Ava’s world imploded last year, and her dad took the job as head coach of the Western Wildcats, moving her across the country for a fresh start. The number one rule in her house is to avoid hockey players. Ava has never had a problem with that until she comes face to face with Hayes Van Doren. She can’t seem to get him out of her mind, and it doesn’t help that Hayes seems to be wherever she is. Hayes has been a playboy all of college, helping to support his mom and three younger siblings as his sole focus until he sees Ava Philips. She is off limits, but he can’t get her out of his mind. Ava may just be the right person to push the limits for. 

 

Ava and Hayes meet cute was pretty epic and it went from there. These two had major chemistry from the first time they saw each other, and they were both drawn to each other, even though it was strictly off-limits. 

 

Hayes has a reputation as a playboy, but I loved watching this other side of him and the adoration he has for his siblings and how they feel the same for him. As a college student, he was working so hard to support his mom when tragedy hit his family many years ago. Ava has been through the wringer. She is struggling with everything in her life, including her desire to skate and the ability to be intimate. Hayes was so supportive of her, cheering her on in all aspects of exploration of herself. I felt the pain and fear she had, but I also saw the strength she had to come back from what happened and come out healthier and stronger. Watching these two developing a relationship was beautiful and I loved watching Ava begin to trust her wants and desires through Hayes’ encouragement. 

 

This book had a little bit of a suspense element and I felt it was written well, but found myself wanting a bit more of it. I did like getting to see the characters from the previous books (I haven’t read them all, and that was okay) and the friendships all these characters have. I also liked learning more about the story for the next couple! I’m excited to read that story too! 

 

If you like a coach’s daughter/forbidden romance with a golden retriever/protective hero, this is the perfect book for you! I love this book and look forward to reading the next in this series! Thank you to the author and Luna Literary for a copy of this book. All opinions are 100% mine. 

 

read if you like: coach’s daughter, forbidden, hurt comfort, golden retriever/black cat, hockey, protective hero