Review: VAN by Sawyer Bennett

Posted November 12, 2017 by Cocktails and Books in Reviews / 0 Comments

Review: VAN by Sawyer BennettVan by Sawyer Bennett
Series: Cold Fury Hockey,
Published by Loveswept (Penguin Random House) Publication Date: November 28th 2017
Also in this series: Zack, Ryker, Ryker
Buy on Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Bookshop.org
Find on: Goodreads
four-stars

Score one for the Carolina Cold Fury hockey team as a stone-cold badass melts for a woman who makes his blood run hot.

As one of the league’s toughest enforcers, Van Turner is ruthless on the ice. He plays hard because it’s the only way to channel the rage boiling inside, and a reputation as an A-hole is better than everyone knowing the truth. Van has spent his entire life running from a secret that’s kept him from getting involved in relationships—or accepting lucrative deals with East Coast teams. Then the Carolina Cold Fury makes him an offer he can’t refuse . . . and Van meets a woman he can’t resist.

Simone Fournier is the stubborn one in her family—and that’s saying something, considering her brothers are two of the Cold Fury’s biggest stars. Simone gets what she wants, and what she wants is Van. Still, there’s a part of him Simone can’t reach, no matter how hard she tries. In private, he’s all fire and passion. In public, he freezes her out. Van may want to push her away, but Simone won’t let him go that easily. Because this time, she’s playing for keeps.

The Carolina Cold Fury series from New York Times bestselling author Sawyer Bennett can be read together or separately:ALEXGARRETTZACKRYKERHAWKEMAXROMANLUCASVAN

Cocktails and Books received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect our opinion of the book or the content of our review.

This is the ninth book in the Cold Fury Hockey series and I have enjoyed reading all them.  Sawyer Bennett is a great storyteller and I love reading all her books, but I have to admit, my favorite are her stories about hot hockey players.  This is a captivating, heartwarming and sexy story with engaging characters

Van Turner is the enforcer for the Cold Fury hockey team.  He is brooding, withdrawn and isn’t interested in making friends or being popular.  He had a rough childhood and doesn’t have any interest in a relationship.  He has dark secrets from his past he is not willing to share with anyone. He lives with Lucas, one of his teammates and when Lucas little sister, Simone comes to stay with them, Van and Simone share an attraction.

Simone is trying to figure out her life after dropping out of college just shy of graduating.  She is feisty and has set her sites on Van and is unrelenting, no matter how much Van tries to discourage her advances. Simone is light and fun and breezy and the total opposite of Van.   She keeps coming on to Van and although he ignores her, it only seems to make Simone try harder. Can Van continue to fight Simone or will she finally wear him down.

I liked both Van and Simone. They are total opposites but somehow they work. He is solitary and grumpy she is friendly and happy. I enjoyed all of Van’s dirty talking and their explosive chemistry. Van goes on an emotional journey and I wanted Simone to help lighten his tortured soul.