This is a sweet story about Bryant (a hockey player) and Gabriella (a baker who’s the sister to Bryant’s best friend/teammate). This story actually has a sweet buildup with both of them craving each other even though they shouldn’t. Bryant, because he feels guilty over wanting someone even though his wife and unborn child are deceased and Gabriella because she was abused as a child and wants to stay away from all hockey players. The pull between these two characters is too strong for them to stay away from each other and before you know it, they are happily in love – hidden love. What’s going to happen when her brother finds out??? Will this newly in love couple last or are there too many obstacles??? You need to read it to find out.
I greatly enjoyed this story and look forward to reading all other books from this author. This was my first book of hers to read. The subject of hockey is what appealed to me. This is book two in a series, but can be read as a standalone.

Slap shot is second in teh Sound series adn this time we get Emile's sister Gabriella and his teammate Bryant. Bryant is on and off again trying to figure out what to do with his family and his past. But the one thing that helps is Gabby. But wanting her goes against the bro code.

Gabriella has her own issues she's trying over come, along with dealing with her attraction to Bry. This was a good read and I liked it however I was going to give it a 5 stars but I feel like the relationship between the two needed a bit more. I feel like their relationship was going well but I was waiting for more heat more passion. It felt more like instalove than anything. But it was good.

Slap Shot is a fun, sexy, emotional read. Bryant has a past that no one from his current team knows about. Gabriella’s life is changing, her brother is getting married and it will no longer be the two of them. Bryant and Gabriella form a friendship and help each other out during a rough time. They develop feelings for each other and their chemistry is scorching hot. Too bad Bryant has to worry about the “Bro Code” being that plays hockey with Gabriella’s brother and Gabriella promised her brother not to date any hockey players. I loved the first book in the series and this book did not disappoint. I can’t wait for the next book to be released.

An excellent story with great, well developed characters, a storyline that grabs your attention and holds it!

Thoroughly enjoyed this book and looking forward to reading more from this series!

https://www.amazon.com/gp/review/R3K7UH1RBYJNUS?ref_=glimp_1rv_cl

4.5 Stars
Slap Shot is book 2 in the Nashville Sound Series but it can be read as a standalone, I know this because this author is new to me but I will certainly be looking up the previous book in this series and her other books, if you love hockey or sports romance this is a must read. The characters have depth and sizzling chemistry, the story flows and this book is beautifully written with a big emphasis on family and the team, I was hooked from the first chapter and can’t wait to read more from this author and the Nashville Sound.

A sexy, sporty, funny addictive read that I absolutely love love love. I really didn’t want it to end. I thought the first book in this series was outstanding this one totally tops it. Can’t wait for the next book, super excited to see what else this fantastic author writes. Would recommend

I really enjoyed the second book in this series! The author’s characters are completely relatable and the writing is on point. I love Hockey romances, particularly ones where the bro code of don’t date my sister come into play. It always makes for a good read.
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book provided by NetGalley.

his book is about Gabriella and Bryant(Swifty to his team members) both have scars and demons. Gabriella's are from her childhood and have affected much of her life choices. Bryant's are from a hard tragic time in his life, only he wants to move on. Enter a loving a family who maybe doesn't get that. Both will realize love is possible even when you aren't looking for it. I loved the book and learning about each of them a little more. I received this book free for a honest review from Netgalley, and I must say I look forward to reading more by the author team.

Slap Shot is a crisp, clear story about characters who have some darkness in their past. Bryant is a star hockey player who is hiding a big secret from his friends on his team: when he was 19, his pregnant wife died, and years later his family won't let go of his tragedy. He wants to move on but isn't sure how, until he makes a connection with Gabriella. Unfortunately, she is the sister of Bryant's teammate, and the bro code is clear: he should stay away. Gabriella's brother is especially protective, because their family was ripped apart by abuse in the past.

This book isn't about Bryant and Gabriella's tragic pasts, but how they are eager to move beyond them. They have to learn to assert themselves to their families - and they do, with sincerity and charm, not angst.

