The Good, The Bad, and Everything In Between

The Good
-Final installment lived up to the hype. I have been a fan of this series now, with its skillful blend of hockey and wonderfully fun, romantic pairings. Ms. Meader has a talent for creating great banter, well developed characters and while most of these romantic setups are a tad problematic (the boss getting involved with the employee is a double edged sword, but undoubtedly one of my favorite tropes. This series has at least made the women the ones in positions of power and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it. But the one I’ve been (im)patiently waiting for is Violet and Bren’s story. Now, I was concerned that when you wait for two characters to finally get their chance to shine, the stories can occasionally fall flat because it’s too dependent on the earlier books, and not enough time is given to developing their chemistry and emotional connection. No need to worry - Violet and Bren shine bright like a diamond of the first water.

-Awesome Puerto Rican heroine. Violet opened my eyes, in this romance and beyond. She made me realize what I was missing in my Romancelandia. She’s my first Puerto Rican heroine (and as a Puerto Rican woman on a racially diverse blog, this shocked and saddened me). She’s set me on the path to finding other Puerto Rican heroines, because I loved her so much. I’d seen glimpses of her life throughout the other books, but having her front and center was exactly what I wanted and needed. That she's the closer on a top notch series? Heaven.

I never realized how rare it was to see a Puerto Rican woman starring and shining in her own love story and how much that kind of personal representation would mean to me. She’s survived breast cancer, had a absentee father and a caring yet hard mother and this shaped her into a wonderfully empathetic, funny, vibrant and caring woman. She’s moved to a strange city and reached out to her half-sisters, all while keeping what makes her unique. She’s been brushed aside, people have tried to make her feel lesser and she refuses to let them. I loved her and she flat out guaranteed that this book is going to be one of my favorites this year, and I will always remember her.



-Sexy AF Scottish-Canadian hero. Oh Bren, the minute you were referred to a mashup of Jason Momoa and Gerard Butler with a Scottish accent, I was done for. *stares off blindly* Ok, so I lost focus after “Jason Momoa” but I can live with that. Bren’s been through his share of suffering, his alcoholism leaving him in a place emotionally where he knows he’s still vulnerable, but he cannot take his eyes off of Violet. She runs in his blood, and you can feel his desire for her coming off the page. Lord, I want to fan myself. Yeah, his love for Violet made me love him.

-Firsts done well. I will always be a big believer in how the Firsts of a romance can dictate the strength of my love, and here the first are sooooo damn sexy. Both characters are attracted, but the emotional component isn’t neglected for that attraction and it makes all the difference.
-Hockey plays its role well. Hockey is in this series’ blood and you get to enjoy the romance without losing sight of the ultimate hockey goal. There are game scenes that give that sense of urgency, and the climax was exactly what you hope for. Well…..

The (Mildly) Bad(ish)
-Hmmm. Ok, if I’m going to be picky (and ‘tis what I do), the final game should have been in Boston (the finals are always 2 home, 2 away, then 1 at each venue as needed) since the Rebels weren’t the home team. Only because I’m a hockey fan would this little detail even stick out to me. But I loved Violet and Bren so damn much that it didn’t matter in the long run. The drama of the ending wouldn’t be as impactful if it was completely accurate, so I’m officially over it.

Everything in Between
-Works as a standalone. Just be forewarned, you’re going to want to read the earlier books. The heroes and heroines all make an appearance and play their supporting roles to Violet and Bren and make this ‘verse that more vibrant and alive, and there’s no denying that I closed my kindle on a happy sigh.


The Bottom Line
I loved it, and Violet and Bren are officially my favorite couple of the series. If you love hockey, Latina heroines and sexy hot hockey players, do yourself a favor and read this book, fall in love then pick up this series. I highly recommend it.

Book 3 of the series.
You meet both Of the characters in book 1. Heroine is Violet. Hero is Bren. Violent finds out that her father left her shares in the hockey club he owed. She doesn’t know how to handle her attraction to Bren ? Bren has been fighting his attraction to Violet himself. He doesn’t make a move but he always has to be around her to get his fix but also protect her.
This is a great story that slowly builds up .

Hooked On You is the final book in Kate Meader's Chicago Rebels series and oh what a way to go out! Youngest Chase sister Violet and Rebels Captin Bren St. James have been circling around each other on the periphery of the previous books in the series and now we finally get their story. I love how typically in romance trilogies, it's the third couple that have been quietly built up throughout the series, and that is definitely the case here with Bren and Violet. I love how they each have things from their past that they're dealing with. In regards to Bren it's his drinking and for Violet it's surviving cancer. It just seems right that these two find each other / are perfect compliments to one another.

