The sexy and rugged men of the Cold Fury hockey team are back in this tale of overcoming the past to find a future worth living for. This is an erotically-charged tale with a strong-willed heroine and an emotionally bruised hero with a buried heart of gold whose connection is combustible. It’s a scorching tale from the very start that slowly revealed itself to be a heartwarming tale with an ending that had me cheering.

Simone Fournier is the sister of two hockey gods who’s a bit uncertain what she wants to be when she grows up. For the last year she’s been living a lie, living a life she never wanted, but with the truth coming out she finds herself on her brother’s doorstep ready to regroup. Her plan to make amends doesn’t go quite as planned though as she continues to feel lost when it comes to her future career. Luckily for her she finds a delightful distraction in her brother’s stoic and sexy roommate, Van. They’re a combustible couple from the moment their eyes meet and from then on it’s a sensual battle of the sexes teeming with tension. It’s a tug-of-war that has Simone using all her womanly wiles to break through Van’s emotional walls, a war that’s ultimately immensely satisfying and full of unexpected heart and soul. Simone’s a larger-than-life heroine who lit up every scene she was in. She has a kind heart, is close to her family, and is unwaveringly supportive of those she cares for. She may be a bit flighty when it comes to her career aspirations, but she’s very comfortable when it comes to her sexuality. She’s unafraid to go after what she wants, comfortable in having a casual relationship with Van based on sex...at least until she gets a glimpse of the hurt little boy hiding behind his guarded heart. She’s an immensely likable heroine, brash and self-assured, with a refreshing and modern view of sex and romance that makes her the perfect match for the cold and commanding Van.

Van Turner is a man with a past he’s buried deep, a past that’s unspeakable and that’s left its indelible mark on his heart and soul. His past taught him that no one is who they seem and that the biggest smiles hide the most blackest soul. He learned that the only one he can count on is himself and the woman who sacrificed herself to raise him. He now lives a closed off life, barely interacting with others and interested in only random hook-ups. He’s a Grinch who keeps to himself and who’s happy to not get involved. Every decision he’s made, along with the formidable wall encasing his heart, is related to his past and the time has come for his battle to end as Simone is a mighty huntress determined to claim him. Van’s very bitter at the start, angry at the world, but the more time he spends with Simone the more it becomes clear that his walls are starting to crack. He goes from cold to hot in the blink of an eye when she goads him. His smiles come faster and are a hard-won reward. He may have been unlikable in the beginning but I quickly warmed up to him and became his cheerleader once he revealed his tragic past and the fears he has over how it will affect his future. Even when Van was his most abrasive he was teeming with sensuality, a master of dirty talk who knew every button to push to make his and Simone’s encounters burn up the pages. By the end he became a hero worth rooting for with a grand gesture that utterly charmed me.

Ms. Bennett’s Cold Fury series continues to delight with this tale that beautifully balanced fun and flirty banter with erotically-charged encounters that became more emotionally intense the closer Van and Simone became. Though the premise was a bit familiar the characters kept if fresh. With its take-charge heroine and emotionally bruised hero in need of healing, this romance worked its way into my heart and had me aching for both of them as they worked through each layer that history made Van Turner into. It was a journey full of smiles, sexiness, and a bit of heartbreak that captivated me and had me cheering this couple on every step of the way. Surrounding this combustible main couple was a cast of secondary characters who felt more like family. The men and women of the Cold Fury hockey team were a colorful and supportive group whose stories intertwined with this installment to keep me fully immersed in the storytelling. Some storylines were made even happier while others are just starting courtesy of the delicious taste we got of Reed, another up-and-coming hockey player who appears flirty and carefree, who I know will quickly become fodder for reader’s nighttime dreams. Fans of sports romances will want to add this series to their bookshelf as each installment continues to satisfy with a near-perfect balance of action on and off the ice that pulls at my heartstrings while making me blush.

While this is recorded as the ninth book in the Cold Fury Hockey Series, this can be read on a stand alone basis.

I was really excited to read this book after Lucas and boy I was not disappointed. I found this a really engrossing story and I devoured it on one sitting. I was really drawn to Simone and Van and literally couldn't wait to watch their romance unfold. They're both flawed characters in different ways and for that I was intrigued by them; Van's dark to Simone's light worked perfectly.

