New Release & Review: Reed by Sawyer Bennett
by momsread
I want to start by saying I love the Cold Fury series! And I enjoyed reading Reed!

Reed Olson and Josie Ives definitely fit… though how they meet did set me off a bit… I did enjoy watching their friendship develop. I adored how Reed wanted to know more about the good doctor. I love loved how he was impressed with her career and intelligence.

The friendship and the banter between these two allows the reader (or at least me personally) to put some distance between how these two first meet.

As I spent more time with Reed and Josie and as I was a witness to their developing bond, I could feel them connecting. In the end I was rooting for them to embrace the connection in front of them.

The chapters that surround Marek, Reed’s teammate OMG; so powerful. These chapters also spoke to what a great friend Reed is.

Though this book is not my favorite of the series… I did enjoy it and the build up to Marek. Those few chapters may be some of the best chapters in this series, a series that contains some of my favorite reads of all time.

I am so excited for Marek… like it may be my most antipcated read of 2018!

The Cold Fury Hockey series is a top series for me but all cam be read as a standalone I do recommend reading them all because they are all worth reading and each book tells the story of a different hockey player and you get a little bit of everyone and Sawyer Bennett is super good at telling there stories and leading you into the next book.....its what I love about her series books because it makes you want who is next. Reed is the 10 book in the series and is about Reed and Josie so don't waste anytime and get started on this series.....I loved Reed and Josie together!

This books takes place during the off season which is different..

Reed is the hot shot playboy hockey player with a revolving door of women. Josie is an ER doctor who has moved in next door.. All she wants is sleep and with the bedroom next door rocking all night every night she is not getting any.. When she decides to confront her neighbor she is not expecting to find a friend in the end. Josie is not the typical woman Reed falls for so a friend is exactly what she is for now.. When things escalate to benefits will they fall in love? When Josie's ex comes back in the picture will Reed just walk away?

Great story .

Friends to lovers romances are among my favorite themes and with this newest addition to the Cold Fury hockey series readers will find themselves utterly delighted by the sweet yet combustible romance driving this story. From its witty and flirty banter to sentimental words and deeds readers will be quickly captivated, wrapped up in a warm blanket of charm that I’m still thinking about long after The End.

Josie Ives is dedicated to being an ER doctor, leaving her little time for friends or a social life. She doesn’t mind not having a social life though as she’s still nursing a bruised heart after the future she thought set in stone vanished before her very eyes on an ultimatum. The moment she meets her sexy, but annoyingly superficial next door neighbor she suddenly finds herself with an unexpected new friend who slowly becomes more in a relationship that put a smile on my face. As their relationship deepens insecurities and a blast from the past come forth to cause a speed bump on their journey to HEA. Through it all though Josie’s an immensely likable heroine who’s not afraid to speak her mind and it made for an entertaining verbal tug of war between her and Reed. She’s a bit bitter at the start of the story over her ex-boyfriend Aiden leaving her to pursue his dream, but being around Reed brought out a more lively and carefree side. She’s a bit of a homebody at times but Reed takes her outside her comfort zone in a relationship that ultimately made both of them better people.

Reed Olson is footloose and fancy free when it comes to living the life of a successful hockey player. He’s always been content with one-night stands with women who have pretty packages but little substance. Recently though he’s grown bored with the same old-same old...until his new next door neighbor makes an unforgettable introduction. While he’s happy to be her friend at first it soon becomes clear that the challenge she presents him with is exactly what he’s been waiting for in a connection that deepens as he tries to get her to see him as more than a friend. Reed’s larger than life, the quintessential book boyfriend for his sexy and heartfelt words and deeds. He treats Josie like a queen, is drawn to her for her mind and body, and doesn’t hesitate to put her on a pedestal. He comes off as superficial early on but there’s a lot of substance to him that I enjoyed seeing revealed as the story went on. He’s so self-assured when it comes to hockey, but when it comes to Josie and matters of love his insecurities came out. I ached for him as he didn’t feel worthy of her but it’s quite clear to readers that he’s exactly what she needs. Ultimately he’s a true romantic at heart and wants only the best for Josie in a relationship that charmed me from the first page to the last.

