Hard Stick: A Breakaway Novel

L.P. Dover

Jun 2017 · Loveswept

About this ebook

He carries a big stick. And he’s not afraid to use it.

On the ice, I’m Kellan Carter, powerhouse enforcer for the Charlotte Strikers. Off the ice, I’m just a regular guy. The last thing I want is to get mobbed by a bunch of groupies who are only after me for my fame and money. My ideal woman knows how to enjoy a little good, clean fun—and maybe some not-so-clean fun too. That’s the kind of girl I’d never let go.

When Kristen Robinson, the gorgeous, down-to-earth bartender I’ve been crushing on, agrees to let me take her out, I’m thrilled. We have an amazing night together, culminating in the most electrifying kiss of my life—and that’s it. Kristen tells me we can’t see each other again, but I know that kiss meant as much to her as it did to me. What I don’t know is that Kristen has a dangerous secret. . . .

I’ve proved to Kristen that she can trust me with her body and her heart. But when her past comes back to haunt her, I need to prove that she can trust me with her life. And I might have to get my hands dirty after all.

Don’t miss any of New York Times bestselling author L. P. Dover’s red-hot Breakaway novels:
HARD STICK | BLOCKED
 
Or these heartwarming Second Chances romances:
CATCHING SUMMER | DEFENDING HAYDEN | INTENDED FOR BRISTOL
 
“L. P. Dover knows how to create the men who make us swoon, the book boyfriends we all want.”—New York Times bestselling author Heidi McLaughlin

Praise for Hard Stick

“Hard Stick is a sexy hockey romance that heats up the ice, and the bedroom!”—Sarah Robinson, bestselling author of the Kavanagh Legends series

“Hard Stick is the action-packed hockey romance you’ll never forget.”—Addicted2Books

“Loved the storyline, the plot was very developed with some suspense, drama and of course romance, the exact amount to make this book good and interesting.”—Collectors of Book Boyfriends & Girlfriends

“I would 100% recommend this book to anyone who loves a story that has a little bit of everything in it. If you’re looking for a storyline that will suck you in and characters you will fall in love with and want more of, then this is the book to read! . . . Hard Stick is truly a book that is a case of ‘Don’t Judge a Book By Its Cover,’ but in the best way possible.”—Book Bitches Blog

“I loved everything about this book. I highly recommend this author.”—Jack of All Trades, Master of None Book Reviews

“You’ll be sucked in from the start and will feel the book hangover before you’re done.”—Seraphim Book Reviews (five stars)

“L. P. Dover did a great job with this book and if you know going into that it has more of a suspenseful love story, you might not be so surprised. I recommend this book. I couldn’t put it down.”—Wicked Love of Books

This ebook includes an excerpt from another Loveswept title.

Ratings and reviews

L. P. Dover scores with HARD STICK the first book in the Breakaway series. Charlotte Strikers’ enforcer, Kellan Carter, falls for bartender, Kristen Robinson. Kristen is reluctant to get involved with Kellan due to her daunting past. This contemporary sports romance is suitable for adult audiences. It takes place in Boston and North Carolina. HARD STICK was amazing. The plot had a little of everything: mystery, drama, conspiracy, romance, hockey, tragedy, humor, and hope. The characters are well-developed and believable. Kristen was a compelling heroine who had a misfortunate past. She is strong and brave. My heart went out to her. She has some loyal and amazing friends. I love Kellan. He is the captain of the Charlotte Striker NHL team. He is hardworking and determined. He is protective and reliable. He is creative when setting up his dates with Kristen. The two have wonderful chemistry and make an outstanding couple. Mitchell Blackwell makes a fascinating advisory. He is power hungry and controlling. He is a dangerous man who cannot be trusted. I enjoyed the story line. It had a lot of substance and felt meaningful. There were excellent twists. HARD STICK is skillfully written. It had a great pace that is tough to put down. I enjoyed the epilogue. It felt well concluded. I am looking forward to Dallas Easton’s story in the next book in the series, BLOCKED. I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.

**Advanced copy provided by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.** This was my first L.P. Dover book and I gravitated toward it initially due to the description and the fact that it was a hockey romance. While it was a romance with a bit of a hockey theme, I would say it lends itself more to romantic suspense instead of the sports angle. Kristen finds herself in an awful position with her ex-boyfriend and the only thing she can to do protect herself is run. She enlists the help of some friends and starts over, leaving almost everything she loves and has worked for behind. Kellan is the captain of the Charlotte Strikers and he frequents the bar that Kristen works in and while he's tried many times to get her to give him a chance, she continually turns him down. Kellan is finally able to wear her down and she quickly realizes that he wasn't the guy she thought he was at all; he's so much better. As the two build their relationship slowly due to the trauma from Kristen's past, unfortunately that past comes back to haunt her. Will they be able to withstand all that is thrown at them and come out stronger in the end? While I felt like this book was very, very predictable at times, I did enjoy the mystery and suspense element. Kellan and Kristen did have chemistry, but I would have liked to have seen it explored a bit more, especially emotionally.

An amazing start to another awesome series by LP Dover! Kellan, the star of the Carolina Strikers, has been asking Kristen out only to be turned down every time. Kristen moved back to North Carolina after running from her past. When the decision is made to finally move on, she decides to finally say yes to Kellan. What follows is an amazing relationship and tons of twists. There were so many surprises in this story and I don't want to give anything away. This book sucked me in and kept me on the edge of my seat until the end. Kellan was so much more than what he seemed at the beginning. He's protective, loyal, and supportive. Once Kristen let him in, their relationship was near perfection. Kristen has been through a lot but was able to remain positive and happy. I loved the cameos by some of my favorite characters from other series. There were so many emotions felt in this book that was light on the sports and heavy on the drama. I can't wait to see what's next for this series!! *This is my voluntary review of an advanced reader copy*

About the author

L. P. Dover is the New York Times bestselling author of the Second Chances series, the Breakaway series, the Forever Fae series, the Gloves Off series, the Armed and Dangerous series, and a standalone novel, Love, Lies, and Deception. She loves not only to write, but also to play tennis, hike in the mountains, go white-water rafting, and sing. A Southern belle with a former life in periodontics, L. P. Dover lives in North Carolina with her husband and two beautiful girls.