This was another enjoyable and entertaining read from this series and one I would be happy to recommend.

I was provided with a copy of this book from the Publisher via NetGalley; there was no inducement or obligation.

This series just keeps getting better and better! Van could be so easy to hate but the more you get to know him the easier he is to love because there are reasons for him to be the way he is. He is naturally introverted and standoffish but he is also grouchy and short tempered...until Simone starts to knock down his walls. Simone is the sister of Lucas and Max who we met in previous books and they are members of the Cold Fury team. She showed up on the doorstep in the last book and to stay with Lucas and Van much to their dismay. Van tries so hard to stay away from Simone but she is having none of that and seduces him and when he cannot resist any longer all bets are off. I love these two together. What starts off as a casual affair turns hot and heavy and healing for both. Definitely a must read for anyone who has been reading this series but it could be read as a standalone!

**Received this ARC for review from the publisher via NetGalley**

I was dying to read Van ever since reading the epilogue of Lucas and he was worth the wait. I think Van intrigued me the most because of his refusal to get close to anyone, even his teammates. My heart broke for him as his past was revealed and was able to understand whole heartidly why he was the way he was. Van is by far my favorite of the Cold fury series and I don’t know who , if anybody will be able to top this one.

What can I say about this Cold Fury series by Sawyer Bennett except that I ave loved every story. What could be a lighthearted but shallow story becomes so much more in her writing. Van is a perfect example of the very flawed H who is surly and grumpy and closed off, but Simone is determined to get under his skin, and she does so beautifully in this well scripted story featuring one of my favorite hockey teams. A solid 5 Stars for me!

What a heartfelt, steamy, swoony, beautiful story Sawyer Bennett gives us!

Van, brooding, intimidating, and completely closed off, he is ashamed of his past and gets close to no one. He keeps his past a secret, and while the events are of no fault of his, his fears lead his life. Until Simone. Oh Simone! What a joy she is. She’s confident, free spirited, and pushy, but in a fun, cute way, and she is determined to get under Van’s skin.

I have to say, I thoroughly enjoyed these characters. I loved the opening up of Van and the slow build of dropping his walls. It was realistic and emotional and very touching. Simone is quite the character and just perfect for him. She gives him strength and the ability for him to see and feel freely and on his own time. Her understanding of him and his feelings and how deeply he is scarred was beautiful. I would have liked to have seen more of their relationship growth from more than just the bedroom once they reached a certain point in their relationship. While it was great to know of their talks and sharing, some more one on one time, even a date, would have been nice. The “shiny” parts made this story glimmer brightly and always made me smile.

This beautiful story of tragedy, trust, and love will melt your heart and leave a smile on your face.

I swear from the second I cracked open my Kindle I was immediately in love with this book. It's an intense, sexy, passionate story filled with so much heart and healing. It’s also extremely entertaining and fun! I was laughing and crying and holding my breath the entire time. I loved Van and Simone! Fantastic read!

I loved Simone and her pursuit of Van, she’s flirty and feisty and I loved her boldness and persistence. I loved her fire and determination and how relentless she was when she wanted something. I adored Van. He might be my new favorite guy in the Cold Fury world. He was commanding and alpha and so very sexy. I loved that power he exuded and how he tried to resist Simone. Van’s intense but I loved every little thing about him and I loved learning his history and was so excited to find out all the details. When he finally opens up I swear my heart was in my throat. I thought Van and Simone had amazing chemistry together and I loved that push and pull they have on one another, that animosity, and their deep growing connection. They were so passionate, I think this might be the hottest book in the Cold Fury series yet!

I thought there was fantastic development as we learn Van and Simone’s histories and issues. The pace and build were excellent. Even though there was a level of intensity happening, I thought the overall story had a super fun feel and was extremely entertaining. I loved that playful vibe between Van and Simone, I found it rather adorable considering Van could be such a grumpy guy. I really enjoyed the time line and how it overlapped with Lucas's story and felt like I got even more closure there, which was awesome. I loved meeting Reed, whose book is next. He seems like a sweet and sincere guy. Bring it on!