This book is part of a series, but can be understood on its own.

Slap Shot started right where the first book left off, except it focused on Gabriella and Bryant’s POV. I love when the author just continues the story because we get to see Emile and Amy continue their story as well.

Emile and Amy’s rush wedding was closely wrapped around Gabriella’s feelings. As close as she is to her brother, she was afraid she was going to lose some of her connection with him now that he had Amy in his life.

Bryant was dealing with his own issues that involved a past that wouldn’t stop haunting him. Being around the happy engaged couple affected both Bryant and Gabriella in a way that made it feel natural to turn to each other.

The more these two took comfort, the more they grew close and realized what was keeping them both from moving on.

I’m pretty much in love with this series. These two authors really know how to create characters that just draw you in and make you want to be a part of their lives.

There is no epilogue and that gives me hope that the next book will continue telling us about both couples, as well as give us a new couple to look forward too.

This is my first time reading this author and this appears to be either book 2 or 3 in a series. At times I felt a little lost especially in the beginning.The book was well written otherwise. Gabrielle and Bryant seemed great characters. But I got bogged down with the tradedgy and misery in their lives or rather their pasts. Bryant buried a wife and child and Gabrielle had a very abusive childhood. Both suffer from pain and its carried into their personal lives.

I was looking for a funner and cheerier books and this book just had too much angyst for me. That said if you want angyst then this book definitely delivers. if you want a lighter book then, this will not be the book for you, as I discovered.

A cake apprentice and a hockey star meet up as her brother gets engaged and both are involved in the wedding party. Both have pasts that leave them frightened of relationships. Lots of hockey talk but mainly a story of family and relationships. The characters are interesting and likable.

I have never read a book of Ms Pace but that is going to change. This book is about Bryant and Gabriella. Bryant is a hockey player and Gabriella is the sister of Bryant's teammate. Bryant and Gabriella have know each other for years. Gabriella's brother Emile gets engaged which means Gabriella and Bryant are spending more time together since she is the maid of honor and Bryant is the best man.

Bryant and Gabriella both have troubled pasts but they seem to find themselves and each other in this book. Bryant is smothered by his family and Gabriella finds her self alone due to her brothers engagement. So they start spending more time together and being friends which quickly leads to more.

This is a very sweet romance. Bryant visits unexpectedly, says sweet things and shares his past with her. This book is dual POV, it moves a believable pace and is funny at times. I will definitely read other books by Ms Pace.

I received a free copy for an honest review.

Gabriella Charbonnet knows heartbreak, she grew up with an abusive father that killed her mother and hurt her physically. If it hadn't been for her brother, Emile, who saved her when she was eleven, she doesn't know what would have happened. Since then, Emile has made sure she had everything, including playing for the Nashville Sound hockey team so they could be near each other. Gabrielle is now an apprentice in a bakery shop, hoping that some day, she can own her own. Even thou her brother has made her promise never to date a hockey player, she's been having second thoughts because of Bryant Taylor, who is also Emile's best friend.
Bryant hasn't felt the desire for another woman since the death of his wife five years ago. He feels broken and incapable of loving. Why is it then when he's near Gabrielle, his insides turn to mush. Maybe they can be friends with benefits, but then Emile would kill him.
Can two people with broken pasts start anew and trust each other. This is very enjoyable story!

SLAP SHOT is jam-packed with wonderful characters, a great storyline and enough foresight to have the reader anxiously awaiting the next instalment, while devouring this book in one easy session.

Bryant has demons in his past and is determined to stay single and loving it, while Gabriella is wholesome and sweet, with a traumatic past and a brother who adores her. Together they have explosive chemistry, but codes of conduct and common sense say that this is a relationship destined for doom.

I thoroughly enjoyed this second of the series and can’t wait to get my hands on the next exciting story of the men that rule the ice with the Nashville Sound.

Been a hot minute since I've read a hockey romance!.

