Tome Thursday: Decked, Wrecked and Pucked

 

Hello everyone!

 

Welcome to the first of the Christmas books that will be featured here on this blog during the month of December.

 

And boy, have I got a zinger for you!

 

Honestly, I don't know how I haven't run around in circles talking about it.

 

It's the perfect length for the season, it's got a heck of a lot of steamy, spicy scenes, it's got some ice hockey thrown into the mix, and it's got those angsty, perfect feels that'll get you all up there while you're working through everything with the characters along the way.

 

If I haven't mentioned already, the book is written by Lea Rose.

 

Also, if I haven't mentioned already, Lea Rose might just be one of my new all-time favourite contemporary authors. She just has this way with words and writing YEARNING that it's beautiful to witness.

 

So kick back, relax, and get ready to be Decked, Wrecked and Pucked.

 

There will be links down at the bottom of the page just as soon as we get going with more of these reviews, you'll see.

 

For now, this is it!

 

Roman, Zeke and Jasper are our three leading men in this book - and they're all together.

 

Yes, as in, TOGETHER together.

 

Zeke and Jasper were an item first, then Roman joined in on the fun, and Roman also happens to have history with their coach's daughter, Addison. More on that a little later, because first thing's first, they win the state championship and basically get all the doors in the NHL thrown wide open for them as a result.

 

They'll be leaving after the draft, but before they go Addie gets let in on the whole, relationship situation, and it's made clear to the reader that all the guys have a thing for her - she just ... isn't on the same wavelength yet.

 

So they leave, but five years later they're coming back home for a Christmas celebration-ceremony type thing for the Coach himself, who's being recognized for all the hard work he's been putting in over the years. 

 

And all the boys want is to see Addie again.

 

Zeke and Jasper are both VERY on board with this, but Roman's hesitant. His parents were shit, he got put into the system, and never really cared for, so all he wants in this world is to be loved, which Addie knew and still walked away from him after he was ready to give her the world, so, yeah, his heart's been hurt BAD.

 

Emotional fortress, is how Zeke describes him in the book.

 

But there's no escaping Addie, and Jasper invites her to their cabin for a drink to catch up, wherein she explains she married a guy who's the biggest loser of all and who cheated on her, so she's initiated divorce proceedings, yet her mom wants her to stay and work on her marriage, while everyone else is cheering her on.

 

Honestly, the dude's better off on his own, really.

 

Things get heated during the cabin situation, because firstly, Addie gets too drunk to leave, then they get snowed in, and of course there's sexy times shenanigans happening all over the place. If you're thinking all holes and all "equipment", you've got it right, and it's S-T-E-A-M-Y.

 

But beyond that, it's also very emotional, because it's clear Addie loves all these guys deeply, and they love her right back. They just have to figure things out after the ceremony, when the trio will be returning to Boston.

 

And things really start HAPPENING during said ceremony. Not only does Addie's cheating husband want to have a word - he gets derailed by all three of our leading men, and drops some seriously derogatory comments that mean he's basically dead to everyone, running with tail tucked between his legs.

 

Coach admits to Roman he made a mistake telling Addie to break up with him so he could chase his dreams, and that he fully supports his daughter's happiness with them, so long as they all love each other.

 

And Roman and Addie patch things up, because contrary to what she believes he never stopped loving her, but he was protecting himself. Now that she's all in, forever? Yeah, it's a hell of a good ride to go on, baby.

 

She promises to follow them to Boston after wrapping things up at home, and they go on ahead, telling their coach about the situation and stepping out of the closet, much to the support and amusement of their team (who says they all knew it, but were waiting for official confirmation since it was none of their business, anyway).

 

In the end, Addie pops up during a bad game for them, helping turn the tide, and finally movies in with them together.

 

A few years later, on Christmas morning once again, they get a call from an adoption agency, telling them they've been matched with a set of twin boys. See, Addie unfortunately can't have kids, so they decided to expand their family in a different way.

 

And that, my friends, is where we leave them!

 

In case it isn't obvious: I read this book as an ARC, because the author is a sweetheart and sent me one so I could.

And y'all. Y'ALL.

This is gold.

This is love and messy and real and hot and everything.

Roman, Zeke, Jasper and Addison have my whole heart now. They take this story from simply smutty to heartachingly beautiful, and you need to read it for yourselves when it hits the market.

It's got yearning, it's got angst, it's got love.

And as I've come to learn, the author continues to write beautifully and soulfully and makes you ache to hug her characters.

This is a book to add to your collection, no doubt about it. Every person in this beautiful puzzle makes it perfect.

My hat off to you, Ms Rose. You did it again. And I am here for it. 

 

xx

*image not mine