Hands down this was a five star read for me. I've really enjoyed all the books in the series but Van really got me. There's something about a closed off, gruff man really opening up and being vulnerable that tugs at my heart. There's a bit of drama, lots of ups and downs, a whole heck of a lot of heat, and most important, love and healing. A must read for sure!

Van plays on the Cold Fury Hockey team and is known for being tough and not much for relationship. His past secrets are whats keeping him from anything serious like relationships. Then it comes his teammate / roommates sister Simone who is very bull headed and knows what she wants and her eyes are set on Van.

I loved seeing that passion between the two. I loved how different author took it when it came to Van's backstory. I mean I figured it was going to turn out generic like most stories which I realize now I can say because I don't want to spoil the book and narrow it down of you. What I can say was that it was unexpected, sad and I liked how different it made his character. Seeing how it impacted Van as a character and how it made a difference in his life. Then there is Simone who seems wild and free and when she goes into something she does it wholeheartedly. I love this book the story line was interesting, I loved the characters, I loved that there was just enough drama to keep things interesting and I enjoyed seeing the banter and passion between Simone and Van. Overall I really enjoyed this book!

Highly recommend you check this book out but even more to check out the series, you'd appreciate the book more if you do that because previous characters make their appearance and I love getting to see the character I once enjoyed before getting to know their story and appearing from time to time.

I have been in LOVE with Sawyer Bennett’s Cold Fury Hockey Series for a VERY long time. Ms. Bennett got me hooked on “Hockey” romance that is for sure. VAN, the 9th book in this fabulous series, is right there at the top of my not to be missed list of books.
Van Turner is a hard ass both on and off the ice. He has a past that has made him this way. I will not go into what his past is, but put it this way, it made me look at him in a new light. I was not very fond of him at the beginning of the story, I did not like the way he treated Simone. The more I read, the more I thought of him, and the more I thought he was better, more of a “man” than he seemed to be at the beginning of the book, a hell of a better man than he seemed to think he was. I was very happy that Simone saw him for the man he actually was. Then there was the chemistry between Simone and Van, can you say HOT!!!!!!
I really like the way Ms. Bennett develops her characters. She makes them “human” whether, a “hockey hero”, or just a plain joe.
Thank you, Ms. Bennett, for sharing your phenomenal talents with your readers.
I was gifted with an advance copy of this book for my honest opinion. Van goes live on November 28, 2017. If you like “Hockey Romance”, Van is definitely a winner.
Thank you for reading my review.

Love this hockey series! Another steamy, emotional, sexy sports story with very likeable characters.

Holy hell Sawyer Bennett.... What are you doing to me!!!! Each book that I have read in this series leaves me spellbound and begging for more. I wasn't sure how I was going to react to Van because he was so angry and brody but in true Sawyer Bennett fashion she had me falling in LOVE with Van and Simone's story! How can you go wrong with a heroine who is sassy, sexual and goes after what she wants which is the angry, gorgeous alpha hero who is trying to push her away. You wont want to miss this hot as hell read so one-click thus bad boy!

Van is a grumpy dude introduced in the last Cold Fury Hockey book, and now he gets his own HEA, although the road to get there isn't all that easy. He's not exactly nice, doesn't really interact with his roommate Lucas and basically gives everyone the impression he's a jerk. That is until Simone Fournier, Lucas's sister shows up and gives him the eye.

Simone sees something in Lucas -- at first it's the fact that he's built and she wants him in her bed. She's tenacious about it too and doesn't give up even though Van says "no" many times. I'll admit this made me little squeamish at times because he really wasn't giving her mixed signals. But then he breaks down and they enter into a sex-only, keep-it-secret sort of relationship.

These two had great chemistry together. Simone doesn't put up with his attitude, and Van starts to feel something different than he feels with his usual one-night stands. I really liked Van and Simone together and Simone's adventurous nature really was a highlight of their time together. When Simone discovers the secret that Van is keeping from everyone, there's a risk that Van will push her away, but Simone handles it perfectly and their relationship continues to develop and grow. I loved that about this book -- the story isn't anything new, but some of the details were very refreshing and unexpected.