Bryant Taylor aka swifty to his team is what's described to be a walking angel lookalike. He also happens to be best friend to our heroines Brother Emile.
Bryant with all his handsome angelic looks isn't without his demons. Having suffered horrendous loss at such a young age, he's left with the scars and guilt over what ifs.

Gabriella a pastry chef and the little sister of Bryant's best friend and teammate Emile. She comes with her own demons too. Having been abused at a young age by her father a minor league hockey player, she vowed never to date one. Although she grew up and understood that not all men are like her father she was still scarred heavily by the past.

The book is definitely a slow burn romance and quite honestly pretty light in the romance department anyway. They both are very attracted to eachother however fighting the attraction and their own demons definitely takes its toll on these pair through the story. The story is set a good a good pace with no unnecessary drama. The characters are likeable with good development.

I have to be honest and say that while it's not a bad story at all ... I didn't connect to it either. I just couldn't click with either characters or their story. I felt barely anything and found myself skimming pages. Neither character was bad by any means I just didn't feel anything towards them. I found there to be excessive amounts of unnecessary descriptive sentences. It was a lot for a book that didn't have a lot going on. The ending for me was extremely abrupt considering we never had a chance to see them together in a relationship and not being sneaky or just hanging out as "friends".

This is my first read by this author so I had no idea what to expect and while I won't say I'll ever read this again it's not a bad story either and I'd definitely still look at future books by this author. I've given it 3stars because it's written well. I just didn't connect to it but that's my personal experience.

I kindly received this ARC from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Bryant’s broken past is something no one in Nashville knows about. His family continues to mourn his wife that he was married for a very short time. Bryant feels trapped and in an endless cycle of mourning. Having Gabriella as one of his friends evolved into so much more than they knew. Gabriella is feeling at a loss as her brother Emile moves on with his life. Always saying yes to everyone has her feeling life could be so much more than the endless cycle of living for others. Will they find life has more in store for them! Absolutely loved this second book in the series.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I was very excited to get this book after enjoying the first in the series so much. I was not disappointed. This was another pleasurable read.

I liked Bryant a lot. He may not have been as flashy a hero as Emile he was also a more realistic and less annoying one. His story was touching and he was such a solid character. Gabriella was a little more tricky for me. She is the typical romance heroine in that she is a sweet as pie, has an amazing skill, a traumatic past that she is striving to put behind her, and is breathtakingly beautiful. I also had a hard time truly warming to her. There is not that much more to her. She doesn't seem to have much of a personality. There was a lot initially made of her being a people pleaser but it never went any where. Luckily this book was more about Bryant's journey and that story was engrossing. I look forward to see what book three in the series will bring.

This is only the second book by this writing duo known as Alicia Hunter Pace that I've read...I can say with all certainty that they have jumped to the top of my "Favorite Authors" list. As with the first book in the series Face Off, Slap Shot is filled with genuine characters who captured my heart nearly instantaneously. The authors created a wealth of depth and dimension in their characters, each with their own unique personalities...while many authors are not often successful in believably creating athletes with authenticity, Alicia Hunter Pace, seemed, in my mind, able to do so with little effort.

Gabriella's inner monologues were priceless, often times making me laugh out loud. She was smart, sassy, sometimes snarky, and always genuine. I thoroughly enjoyed her biting "Pleaser" commentaries and the way her mind could do a 180 shift inside of one thought. Bryant was the type of character who is endearing in his gentle nature...yet still could come across as the alpha elite athlete he is. The interplay between Bryant and Gabriella was fascinating. Their banter was wickedly quick and sharp, with hilarious undertones...I was drawn to them instantly as a couple. The remnants of the couple's individual heartbreaking backgrounds set the foundation for who they'd become as adults, and was amplified by what had been hidden under layers of false expectations placed on them by their families.

With the number of players on this hockey team to find their own HEA, one can only hope that this will be a long running series...I've found that I cannot get enough of these authors’ writing genius.

This ARC book was complimentary, provided by the Publisher and NetGalley. I am voluntarily providing my honest review.