I loved how both what Bren is going through and what Violet has gone through are almost put up against one another as a comparison point between them, and we get to see how they handle things similarly and how they handle some things differently. And I cannot recall another story I've read dealing with the after effects of surviving cancer (I've racked my brain for another book, but I keep coming up blank). I really liked how Violet's breast cancer storyline was dealt with and I loved seeing this character who decided to embrace life and all that, that entails rather than shut down.

Similarly, Bren's alcohol addiction lead him down a dark path, one in which he's just begun the slow climb up for air. He has the chance to get his kids back full-time and he doesn't want to squander that. So, in his eyes, the attraction he feels for Violet, while not inconvenient, is definitely not coming at the right time. I loved that Kate Meader doesn't mince words when it comes to the fact that Bren is still struggling, and will probably always struggle, with his sobriety. He's been clean for over a year now, but that doesn't mean he's suddenly healed. It will be a constant with him, that temptation, for probably the rest of his life, but he's strong enough, and has the motivation in his kids, to beat back the temptation.

I also loved that while Bren and Violet's love story is playing out in the foreground, the overarching storyline surrounding the Rebels making the playoffs going on in the background is still important. I feel like from the first book to now readers have been on this journey with the team so it was only right that we finish it out with them too. As to the outcome, I'll not spoil anything, but suffice it to say, Kate Meader has written an exceptional end to this trilogy.

Kate Meader has become an author I know I can count on to deliver steamy, swoon-worthy romance, with great characters and heart. Hooked On You was everything I built up in my head it would be. If you've followed this series, this team, from the beginning, I can't imagine you'd be disappointed.

Violet doesn’t know where she fits. She finds herself sharing ownership of a hockey after her absentee father dies. She is the bastard daughter that wasn’t accepted into his world. To gain any money from this inheritance, she has to stay and work with her half-sisters for a year. What she doesn’t expect to find is Bren, the sexy Scotsman that can tear it up on the ice. Bren is rebuilding his life after hitting rock bottom. When his ex-wife implodes, he is excited to have his daughters return and live with him but they hockey team is in the playoffs. Needing a nanny, Violet suddenly becomes the only available option. Vibrant, vivacious, valiant Violet. With her pink hair and tattoos, she is a breath of fresh air to those she meets. Is there a way for these two souls that feel unworthy to find a path to happiness? This is a fun and sexy ride from the moment she calls him Nessie. Add the challenges of dealing with pre-teen girls and you have the makings of all the drama a man can handle. I voluntarily read an ARC of this book and this is my honest review.

Boy do I love hockey romances, and Hooked on You was no exception. It had your typical brooding hockey player, but it was so much more than that. Now, I will start off by saying that I have not read the previous books in the series. However, I had no problem picking up the story and all the dynamics of the key players in the series. I loved Bren’s brooding Scottish character and Violet’s free spirit. Especially when you realize that she’s dealt with a lot in her young life and has overcome so much to get to where she is today. Throw in a pair of adorable little girls who are a little lost in life, and you have this endearing, romantic story.

Now, even though I had no problem picking up the story, I am well aware that I missed out on a lot! These two characters clearly have history. As well as each of them respectably having history with the other key players in the series. So I definitely plan to go back and read this series from the top. I would love to see how everyone reacted when Violet showed up on their doorstep after their father passed away. I would love to see how Bren’s battle with alcohol and sobriety affected the team and the relationship with the other players. I’m sure those are both things that would have been brushed up on even more in the previous books. I feel like Bren and Violet’s story was the grand finale to the series that everyone was waiting for. So I really need to go back and start it from the top.

One thing that I loved about this book is that it had so many layers to it. It wasn’t simply a romance between a brooding male and a free-spirited female. Violet doesn’t really feel like she belongs with her half-sisters running the hockey team. She also has a lot of emotional scars as from her battle with breast cancer. So, even though she seems care-free and like she doesn’t care, she’s always battling her inner demons. Bren hit rock bottom with alcohol and lost custody of his kids because of it. When his two girls end up staying with him, he gets a second chance to really be their dad again. Both of these characters were struggling with their past, both had a lot going on in their lives, but one thing they both needed was each other.