As the team heads into the Stanley Cup finals, a reporter threatens to uncover Van's secret, causing great turmoil for Van and Simone. My heart was really hurting for these two at this point, and I may have actually leaked a little bit when Simone gives Van an ultimatum that doesn't work in her favor. It was so heartbreaking and I loved it! It made the "make-up" scene all that more satisfying. I loved Simone and how she handled Van. I loved Van for his willingness to give Simone a chance after everything he'd been through. They were just perfect together.

I really enjoyed this book. I think it took me less than two days to read because I wanted to know what was going to happen to them. There was also the little detail of Van having sex with his teammate's sister, and we all know that's a no-no! It provides a nice bit of conflict in the story.

This book also overlaps somewhat with Lucas, the previous book in the series, and I did like that as well. So I'm giving this a 5 star rating because it hit all the right notes for me, at the right time in the story. Loved it!

An ARC was provided for review.

This book was AWESOME!!! The latest of Sawyer Bennett’s Cold Fury players, Van, doesn’t disappoint!

Simone has dropped out of college and forced herself into the home of her brother and his roommate, Van. She’s trying to figure out what to do with her life and along the way she’s going to seduce the handsome hockey player who’s moody and broody. And when Simone sets her mind on something, she never backs down.

Van can’t withstand all that is Lucas’ baby sister. No matter how much he needs to keep her at a distance, she flirts and flaunts her way into his pants, his bed and then his heart. But he’s been keeping a deep dark secret from everyone in his life and along with that secret, he’s living in fear. It is that combination that dictates that Simone must not tear down the walls he’s built around himself.

I loved this story so much! While I’m not a fan of aggressive heroines, Simone was exactly what Van needed. Any other type of woman would’ve never managed to pull him out of his self-imposed isolation. Despite her sexual aggression, she was sweet and giving, kind and loyal and she knew exactly what it was going to take to win her man and she was in it for the long haul.

Van was so damaged, in so many ways from his past that he was socially stunted. With no relationships in his life he didn’t know how to take the first steps toward something good that came in the form of the beautiful, seductive woman that was forcing herself into his life. My heart hurt for him when his whole story was revealed and I couldn’t help but totally understand why he pushed people away.

What an incredible read! Fast paced, well developed, with enough humor to lighten the angst and enough passion to steam my Kindle, Van has earned a place on my reread shelf!
This is an honest review of an advanced copy provided by NetGalley and Loveswept.

4.5 stars
Van has the best plot of the entire Cold Fury series—a series I adored—a series that contained many of my favorite reads and favorite male leads!

Van is just WOW..... Van Turner is the brooding roommate to Cold Fury player, Lucas Fournier.
I want to pause here and say though the timeline for Lucas and Van overlap, I think this book will be enjoyed more if you have already read Lucas (and well if you have read the Cold Fury series you will be in hockey heaven as you read).

Lucas (and Max’s) baby sister Simone Fournier has recently dropped out of college (much to her parents chagrin) and is living on Lucas’s couch. This puts her (or more accurately) puts Van right in Simone’s orbit.

You see though Simone is a bit adrift when it comes to what she wants to do for a living; she is very clear she is attracted to Van. I loved how bold Simone was, how she was in touch with her sexuality, and how she pushed Van.

Simone’s parents are really well done in this story. They added to the story and helped you understand Simone and even Lucas and Max more.

Why was this book so WOW you ask? Well that wow comes in the form of Van’s secret—Van’s past—his haunting, grabbing your soul, breaking your heart past.

Van is not your standard "oh I am afraid of commitment alpha male" that has become a bit boring and overdone to me. Van is truly a man with past, a man with real fears, a man with a REASON to fear allowing himself to love.
Everything around this was element of the book was so well done; this tragic secret not only makes Van make so much sense to the reader—it makes you wish you could reach into your kindle and HUG him!

But alas that is Simone’s job. This feisty young woman slowly chips away at the tough exterior Van has spent his life putting up. I truly believe Simone opened Van’s eyes to the beauty in the world. A world that when I closed my kindle I felt like he was finally living in for the first time in his life!

I must say that the "I am still Shiny" line became so powerful. Trust me read the book and you will understand!

This world Ms. Bennett has crafted with this series is one that now feels like sitting down to visit with friends and I am so excited that Reed will have his story told next!