This is a pleasant romance with only a moment of angst that had me smiling from the very start due to its entertaining main couple who crackled whenever they were together. Their banter was rapid-fire and teeming with sexual tension that culminated in the first of many erotically-charged encounters nicely spaced throughout the story. They’re a dynamic duo in a fully believable relationship where heartfelt talks balanced with scorching interludes which had me rooting for them every step of the way. Surrounding this unforgettable main couple was a small cast of secondary characters who helped drive the narrative while laying the groundwork for their own moment to take center stage. One of those characters is Marek, Reed’s teammate, who seems equally carefree when it comes to women. When he hears his ex is getting married though he and Reed crash the ceremony where Marek discovers a life-altering secret that leaves readers wanting more and counting down the days until his story hits bookshelves. Though this book is part of the Cold Fury hockey series no time is spent on the ice which gives ample time to the burgeoning relationship between Josie and Reed. Through every word and deed, through every fun and flirty act, I found myself wholeheartedly entertained by this decadent delight and recommend it to all those looking for a romance full of heart and heat!

Although Reed starts out with one of my pet hates (seeing the main character with other people) my displeasure was quickly overshadowed by the sweetness of the story.

Reed has maintained a casual relationship status due to the demands of his career and the amount of time he spends on the road. Keeping to a particular type ensures no additional attachments. However, his new neighbor sweeps the rug from under his feet.

Josie has her own issues following the break-up of her long-term relationship she has questioned her ability to maintain a relationship especially as she also has a demanding career as an ER doctor. Yet she is unable to deny the attraction sparking between herself and Reed. 

Starting out as friends the pair progress into a friends with benefits relationship with a specific time frame when the hockey season starts again. Neither expects to catch feelings or find someone who fits into their lives so seamlessly. 

Unfortunately, and something I wouldn't have predicted, Reed's insecurities regarding his worth create a barrier to pursuing a deeper relationship with Josie. Adding to the problems between the pair is the unexpected return of Josie's Ex and Josie's own insecurities when comparing herself to Reed's usual penchant for Barbie look-a-likes. 

Despite the problems Reed and Josie face, the narrative is surprisingly angst-free and the issues are easily navigated with open communication. When two people belong together there is a clear path for their HEA. 

Sawyer adds to the plot by laying the foundation for Marek's story which is looking as if it is going to up the ante on the angst!!!!!

Wow.... each book in this series just keeps getting better and better with each story. Reed and Josie and me so intrigued with their story and the build up of their relationship that I couldn't put this book down. Josie was a perfect fit for Reed with her witty banter, independence and simple down to earth attitude; Reed showed Josie what she was missing in her day to day life....companionship, spontaneity and fun! These two will have you laughing throughout and leave you wanting more!!

I've been waiting for the next Cold Fury book ever so patiently, NOT, and I was not disappointed. Reed is a player, he has a specific type and Josie doesn't fit into his mold. But he's intrigued by her. Josie is an Emergency doctor who works long hours and has closed herself off to life outside of the hospital. But he challenges her. Both are stepping out of their comfort zones with each other and aren't sure where they stand and what to expect next.

I love seeing Reed's romantic side. The different dates he planned for Josie were incredible. How many guys take their girl to a meteor shower. I thought the way Reed spent his day with the Cup was the most selfless and well meaning ways.

I love how both Josie and Reed step in to help Marek when he needs it. And how they worry about him and the consequences of his actions. They know they can't tell him what to do, but they worry about him like he's family.

Now, I'm looking forward to the next book in this series. I can't wait to see what happens with Marek and I'm hoping to see more of Reed and Josie.

I loved this so much! It was fun and sweet and left me incredibly happy. It was a wonderful friends to lovers story and an excellent addition to the Cold Fury series.