I’m really glad I read Hooked on You. I’m always a sucker for hockey romance, but I love that the author added so much more to the story. It’s wasn’t simply a romance between a hockey player and the team owner. It had so many subtle things going on that it was hard to put the book down. I wanted to see these two get their happily ever after. I wanted to see the two little girls get a stable and happy home life. This story was just a great read all the way around. I highly suggest it if you are a fan of romances that deal a lot with family, overcoming your inner demons, and sexy hockey players.

The final installment of Kate Meader’s hockey series hits all of the right notes. Sexy banter, emotional depth, and a true romance unicorn: non-annoying kids. Looking forward to rereading it.

This was not my favorite Kate Meader series. That being said, it was an ok read. I am not a huge fan of when the leads have kids from a divorced home. Just a personal thing. Kinda predictable plot line. Knew where it was going from the start.

Perhaps my exceptions for this book were way to high but I didn't enjoy it as much as the other two books in the series. I couldn't connect with Violet and some of the decisions she made. I also didn't see the chemistry between her and Bren.

What I did love was seeing glimpses of Remy and Harper and Isobel and Vadim. I hope we get to revisit them in the future.

<b>I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.</b>

This was my favorite book in the series. I knew Violets story would have so much to it. Not only was she the sister who had nothing growing up she was pulled into owning the team by a will. She has so much spark and didn't know where she would fit in this family. Not only does she come to terms with her life but she manages to find another family to love as well.

I've been waiting for Bren since the beginning of the series and all I can say is......
He was well worth the wait!!!
Violet is my favorite type of heroine!
Strong, willful, sassy and sweet.
These two characters came together is a magical way!
The banter, the heat and the emotions along with spectacular writing made this perfection for me!!

I enjoyed this book for its characters, the romance between Bren and Vi, the family dynamic and the friendships. I loved seeing the relationship take place between Bren and Vi and the chemistry that they had for one another. It was sweet to see how good they were for each other and how they changed for the better. Bren is a recovering alcoholic who has recently divorced and is a father to his two young girls. The relationship between Bren and his daughters is so sweet and cute and made the story sweet, cute, funny and entertaining. I loved seeing how great Bren was with his daughters and how he tries to overcome his alcoholism and become a better person and father. Vi made for a great match for Bren and was a great nanny to his daughters. I really enjoyed seeing how she fit so well into Bren and his family's life and how good she was to Bren's daughters and how caring and loving she was. I also liked how kind and caring everyone was and how they treated each other like family, including Vi. Although I enjoyed this book, it wasn't for me. I felt that for me it was lacking something but can't seem to put my finger on what was lacking for me.

I will admit to not really caring for the other book I have read in this series. To be fair I think part of it was the audio. I was suckered in to picking this one up because I love single dad romances. To me this book satisfied that part for me. I enjoyed Violet and Bren and how hard Bren worked to be a good dad.

If you love sports series with each couple getting a HEA you will enjoy this series.

I can't deny I enjoy this trope a lot, single dad and nanny, plus a Scottish hockey player and Latina free sprit heroine. I've been more curious about Violet, among the three sisters she's always been the one to be distant from the team franchise. One foot in one foot out so to speak even though her relationship with Isobel and Harper improved she's still guarded. I honestly get why she's had this tough armor she had the short stick and many can connect to that. I can't help but read faster to see what happens next.

I found Bren and Violet's relationship to be the best part of this story. It's not simple, lot of things factor in.They definitely pushed each other's buttons and in that way exposed their own under bellies so to speak. They both have emotional scars, so trust and honesty is a big deal. They started on rocky ground and well it took this moment with the kids to help them and seeing more beneath each armor.
So Violet was tentative with the kids at first and unsure but in a way she relates to them too a lot. Part of being single parented and growing up like that. Bren had a hard time letting her care for them but he showed a lot of growth in doing so.
I loved every minute of it, the dynamic between all four of them together was just aw.

I honestly like Bren a lot, he owned up to his faults and weaknesses. He did his all to be a dad and pull himself from that of addiction. He knows his priorities now he knows what he has to do and is actively seeking out ways to keep going strong. The character growth from them both was fantastic, props to the author for that. Violet when she blooms into herself is wonderful. The build up of Violet and Bren's chemistry is like a slow lit flame since the start of the series which it made it more explosive. Kate Meader is really good at that from her other books. Hot stuff all the pokes, quips and jabs, some sexy banter and tension. I do love slow burn so this works and the romance and sweet side is well worth it.