Van is Book 9 in the "Cold Fury Hockey" Series by Sawyer Bennett. This is the story of Van and Simone. The book is sexy and very entertaining. I really enjoyed it.

As always, I started reading this book expecting a great time and Sawyer Bennett didn't disappoint me! Her writing style is entertaining and the characters are wonderfully done.

Van and Simone's story develops almost at the same time as Luca's. Simone is the youngest of the Fourier's siblings with a very strong personality. She is not happy with her career and decides to leave everything and move in with Lucas for a while. There she meets Van, she feels attracted by him and although he resists her, she always manages to get what she wants...

The chemistry between them is amazing but Van has huge walls protecting his feelings. He is afraid someone can discover his past and hurt him.

Great read! Entertaining and wonderful!

I just adore this series! Every hockey player's story have been awesome so far and Van Turner's story is no exception.

Van is currently living with his teammate Lucas Fournier. When Lucas' little sister Simone comes to temporarily live with them, that is when the fun begins. Van and Simone are both emotionally guarded and emotionally explosive people and when these two finally hook up....WOW!

Van likes to act like an a$$hole and pretend that nothing bothers him, but in reality, that is not true. He has a whole past history that has bothered him so much he was withdrawn socially from anyone. Too bad Simone doesn't care about how Van acts, she just wants Van.....ANYWAY she can get him!

It takes one, stubborn, pushy female to finally get through to Van, but when Simone finally does....it was well worth it. I just adored Simone. She is such a strong female and goes after what she wants even if it isn't the normal thing to do. Van may have seemed like not the world's best guy, but after realizing about his past, you can certainly understand why he is like he is.

Overall I loved the explosive journey these two went on to get to their happy ending. These two were so hot, it was crazy! The epilogue was even perfect too, although I must say I never would have guessed at that ending!

5 Shiny Stars!!! Loved, loved this book!! I am totally obsessed with the Cold Fury men and this one did not disappoint!! II adore Sawyer's writing!! This book was emotional, beautiful and scorching hot!!! Van is your typical hot and broody hockey player. The chemistry between Van and Simone is smoldering!! If you're looking for a super sexy sports romance then this book is for you! I highly recommend reading this and the rest of the series!!

Panty Scorching - 3
Angst - 1
Tissues - 0
Storyline - 4
Value - 4
Overall - 4
Kindle eArc provided by Netgalley

I absolutely adore this series!! Each one captures me from the very first page and I'm in my own little world until the very last page....which was what I thought I was getting in this book but I didn't. Now, don't get me wrong, I loved the plot...it just felt like something was missing...I struggled with the relationship with the two main characters...too much hot and cold and just felt off to me.

Simone....oh I just loved her!! She has dropped out of college and has decided to show up on one of her professional hockey player brothers doorstep to stay for a little while...only he does not live alone, he lives with a fellow teammate Van.

She is just a spitfire...so full of life and has a one liner for everything! Van however, is one of the most closed off humans on the face of the earth, has never been in a relationship and is socially stunted. He has trouble connecting with people and struggles with even having more then a few worded conversation. BUT......his past is a doozie and I totally get why feels the way he does and it's sad to see...I don't want to delve into his past too much because its vital to the story but it slowly comes out and explains why he is the way he is.

Simone is immediately attracted to Van and is like a dog with a bone and won't let go until she gets him into her bed!! Which sets the scene for a few comical scenes...even though Van wants nothing to do with this tiny ball of fire...especially because she is a teammate's sister. Well, she goes balls to wall in getting what she wants. A large portion of the book is the cat and mouse game and I honestly figured Van was a no go....but here is where it kind of lost me....he makes a rapid 180. Something from his past comes into his life and he is thrown for a loop. At this point, I just felt their relationship went from 0 to 60 and it was like I was reading about a totally different guy. Me no likey! Will his past effect his relationship with Simone for the good or bad? I was happy with the ending but to me, not one of my favorites in this series.

