It’s an office romance on the ice rink in this heart melting story about love’s power not in spite of difference but because of it.
Ren has known Frankie Zeferino was a woman worth waiting for since the moment they met. She’s a master of deadpan delivery, has a secret heart of gold, and a rare one-dimpled smile that makes his knees go weak. But as long as Frankie’s the team’s social media manager, she’s off limits.
Frankie is a self-admittedly blunt, grumbly grump, but even she isn’t immune to sunshiney Ren Bergman. Who could be, when he’s a six-foot-three hunk of happy with a hockey player’s physique? Maybe in the past, Frankie would have gone for a guy like him, but since being burned too many times by people who learn about her diagnoses and see a problem, not a person, she’s wised up.
After waiting years for the right time to make his move, Ren learns Frankie plans to leave the team to pursue a new career. But what he didn’t anticipate is how hard he’ll have to work to convince her to let him have his shot at winning her heart.
Release Date: Dec 12, 2023
Series: The Bergman Brothers
Book: 2
Heat Level: Hot
Publisher: Penguin Group
Imprint: Berkley
Price: $10.99
Virgin hockey Viking hero, sign me up!
This is book two in the Bergman Brothers series, and I’ll admit I loved the tropes here. The forbidden office romance, the hero with unrequited love. The list goes on and on.
I thoroughly enjoyed Ren and Frankie’s story. Could not put this one down. The only thing that kept it from a five star for me is that the conflict was resolved rather quickly from the romance perspective.
Let’s talk about what works. Frankie works, her inconvenient attraction to Ren, the sunshine hockey god on the team she works with. Frankie is into social media, for the team, and a future in sports marketing. She’s got a lot of health issues and channels her energy into being as grumpy and unavailable as possible. When her house is broken into leaving her unsafe, Ren is there to offer her a safe place to stay.
Ren is just… well, everything. The fact he loves Frankie, so much so that he is waiting for the right time to tell her. As the two grow closer and the situation presents an opportunity, Ren finds himself unable to hold back the part of himself that wants to get closer to Frankie. This wild ride from unrequited attraction to budding relationship is so much fun. The grumpy/sunshine trope adds a special element as well, especially since the trope is flipped and the heroine is grumpy versus the hero.
Overall, this is just a sweet story to dive into with plenty of heartfelt and laugh out loud moments to enjoy. The Bergman series keeps delivering and I’m looking forward to the next book.
~ Landra
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