate his defenses one sexual innuendo at a time.

Simone Fournier is probably one of the most aggressive and outspoken heroines that I’ve encountered since delving into the romance genre, and I have to admit that it was a little off putting at the beginning. A lot of the time this type of behavior is portrayed by the other woman/women who want(s) the hero’s attention and is willing to throw herself/themselves at her/their male conquest regardless of how desperate she/they appear(s). But as Sawyer Bennett continues to explore who Simone is and how she became the self-assured woman who she is, I understood Simone’s personality better and her words and actions made perfect sense to me when it came to dealing with a tortured soul like Van Turner.

It also took me a bit to warm up to Van’s character, which actually caught me off guard because I usually adore Sawyer Bennett’s alpha males, even the assholes who have never seen women as more than a good time. I’m not sure if it was because Van was so withdrawn and so introverted that I couldn’t get a good read on him or if my initial judgment was skewed based on how blunt he had to be in order to sidestep Simone’s advances.

As Van and Simone’s story continues, though, Bennett provides much needed insight into what Van had to deal with growing up and how his view of himself forced him to become a bit of a recluse and an extremely private person.

Both Van and Simone are stubborn as hell, so it’s interesting to watch them circle around each other, both refusing to be the loser of this seductive power play, but once Van gives into his attraction and allows lust to fog his brain, he finds that Simone just might be the one person capable of being his biggest supporter even when she learns the truth that he has fought to hide for many years.

Sawyer Bennett’s Cold Fury Hockey series is one of my absolute favorites. Each hero and heroine has a unique personality and the couple’s story line is always completely different from its predecessors, which is sometimes difficult to accomplish in a series that has already released 8 players’ stories. And while Van and Simone’s story wasn’t one of my favorites, I still enjoyed the push and pull between them and the way Simone interacted with her big brothers who just happen to both be members of the Carolina Cold Fury just like the man who she wants to be ‘shiny’ for, for the rest of her life.

4 Poison Apples (The Fairest of All Book Reviews)

If you’ve read this author before, you know she doesn’t shy away from adding loads of graphic, steamy scenes to this particular series. In this case, it went above and beyond what I expected. In fact, it took up most of the storyline here long before there was any kind of emotional connection or any inkling there ever would be one. Simone, the heroine, jokingly referred to herself as a stalker, but some may feel it bordered sexual harassment. Some may feel she’s just empowered herself to be what we often see male leading men act out in this genre. It’ll be up to you to label it as you see fit.

Just know Ms. Bennett also has a way of turning an overly steamy storyline into something that eventually tugs at my romantic heart strings. That’s what really keeps me coming back for more. In this case, the last 20% is what I enjoyed the most, as I prefer substance over steam.

Right off the bat, Van was very clear on how he wasn’t interested in violating his teammate/roommate’s bro code by messing around with his baby sis, who invited herself to move into their apartment unannounced. But this girl would not let up to the point it was rather embarrassing for our sisterhood, folks. Yeah, she had no shame, self-respect, dignity, nor boundaries it would seem, including her decision to drop out of college as a pre-med student, and instead left her parents hanging for all that dough they rolled out paying for those three undergrad years. Instead she got a low paying job bartending at a seedy nightclub and briefly worked topless as a strip club waitress, all until she figures out what she wants to do with her life and earn a few bucks to keep her afloat.

If you like an uninhibited, aggressive, unrelentless, chases after him until she wears him down out of frustration heroine, up for anything/anywhere/any time kind of kinkiness but makes him agree to be exclusive heroine, you’ll love Simone. It wasn’t surprisingly their first intimate time together felt more like she was a random backroom puck bunny than a love interest, folks.

Surprisingly, I was impressed at the bitter end when everything went to heck in a handbasket, she said and did the right thing. This feisty gal took him at his own regrettable words and did what a self-respecting woman should do, which lead to my favorite kind of ending (a groveling hero).

Book 10 will feature Reed, the nice guy who wanted to take Simone on a date. The heroine there is an ER doctor, a role I’m extremely partial to. Looks like we will briefly have to endure some random OW scenes as they first met as neighbors, and he’s rocking it so much in his bedroom she has to go over to his door and ask him to reign the noise in so she can sleep, go to work, and save lives. Also sounds like they become friends first and establish a real relationship before becoming intimate.

So, yeah, there was more steam than substance for quite some time. My patience was rewarded though with a sweet, endearing HEA.

Title: Van, Series: Cold Fury Hockey (Book 9), Author: Sawyer Bennett, Pages: 224, stand-alone but part of a series, excessive graphic steamy scenes, slow to build emotional connection, lusty language, unrelentless in her smexy pursuit of the hero, typical backfire when bro finds out, sweet ending.

Rating: Difficult to rate. Probably a 2 star for being more steam than substance the first 77%, but I really enjoyed the ending enough to bump it up to dramatically. What can I say? I'm a sucker for a heroine who comes to her senses and decides to make the hero work for their HEA, which includes a groveling hero finally ready to admit he can't live without her.

(I received a free advanced reader copy provided via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. No type of compensation was given to this reviewer. There is no relationship or affiliation between the reviewer and the author/publisher.)