***4 ‘Am I Still Shiny?’ Stars***

I have to admit that while I was definitely looking forward to getting my hands on Van, I was also a little hesitant because of the tepid feelings towards Lucas (the book as a whole, not necessarily Lucas himself). But my overall love and enjoyment of the series had me looking at the book as a one off, especially since Van had captured my interest with his ‘I’m a lone wolf, don’t come any where near me’ vibe, and I’m so happy I didn’t give up on the series. Van is all kinds of HAWT, quite possibly the smexiest of the series thus far, but it also has the heart I’ve come to expect from a Sawyer Bennett book, as well as intriguing characters that keep me turning the pages to very end.

Van is described as being rude and antisocial, or simply an asshole, and there is some truth there, but I found that I liked the man. Even before finding out how heartbreaking his past was, I liked him because there was an honesty to him. True, he’s blunt and did his best to push people away, but he was never cruel about it. And then when light was shed on his past, well understanding dawns and I saw just how strong he really is, bruised, but strong. Of course falling in love with him came as the book progressed and the walls started to come down, because that man combined with all his smexy, dominate alpha AF self is absolutely lethal!

Simone. Simone. Simone. Oh this girl. I had a bit of a time with her. She is all kinds of fiery, extremely comfortable in her own skin and when she focuses on what she wants, the woman is the personification of stubborn determination and I’ll admit that while I admired her tenacity, there were a few moments when it felt like she crossed a few lines. Whether that’s a good or bad thing...I’m still in the whole inner debate mode over. But what balanced her out for me was her heart. For all her antics, she has a huge and amazing heart ~ not surprising since she is apart of the Fournier clan

The beginning of Van and Simone’s journey is filled with all kinds of crazy sexual tension and once it breaks...all bets are off. These two are so well matched when it comes to their more carnal appetites it’s a wonder fireworks didn’t start going off when they were within a hundred feet of each other. But soon their relationship evolves ~ even when neither wants it to (or at least says they don’t) and they find that they fit beyond the physical. The beginnings of a deeper emotional connection create all kinds of bumps in their road, but soon find that they are exactly what they never knew they needed. Now, there is always that plot twist bomb that happens and I’m honestly a little stuck on just how I feel about it. Part of me get’s it and feels as if the fallout was justified. but the other part of me...let’s just say that my brain kind of exploded and the inner verbal vomit went something like this “WTF?!?! After ALL that...all pushing...all those words and really??? That’s what you choose to do???...” *takes a deep breath* So, there was a bit of dip there, but what saved everything was the groveling apology...that was definitely going BIG and I totally approve.

As with all of the books in the series this one can be read as a standalone, though I will say that you’ll probably have a lot more fun if you start at the beginning with Alex since many of the characters make appearances throughout the series, but it’s not entirely necessary. The one thing I will say is that Van and Lucas run concurrently and you’ll get bits and pieces of Lucas’ story in Van whereas in Lucas you simply meet Van, so the choice is yours on how you wish to proceed. As for me, I’m looking forward to getting to know Reed better in the next installment of the series!

Sawyer Bennett has yet another winner with VAN , her nineth book in the Cold Fury series. To me, these books just keep getting better, and this is most definitely the BEST ONE YET. This one runs alongside Lucas , so I would recommend that it be read beforehand, however if you haven't VAN can still be read as a standalone. This is a bad boy and a very naughty girl who are just made for each other.

From the minute Simone Fournier turns up on the doorstep that Van Turner shares with her brother Lucas, you know that there is going to be trouble. Simone has ditched her studies and is unsure of what show now wants to do, but one thing is definitely obvious - she wants Van Turner, in a very big way. Whereas, Van is determined to stay away from her. These two would have to be the hottest pairing, by far, in this wonderful series.

Simone is an absolute minx!!!! She is never backwards in coming forwards, she says what she want and goes for it - and it doesn't bother her one iota as to who knows. She is absolutely relentless in her pursuit of Van, even when he is continually telling her NO!!!! She also has a heart of gold, which is evident when Van finally succumbs and reveals his past to her. Van is the epitome of an alpha, but when he's with Simone, that's when his softer side emerges - one that would make any woman's heart melt.

Van would definitely have to be my favourite in this series, which is amazing because I absolutely love them all. Bring on REED Ms Sawyer - let's see if you can top the heat, sexiness and fun of Van.

Read and Reviewed for Reading Is Our Satisfaction