Reed and Josie were awesome characters. They had a fantastic first meeting which set the tone for the entire book. It was all so entertaining! I loved their friendship, their ease together and playfulness. They had this wonderful building relationship and it was so heartfelt. I loved watching their feelings grow and how everything evolved. There was great development through out and I was just enjoying it immensely. Josie was wonderful, smart and caring, and could hold her own. Reed totally made me swoon and I loved getting to know him and watching him fall for Josie.

The storyline and writing were great. There is an ease to it that was really engaging making me want more and more. I think Sawyer Bennett does an amazing job in making me feel like I'm a part of this world she’s created. I always feel invested in the characters, their story, and feel for them. I was excited while reading and enjoyed the story page after page. I am so incredibly excited for the next book in the series, Marek. I loved meeting him and the storyline that was introduced and I cannot wait to learn more about him and see how it all plays out. Seriously fantastic foreshadowing!

This was so entertaining and sexy! This story was light in the drama department, a pretty easy read for the most part but sometimes low drama and angst and a whole lot of charm is just what I need. Excellent characters with big hearts, romantic gestures, and a whole lot of sweetness. Loved this!

I can't get enough of these Cold Fury hockey hunks and Reed is about as swoony as they come!

He's irresistible! Yes, Reed is physically appealing (um...hello - well-built hockey god with gorgeous hazel eyes and a smile guaranteed to melt panties) but his personality seals the deal. He's sweet - so freaking sweet - and thoughtful, sexy, charming, funny...this list could go on. He has such a beautiful heart in this story. You don't stand a chance at not falling for him.

Josie is so cool! I absolutely LOVED her. She's everything opposite of what she thinks Reed's type is, so it's easy to build that friendship with him. She's funny and quirky, but also challenging and not afraid to share her opinions with Reed. She slides in under his radar, I think. But before you know it, she finds him just as irresistible as the rest of us do.

I loved their story. It's a satisfying friends to lovers romance that will hit you right in the feels, but make you laugh the whole way there.

Reed Olson has a type of woman he's attracted to and when his neighbor dubs his conquests his "Barbies", he realizes that his hookups are all that satisfying anymore. He's far more intrigued with his neighbor, Josie Ives, who isn't close to being a "barbie"!

Reed and Josie build a friendship together, and being it's Reed's first friendship with a woman, he isn't quite sure how to take it to the romantic level. Good thing he has his teammates to help him out!

Once things move to the bedroom (and other places) complications arise in the form of an ex and a teammate with girl troubles.

I really enjoyed this sweet tale. Reed and Josie are so good together! Reed's journey from manwhore to caring boyfriend and more was so wonder that it just left me feeling so good. It's just a lovely romantic tale of two people finding their soul mate.

It's just the right size for a weekend read, too. Loved everything about this story.

An ARc was provided for review.

Hockey...hotness...Barbies...Intelligent woman...friends to lovers...what is not to love about this one!!

I love the way Josie and Reed meet. I love that they are friends first. I love that Reed is the one who isn't sure he's good enough. I love just about everything about this book!

It was laugh out loud funny as Reed realizes his feelings for her are growing. To see this tough, hockey player and former play-uh fall was a treat and a joy!! Josie was a strong character throughout and while she was gun shy about the relationship - and I didn't like how she tested Reed's theory - she came to the right realization in the end.

"The benefits are very good. So good I don't need benefits from anyone else. Your benefits are the only ones I'm interested in."

Here's to love worth waiting for!

I voluntarily requested and received an uncorrected advance reader copy.