One of the things I like best about this series is the hockey and how it's written the behind the scenes, not always do you have a well done sports romance with a good team dynamic. Now that the Cup finals is gearing up it's fun to read this version. Plus add a good plot line and a story I've been excited to read. I'm glad the sisters found a common ground and the support team spirit. I really enjoyed this series, I'm sad it's the last I hoped it could go on.

The last book in the series about the three sister’s taking ownership of the hockey team for the season. If you have been reading the other books you know it is a little more than that. Now you are given the third sister and daughter of the former owner, Violet Vasquez who throughout the other two books has been working on discovering herself or at least trying too. She is now tasked with watching Bren St. James two daughters while the team goes and plays the away games for the hockey playoffs. Bren and Violet are both working on improving themselves each for different reasons. One thing that Bren is finding out is the reason why she is such a free spirit or comes across that way. He is also finding out that his daughters are connecting with her and he is also and both of those scare him. Violet becomes so confused about her feelings and just about everything that is going with him and her sisters that she takes off for Puerto Rico with the promise to return but this scares her and the people around her. Now she must decide what she wants and go for it. A very good book to go with the other books in the series. I am sorry to see this end.

4.5 stars

I hope that Kate Meader never stops writing this series. It's true that this is my favorite...actually they have all been my favorites. But I have secretly been pining away for the story of the Scot vs. The Latina. I knew it would be magic, sass, and grumpy grunts. I knew it would involve nosey friends, manipulating sisters, and tension that could trip an entire herd of Clydesdales.

Hooked On You is sweet, sassy, and hot. It's full of Latin flavor and short on Haggis ( thank God! Lol). There is plenty of Nessie to go around. There's even some smooth Russian ice, a decadent Italian stallion, the Texas home slice, and the spicy Cajun too. Don't think you have to read the other books first; it's not a requirement, just a way of life.

I love Chicago's Rebels and the women that run/skate circles around them too.

This is a voluntary review of an advanced copy.

I had not read any of the previous books in this series but it was easy to understand the back story ad other characters so this book really can be read as a stand alone book.

I loved that the focus was mostly on the attraction between Bren and Violet with a little hockey thrown in as I am not much of a sports fan. Part of the story is the team's progression in the playoffs towards winning the Stanley Cup and Bren needing someone to take care of his kids.

Bren's attitude toward Violet annoyed me until I think the point where he admitted to himself that it was more about him than the things he said to Harper. While I can understand how Bren would panic and want to do everything possible to keep his girls when his ex-wife fought for custody, he really hurt Violet.

Violet was such a complex woman and while many judged her based on her appearance with pink/purple hair and lots of tats, she was not tough and uncaring. She was so loyal to her family and friends that it was heartbreaking when Bren tried telling her about the what his lawyer said ad she left.

Good thing that Bren had some equally loyal team players to help direct him in the right path so that he could finally get his HEA with Violet.

Hooked on You is a great addition to Kate Meader's Chicago Rebels series. I absolutely loved watching Violet and Bren's relationship come together.

This is the final book in the series and Bren and Violet’s story.

Bren begins as a surly, gruff, moody, keep to himself person, who is also the Captain of the Chicago Rebel hockey team. He is a recovering alcoholic, divorced and dad of 2 young girls. His life is in chaos dealing with his recovery, his ex-wife, fighting for full custody of his two girls and trying to lead his team to a championship. From book one I have been curious about this guy and knew there had to be so much more to his facade.

Violet is the youngest of the Chase sisters, and a half sibling the older two sisters didn’t know existed until recently. She is a bit of a wild child, having survived breast cancer and deciding to live life to its fullest.

Bren and Violet initially meet at a bar, where neither knows who the other is. He’s fresh out of rehab and she’s new to town. He rebuffs her advances and so their rocky “relationship” begins. They spend the next 9 months intentionally irritating each other. Violet encased herself in a sassy, snarky, tough as hell exterior to hide all the insecurities inside. Bren didn’t want to start a relationship in the midst of all his upheaval, so he tried his darndest to keep Violet at arm’s length. It came as no surprise to me that she ends up as his nanny.

Bren turns out to be quite a man, doing everything he can to deal with/acknowledge his addiction, remain sober, be a good dad and become a better person and Captain for his team. Violet irked me a couple times with inconsistencies in her personality.

I loved seeing the team comradery again. These guys have each other’s backs on and off the ice and hold each other accountable. The Chase sisters also make big strides in their relationship.

All in all a good finish to the series. I will be looking for more from this author.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC provided by Netgalley and the publisher.

