Title:  War (Boston Bolts Hockey #3)

Author:  Brittanée Nicole

Published:  January 2, 2025

Source:  Received, in exchange for a review

Type:  e-ARC

Blurb: 

I’ve never been a good bet.

I wear my emotions on my tattoo-covered sleeve, I say all the wrong things and I revel in pissing off a certain redhead far more than I should. In other words, I’m the last person the court would choose to parent any child, let alone three of them.

Yet being their father is all I want.

So when the woman I love to hate offers to help make all my dreams come true, I jump at the chance. Marrying Ava is a convenient solution: she’s my kids favorite person and the court will absolutely approve of the woman who runs the biggest charity in Boston.

But there is nothing convenient about the way I feel when she fights with me, or when we kiss. And I’m not sure which I enjoy more.

This marriage may have a time limit but I’m beginning to think I’d like to keep my wife. She’ll probably fight me on it, but as they say, all’s fair in love and war.

Check it on Amazon & Goodreads 

 

 

I’ve discovered another amazing author!!! I seem to keep my habit of staring a series not from book 1 in 2025 as well. Better late than never seems to be my motto. 

The story follows Tyler Warren, a tattooed and pierced hockey player with a heart of gold, and Ava, a strong-willed woman who runs the biggest charity in Boston

Tyler, who has never been considered a good bet, finds himself in a complicated situation as he navigates his desire to be a father to three children and his growing feelings for Ava. The two characters have a tumultuous relationship filled with fiery arguments and undeniable chemistry. Despite their differences, they come together in a marriage of convenience that soon becomes anything but convenient. 

Our main characters are both stubborn. While Ava settles with knowing that Tyler is just another player, he does nothing to change her mind. They spend time apart, teasing each other and testing each other’s patience just because they don’t want to clarify their issues. They find common ground in their love for Josie, a 9-year-old cancer survivor, abandoned by her family. Everything changes when Ava finds out that Tyler is trying to adopt her and baby Scarlett, while also being a parental figure for Brayden, a high school teenager with a drug addict as a mother.

In front of me, my wife’s eyes are blazing and her jaw is locked tight. She’s furious, but I don’t give a fuck.

Welcome to my perpetual state, wife. Play stupid games, win unhinged prizes.”

Family, or, better yet, the idea of the ideal family is what pushes them to a fake marriage agreement, for the benefit of the children. He needs a wife to increase his chances at adoption and she wants Josie to have a family. Both our MCs have had issues with their own families and are well aware of how things must go between them to avoid making the mistakes their parents did. I loved their commitment!

The attraction is HOT! Their banter is entertaining, funny and a foreplay. Tyler is more convinced he wants things to be for real and when Ava sees it, she’ll have to open up and let him in. Our strong FMC may be more sensitive than she leads on. 

Nicole’s writing is both engaging and emotional. Inserting group chats into the story made it so engaging and noisy, in a good way. I loved reading their private chats, I felt as if I was part of their chats as well. there is a little bit of mystery left for the end, related to Ava’s past, which worked out ok and we have the other couples from the previous books in the series. I love their group and I love the team. 

“Tout ce à quoi je pense. C’est te faire l’amour à chaque instant de chaque jour. Comment tu goûtes. Comment tu parles. Je suis obsédé et te voir obsédé, C’est me foutre la tête. Ne me brise pas le cœur visqueux. Je ne m’en remettrai jamais.” 

Before I can ask him to translate, his mouth is on mine, capturing me in the most indecent kiss I’ve ever experienced. I don’t need to know the meaning of his words to understand what he’s telling me.

Family is front and centre. The entire story revolves around our main characters providing a safe and stable environment for Josie. But we also have little Scarlett, who Tyler wants to adopt as well. The baby easily gains Ava’s heart and she’s so sweet! Brayden’s character was excellently created. A teenager, with a broken family, who doesn’t want to be a burden for the perfect home Ava and Tyler want to create. It was my favourite part of the book, honestly.

A cancer survivor, little Josie is a lesson to us all. The author weaved in her story, as well as some things from Ava’s past in such an amazing way. I cried… 

“It’s always a good day when I wake up next to my wife and come home to find her with a smile on her face.”

Head tipped back, I give him a small smile.

“You keep saying these things, and you’re going to get lucky, Mr. Warren.”

He kisses my cheek.

“I’m already lucky; I married you, didn’t I?”

This was such a beautiful book. A lot of fun moments, even more hot moments and friendship. While I loved the book and it will be held close to my heart, there are some things that do not stand well with me. Ava changes really quick, from the shy person who has kept her arms hidden to this very open lover, willing to do everything her partner wants in their intimate moments. It felt a sudden change. Also, the entire situation with her ex felt like it was treated as an afterthought.

Cover Review:  the nice gentleman on the cover is a decent representation of Tyler (with the tattoos and everything). But I don’t see reference to hockey and … why is he wet? 

He shakes his head. “You’re the only girl outside my mother to ever own any piece of me. And now you have a piece of her. It’s how it was meant to be.” I think he’s right. I think all along this was our story. Our destiny.

In conclusion, “War” is a beautifully written romance that will leave readers rooting for Tyler and Ava and, most importantly, their family! I can already tell from the hints left in “War” that “Playboy” will be amazing as well so I cannot wait to continue the series!

Let me know in the comments below if you have read any of the books in the Boston Bolts Hockey series or any other book by Brittanee Nicole.

Until next time, read a lot!