This is the 10th book in the Cold Fury Hockey series and we learn more about Reed Olson. While it is off season, Reed wants to relax and spend time with the ladies and many of them fill his nights. One night there is a knock on his door and the woman on the other side captors his full attention. Something about his neighbor makes him want to spend more time with her. Reed finds Josie smart, sexy, funny and her being a doctor makes him want to get to know her better.
Josie Ives is an ER doctor and loves her job, but when she works a long shift she just wants to come home and sleep. She doesn't want to hear her neighbor with his "Barbie-like" dates. When she knocks on Reed's door to tell him so, she didn't realize that her neighbor was such a looker. No wonder he had all those dates. She finds herself laughing at his cute jokes and wanting to spend time with him, as friends of course.
Can Reed and Josie take their relationship from friends to friends with benefits? Will Reed lose Josie when her ex-boyfriend comes back to town? Will they see that love and a little fun is all they need?
I love the Cold Fury men and Reed was great and I can't wait for Marek's story, who might just steal my heart.
**A copy provided by the author and this is my honest review**

This is another fantastic read by Sawyer Bennett. She can write such different genres and I have thoroughly enjoyed this “hockey”series. It is the 10th books in this series and is a sweet contemporary read with a great couple. Reed, the hockey player and Josie, an ER doctor who lives next door. I loved both characters and thought their romance came about in a timely manner. This matters more and more to me when I read romances. This was an easy read for me, taking up one afternoon and evening to read. I will always one click Sawyer Bennett as she is a go to author for me.

Reed

*received an arc in exchange for an honest review***

5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Great friends to lovers book. Especially liked how their relationship evovled from neighbors, to friends who hung out all the time and then eventually into lovers. Their dynamic was really good also, you didn’t feel like it was a forced relationship between them or that it went to fast that you didn’t understand how it changed so quickly. Plus the Cold Fury boys were back again and I love how they all interact with each other, they are more than just a team they are family.

Reed has always been the playboy with a new “Barbie” everyday, but when his new neighbor comes by one night and puts him in his place he can’t get her out of his head. He makes sure that they run into each other at the pool and from there will continue to push his way into her life.

Josie can’t believe the arrogance of her next door neighbor, but as she spends more time with him she sees there is more to him than what meets the eye. Not only can she be herself with him but he pushes her to do things outside of her comfort zone.

When they decide to change their relationship from friends to lovers though they will begin to doubt themselves and even question what they can offer one another.

Will they let their insecurities and past loves come between them? Or will they fight for a chance with each other?

Reed is the tenth book in the Cold Fury Hockey Series. Like the others it is a standalone and can be read separately or out of order. I’ve been reading these stories in no particular order and don’t feel like I’m missing out on anything.

Cold Fury hockey player Reed Olson enjoys his off season with a revolving door of summer fling Barbies until his sexy and smart neighbor Josie Ives comes knocking at the door. They start up a great friendship that begins to feel like more.

“A sudden wave of jubilation—a lightness of heart—sweeps through me. She’s so right. What could possibly be wrong about starting out as friends and going to lovers?”

I absolutely adored Reed! He was a thoughtful and caring hero to swoon over! This is a fun and flirty friends to lovers story but so much more. Lots of heat and emotion.
4.5 Stars!!

Reed was a wonderful addition to the Cold Fury Hockey Series and as with the other books in the series it can be read as a standalone, but, if you're like me you'll want to read them all.

I LOVE a good strong female heroine and that is what we have in Josie, she is first introduced to us when she is knocking on her neighbors door, Reed, to complain that his headboard knocking is keeping me awake and then proceeds to call his bed-mate Barbie, as in the Barbie doll because that's what she looked like....SO FUNNY!! I knew I was going to like Josie just from that but then she became more, she's an ER Doctor so you know she's smart and she has a great sense of humor, although she was a bit insecure at times she had reason to.

Reed, now this is a man with a type, yes he liked his women to look like Barbie, blond with a big rack and legs that went on for days, and he preferred them just about as intelligent as one...sorry Barbie, but the women he was sleeping with were really airheads!

The friendship between Reed and Josie was instant but it did take them awhile to build up to friends with benefits which I appreciated because it felt natural. We get a peek into what is going on with some of the men of Cold Fury as the Stanley Cup makes its rounds to each team member, we also get a peek into the next book which is Marek's second-chance-at-love story with one very heavy bomb that has been dropped when Reed and Marek go to stop a wedding.

