Title: Hooked by Love
Author: Toni Aleo
Series: Bellevue Bullies #3
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Erotic Romance, New Adult
More Info: Goodreads
Purchase: Amazon US
Purchase: Barnes & Noble
Purchase: iTunes
Purchase: Kobo

Things are out of control for the Sinclair boys! With two already in the NHL, Jace Sinclair is ready to follow in his brothers’ HUGE skates in the last Bellevue Bullies novel…

Jace Sinclair here, and I’m amazing. There is no other way to describe me. I am the leading scorer for the Bellevue Bullies, I’m the captain, and people love me: my family, my teammates, my coach, and the NHL. I already have one foot in the draft and I’m ready. This is my last year in college–it’s basically a conditioning year to get me ready for the NHL, to further my game, and I have to be focused. But then, it’s also my last year to have fun and not give a damn before my life really starts. Which means I’m gonna run through every girl I meet. That’s my plan. Because my one and only love is hockey. It keeps me warm even when it’s freezing. It’s always there when nothing else is. And it pushes me to be the best I can be. It’s my love.

That is, until I see her against a tree with a guitar.

Avery.

The last thing I wanted was to meet anyone. My heart is on the bench because I’ve watched my mom get broken by the person I call my father, and I don’t want that for myself. I don’t want to be hurt by anyone. I can’t give them that power.

But my heart is begging for ice time, and I can’t control it around her.

* * *

I’ve always been in the background. No one has ever had time for me and that’s fine; I’ve learned to cope. Coming from a family where hockey is life, the last thing I want is some big, burly hockey player charging at me. I don’t have time for it, but Jace Sinclair isn’t one to be deked around. The thing is, I came to the University of Bellevue for one reason and one reason only. To make my dreams of being a singer/songwriter come true. To work in the industry and pay my dues. Become who I really want to be.

I didn’t want to meet anyone. I didn’t want to end up freezing the puck with him. It’s not what I want.

I have demons.

I have issues.

Living in the shadows, no one even knew until it was too late. But Jace wants to know.

He wants me.

And that scares me the living hell out of me.

We were so worried about what would happen if we fell, but we never thought what could happen in the process of falling. We never saw it coming. But it’s here, and the repercussions are not pretty. We should have known that there is no way out of the zone when you are being Hooked by Love.

Things are out of control for the Sinclair boys! With two already in the NHL, Jace Sinclair is ready to follow in his brothers’ huge skates in the last Bellevue Bullies novel…

Cover Photography: Sarah Eirew

Cover Design: Regina Wamba

My Review

So a few months ago I decided to pop my proverbial cherry and binge on Toni Aleo books. I’d heard great things about them but we all know how endless TBR’s can be… Needless to say, no shocker here, I fell head over heels in love with her writing and characters. But since I went on an Assassin’s & Bellevue Bullies reading spree, this was the first book I had to wait for. Not only was it the first one I had to wait for, but it was the last in the series. I’m choosing to believe this won’t be the last we’ll see of these characters because I feel like there are still avenues to explore, but one can only wait and hope.

For some reason, unlike the other books that pulled me in immediately, I wasn’t invested in these characters until about half way through. I felt like there was too much repetition in the character’s struggles. Yeah, we get it, Avery has a crappy family and Jace needs to concentrate only on hockey, but I didn’t feel like I needed to be reminded of it every other paragraph (or so it seemed). I think the annoyance only heightened when I read the word ice 10 times in one paragraph. Now, I don’t want you to worry your pretty little head, I just needed to get that off my chest. Because once we really got to the meat of the story, I couldn’t have BEEN more in love with these characters if I tried. I just had to get past the rough parts to see the sweet side. And when I got there I was reminded of the magic that can only be found in a TA book and that only she can create. I found myself developing a fierce protectiveness over these characters much like a mama bear would. I was ready to rip throats for them, especially Avery’s family. TA manages to bring you somewhat around in the end, but in my opinion, their actions were reprehensible and unredeemable, no matter the situation.

But Jace and Avery together was a force that neither could, nor wanted to, deny. Some may call insta-love, but I say that when you know, you know. I loved that they were both independent but wholeheartedly supported each other. Jace was her biggest fan from day one and they way his family enveloped her in their loving arms brought tears to my eyes. The way that Avery battled through her demons gave me strength. She became a fighter that was a force against nature and I couldn’t look away! Though I still feel like we need Lucy’s story, this was the perfect ending to a phenomenal series. I can’t wait to see what TA brings us next!

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Boarded by Love

(Bellevue Bullies, #1)

Amazon US

From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, Toni Aleo, comes a spin off series from the Assassins: The Bellevue Bullies!

Jude Sinclair here, hockey player for the Bellevue Bullies and lover of all ladies. Hockey’s in my blood, and not to sound full of myself, but I’m good at it…really good. The draft is within my reach—it’s mine to take—but that’s not the only reason people know my name. They know me because of my way with women. They know the score, and I aim to please. I just tend to stay away from repeat performances. In other words, I don’t do relationships beyond my family and friends. I’m happy with life. However, I should warn you that my story and how I see it playing out is about to change due to a certain redhead on campus.
She’s beautiful. Stunning. Breathtaking.
She’s my game changer.
***
He’s trouble from the moment I see him. I don’t know what I’m thinking, but from the moment I meet his gaze, I’m his. It’s a scary feeling.
I’ve never trusted anyone outside my aunt and uncle—and even that took months. I didn’t have it easy growing up. My mom was usually strung out, and she didn’t give me a second thought. Drugs and the men who paid her were more important to her. It was horrible, but I’m stronger today. Because of my past, security is what I need most. Money assures me that I can take care of myself today, tomorrow, and next month. I don’t want to ever be hungry or go without again, so I work hard for every penny.
Oh, by the way, I’m Claire Anderson. I’m a hard-studying sophomore at the University of Bellevue, dancer for the school dance team, and a burlesque dancer at a club, but that’s my secret.
You may think you know how our story ends, but you have no clue. It’s not easy falling in love… or living happily ever after. At first it may seem so, but when is anything worth having ever won without a fight?
Especially when you’re boarded by love.

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Clipped by Love

(Bellevue Bullies, #2)

Amazon US

Things are heating up for the Sinclair boys! With one already in the NHL, Jayden Sinclair is hoping to be next!

This has been the toughest year of my life. I watched my brother go into the draft without me, my mom got divorced, and the weight of my family’s issues is heavy on my shoulders. I feel like it’s my job to fix everything while working my butt off in school and trying to make my game better. I have to go into the draft. It will give my family the support they need, and it will prove that I’m good enough. But to get there, I have to show I can be the best captain for the Bellevue Bullies. The spot is mine—no one can take it. First though, Jude is making me go on a brother’s weekend. Innocent enough, I guess…until I see her. She’s the biggest competitor I’ve ever faced. Not only for my spot but also my heart. It’s hard to ignore someone like Baylor Moore.
***
I don’t lose. I can’t. My dad has bred me to be the best in anything I do. I am driven, I am smart, and I am going to be the first woman in the National Hockey League. No two ways about it. I’ve worked too hard. I’ve been through too much not to have what I want. I know I can do it. I will make my dad proud, and no one will stand in the way of that. That is, until I let him in. He scares me. He makes me feel. And he could very well be the one person who can make me want more than just to win.
We both have the same goal. Victory. But how do you compete against the person you want to win? It’s not easy. Love isn’t something you can control. It isn’t like a puck that can be handled by a stick. No, it has a mind of its own and does what it wants.
Neither of us saw it coming, and we really don’t know if there is a way to score, especially when you’re being Clipped by Love.

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