Well dang. The blurb Kate Meader has written for Hooked on You is actually an accurate and good review for the book. Hooked on You is the standalone third and final book in the Chicago Rebel’s series. The series centers around three half-sisters who either didn’t get along or didn't know the other existed until their father’s death. Then they are tasked with running the Chicago Rebels pro-hockey team. Clifford Chase’s will stipulated that the sisters had to work together in running the team and that the second to last place team had to make it to the playoffs this season, otherwise it would be sold.

Hooked on You has been the book I’ve been waiting on since the series debuted in 2017. It features Bren St. James and Violet Vasquez. These two seem to be total opposites, but opposites attract. And these two really complement each other.

Bren is the Captain of the Chicago Rebels. He’s a recovering alcoholic, who loves his kids, and has never felt worthy of the life he has. Bren is grunchy and prefers to keep to himself. But honestly it’s all a cover. He fights everyday to be a better person and make amends for the mistakes of his past. He’s truly a good man with a heart of gold.

Violet is the youngest daughter and dirty little secret of Clifford. She never met her father and only met her sisters after his death. She is an outspoken ray of light who loves getting attention. She’s also a breast cancer survivor and isn’t accustomed to depending on anyone else. After being diagnosed with breast cancer and surviving, Violet has chosen to embrace life. She has purple highlights and uses her body as a tattoo canvas. But despite what she shows the world, she’s vulnerable.

When Bren unexpectedly gets custody of his kids during the middle of the hockey playoffs, Violet steps in to help. The two end up being forced to work together for the benefit of his kids. These two have had a push/pull relationship for months. Now with them both living under the same roof their feelings ignite.

Hooked on You is a must read!!!! All the characters from the previous books make appearances. I have to admit that it was really nice to revisit everyone and see how their lives have progressed. One of my favorite things about this series is the bromance between the guys. It is alive and front and center in this story. To say I’m disappointed that this is the end is an understatement. I am! I also wish that the Swedish goalie Erik Jorgenson would have gotten a story.

In the finale to Kate Meader’s excellent Chicago Rebels series, Violet Vasquez finally gets her happily ever after. For anyone who has read the previous books, that may just be all I need to say. This woman so vivacious she leaps off the page, with all of her scars, jaded bits, and hidden away hopes, she finally gets the family she’s always longed for. Not only with her fella, the similarly battered and bruised Bren St. James, but his love helps her fully accept the love of her sisters. This is a well fought for and truly earned HEA, folks.

If you haven’t read this series, you can definitely jump in here. Ms. Meader has a gift for connected stand-alones, but that ‘connection’ bit is a rich one. If you have any predilection for sharp tongued heroines and hockey playing heroes, one-click this whole damn thing and I’ll see you in a few weeks (or hours, depending). The series is about three sisters who share nothing but a biological father. When he suddenly dies, he leaves them his hockey team with the caveat that they all must run it for one year.

As the girls have never really spent oodles of time together, much less bonded, this is a fraught arrangement. “Estranged” is a mild word for their relationship, and yet they decide to figure out a way to make it work. Their father was a different shade of jerk to each one of them and each of the sisters’ books delves into how they deal with that legacy. (There is a M/M novella in the mix as well, Undone by You, that focuses on the team’s GM and a player and tangentially involves Violet.) For Violet, her dad was never a part of her life. Hauling herself to Chicago to deal with his hockey team was never on her agenda, but there’s a few folks in the organization who quickly worm their way into her heart (or, under her skin, to be frank).

One such person is Bren St. James, known on the ice by a variety of menacing nicknames from Hell’s Highlander to the Puck Prince. Off the ice, he’s recently acquired a new moniker of washed up alcoholic hasbeen. We’ve met him previously in the series, but this book introduces us to a man at his wits end. He has to straighten up the mess he’s made of his life and do so ASAP. Step one, repair relationship with his daughters. Step two, lead the Rebels to a Stanley Cup. Step three, don’t drink again. Except, all of those steps have to happen simultaneously and immediately.

He and Violet have been dancing around each other - from a sexual, pheromonal level - for most of the series, but Bren was convinced she was with a teammate. When it turns out that Violet was simply the beard for that teammate, all bets are off. However, when he needs a nanny for his daughters and Violet volunteers, things get more emotionally complicated than he bargained for.

This book felt emotionally sumptuous to me and I enjoyed it like one enjoys a fantastic piece of cake. I have a thing for books where broken people find their healing in their own strength, but only after someone else notices it. If you’re a contemporary romance fan, I think you’ll dig it.