Sawyer Bennett has done it again with Reed, she has truly made an entire hockey team filled with men worth getting to know. Each one of these stories have been great reads. I highly recommend not only Reed but the entire series. Happy Reading!!!

**I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Readers Copy of this book**

Reed is the 10th book in the Carolina Cold Fury series - a series of interconnected standalones (which are my jam!) Even better, its written by Sawyer Bennett who is one of my favorite authors!

In Reed, we meet Reed and Josie. They are next door neighbors but haven't met each other. Reed is of course busy with the Cold Fury and Josie is an ER doctor. They have a very memorable first meeting (think Wallbanger). Josie ends up banging on Reed's front door after he and his date spend some time banging the bed against the wall.

Off hand, Josie and Reed don't appear to have much in common. Josie is very eat, sleep, work mentality. When home, she spends a lot of time working on puzzles. Reed is a ladies man and doesn't have a good relationship record. He definitely has a type and Josie teases him for his "Barbies." Josie is very different from what he is used to and they definitely have chemistry.

I won't tell you what happens but I can tell you that the HEA has all the feels <3

The Carolina Cold Fury books are one of my favorite series. You don't have to read them in order, but I do recommend it just because you meet the previous couples in each subsequent book and the back stories will make more sense if you read in order.

I definitely recommend this book. The story is superb, the writing is even better. 4.5 stars!

*ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

Reed isn't looking for anything other than a relaxing summer after winning the cup for the second time in his career. As much as he is having fun he quickly realizes that his one night stands are just not cutting it. When he meets his neighbor she catches his eye immediately but she is different. The more time he spends with her the more he craves her.

Josie has done well for herself, established doctor and loves her job. Outside of the hospital she doesn't have much. When she is not working she is working on her puzzles. One heated conversation with her neighbor turns her life upside down.

Can the Jock and the Doc be what each other needs?

This was another fun Cold Fury read. Liked Reed and Josie's story. Excited for Marek's story to come next.

*** Advanced copy provided in exchange for an honest review. ***

*5 Stars*

ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review.

I’m fairly new to Sawyer in that I only really started reading her books in the last year or so. Everything I have read I have enjoyed, and this was my first book in the Cold Fury Hockey series.

What a book to start with. Half way through, I logged into my GR and added all the other books to my TBR.

I LOVED Reed. What an adorable man. He’s not a douche, he’s just a damn sexy man who shows his true self when he starts seeing Josie.

I love the way they meet, and the hilarious nicknames Josie comes up with. Even though this isn't a typical friends to lovers story, it still kind of is friends to lovers in its own way, and it works so well. There’s no insta love which was awesome. It all flowed really well and moved at the right pace.

I loved Josie as well, and I love how she and Reed both respect what the other does for a living, even though they’re worlds apart. I liked getting glimpses of some ofter Fury players, and I sure can’t wait to read the next book, which I think is about Marek.

I sped through this in less than 24 hours, and I highly recommend it. Its a nice and easy read and for the most part its really light hearted too. Looking forward to reading more of these books!

*4.5 stars*

BIG fan of this series and this addition did not disappoint at all. Loved that this was a bit more of a light hearted romance with bits of seriousness thrown in. I think this was mainly due to Reed's character. He is a fun-loving guy and this sets the tone for the book. It also helps balance the scale when he meets Josie as she is a bit more serious (being a Doctor) but still has a fun side that Reed draws out of her.

I quite enjoyed the progression from friends/neighbors to lovers and watching the change happen in their relationship. As always Ms. Bennett plays it just right for optimum reader enjoyment.

Could have done without the initial scene with the 'Barbie' ladies that Reed is initially drawn to but I get that it was part of the story and sets the tone for the book. (Just beware if you are a 'safety' reader. It is right at the start but once they meet Reed starts to change his ways)

Eagerly awaiting the next book in this series!!