Pipe Dreams

Sarina Bowen

May 2017 · A Brooklyn Bruisers Novel Book 3 · Sold by Penguin

About this ebook

In this Brooklyn Bruisers romance from USA Today bestselling author Sarina Bowen, a hockey goalie has to trust his instincts, even when taking a shot to the heart…

Mike Beacon is a champion at defending the net, but off the ice, he’s not so lucky. A widower and a single father, he’s never forgotten Lauren Williams, the ex who gave him the best year of his life. When Lauren reappears in the Bruisers' office during the play-offs, Beacon sees his chance to make things right.

Lauren hates that she’s forced to travel with the team she used to work for and the man who broke her heart. There’s still undeniable sexual tension running between her and Mike, but she won’t go down that road again. She’s focused on her plans for the future—she doesn’t need a man to make her dreams of motherhood come true.

Lauren plays her best defensive game, but she’s no match for the dark-eyed goalie. When the field of play moves to Florida, things heat up on the beach.

One of Mike’s biggest fans doesn’t approve—his teenage daughter. But a true competitor knows not to waste the perfect shot at love.

Ratings and reviews

Pipe Dreams focuses on Mike Beacon, the starting goalie of the Brooklyn Bruisers, and Lauren Williams, his ex-girlfriend and the Bruisers’ owner Nate Katzenberg’s executive assistant. Lauren normally works in Manhattan at Nate’s tech company, but an accident makes her the office manager for the Bruisers as well during their playoffs run. Lauren isn’t happy about this because she’s been trying to avoid Beacon for the past two years, since he broke her heart. But now their paths are crossing again, and it’s hard for her not to admit that the spark might still be there. Meanwhile, Mike Beacon is a single father with a 13-year old daughter. Luckily, he has a lot of help, but he’s still lonely and missing Lauren. With the Stanley Cup on the line, and a lot of complications, can he get Lauren back? What I really liked about this book was how well-drawn Mike Beacon was. Bowen takes his philosophy as a goalie – a guy who has to shake off the past and always look to the future – and extends it to his entire character. He’s a guy who can stay calm, loose, and optimistic even if the odds are stacked against him. And since he’s been through a lot with his daughter and his ex-wife, he also appreciates every moment of the present. It’s a combination that’s hard to resist – especially when you add in his humor and determination. I loved how much he clashed with Lauren. The banter was really cute, especially since Lauren is a go-getter – someone who has made her own destiny and isn’t afraid to be strong. Lauren is probably one of my favorite of Sarina Bowen’s female characters. She can be cold as ice, but she also does what she needs to do to get things done – on her own or with someone. It’s just a delicious combination of personalities. There isn’t a ton of hockey in this book, but I was okay with that because I liked how much it focused on the characters and their relationships. Of course, Mike’s daughter Elsa has a huge part in that, as well as Hans, Elsa’s violin teacher and “manny.” As always, Bowen creates a great, supportive cast of characters that I wanted to cheer on as much as the leads. The only thing I would have wished for in this book were a few more steamy scenes. Don’t get me wrong – the ones that are there are solidly racy – but I really wanted one or two more that burned up the page, especially since we’re told a lot that Lauren and Mike’s chemistry is off the charts. Despite that, this is a really great love story and family story. It’s probably my personal favorite of the Brooklyn Bruisers books so far. I stayed up far, far too late reading because I just had to know how it would end. And I gotta tell you – it was totally worth it.

This review was written by Marie for a guest review post on Ever After Book Reviews blog: 4.5 Stars Yep. Sarina Bowen makes every woman’s fantasy come true with yet another hockey themed hero. *sigh* *pause for a moment of appreciation* Okay, now that that’s done… Let’s begin with Mike, the hottie hockey hero. He is exactly the type of guy I’d expect from a hockey player. He’s a little rough around the edges when it comes to women, but deep down, he’s a good guy, with a big heart, who loves his daughter. *swoon* Clearly, I enjoyed Mike ;) Which brings me to Lauren. The ONLY woman that he’s ever truly loved (aside from his daughter). She’s spicy. She’s exactly the kind of woman that can handle and tame a man like Mike. But so many years ago, he broke her heart. Of course, Ms. Bowen isn’t going to keep them apart for too much of the story… but while they are apart, the sexual tension is THICK. And it shows through SO well. Actually, it was done so well, that I laughed several times because of the anticipation I had built up, waiting for them to finally move beyond the past and give in to their desire for one another. And when they finally did? Oh my. This is a typical contemporary romance, but you know what? It was fun. It was exactly the kind of book that lightens the mood and makes you feel good when it’s over. It’s exactly the kind of book every romance lover can love and appreciate. ***I voluntarily read a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and feelings are my own***

I loved all the characters in this story! Mike, Lauren, Elsa, even Hans, were wonderful to hear about, get inside their heads, and watch how everything played out. It was also great to see Lauren get along with her fellow female characters and the bonds that they shared. This was a second chance that shouldn’t have been needed, but it was. There was heartache and pain that needed to be overcome, directly the fault of Mike and Lauren. That ending though, that was fantastic!

About the author

Sarina Bowen is a USA Today bestselling author of contemporary romance, including the Brooklyn Bruisers series, the Ivy Years series, and the Gravity series. She lives in Vermont’s Green Mountains with her family, six chickens, and too much ski gear and hockey equipment.