Title: Taking Shots
Series: The Assassins Series bk 1
Author: Toni Aleo
Genre: Romance
Blurb: In Toni Aleo’s exhilarating Loveswept debut, the first in a series featuring the hockey hunks of the Nashville Assassins, a reformed bad boy helps a charming, willful woman face off against the demons of her past.
No matter how hard she tries, Elleanor Fisher never thinks she’s good enough, from her job to her weight to her love life. After enduring years of abuse at the hands of an ex-boyfriend, Elli has been drifting through life in a daze. Until, that is, she meets Shea Adler on a promotional shoot for the NHL’s Nashville Assassins. Before Elli knows what’s happening, the gorgeous Shea breaks the ice and shatters her world.
A brilliant athlete inside the rink, Shea Adler is tired of the life he’s living outside of it: the women, the money, the drinking. But everything changes when he meets Elli. After laying eyes on this feisty, witty, beautiful woman, he feels like he’s just taken the hardest hit of his life. No matter how skeptical she is, Shea knows they are meant to be together—if only he can convince Elli to put her insecurities aside before she misses out on a shot at love.
Thoughts: This is an amazing book written by an amazing author. This was my first experience reading this particular author, but I was captivated from the first page. Aleo manages to weave a spellbinding story that takes you back to the days of dating, when you were excited, nervous, and self-conscious all at once. The interaction between the two characters was so endearing, and simply tugged at your heartstrings. You really sympathized with Elli as she tries to move past her poor body image, as well as her previous bad relationship, and believe in the hot, sexy hunk that is Shea. Shea is sweet, sexy, and determined, making for a irresistible male counterpart. He manages to still be rugged, tough, and confident – while still being sensitive, endearing, and not overly cocky or arrogant. You find yourself really cheering him on as he tries to win Elli’s heart.
Aleo really manages to draw you completely into the book, with every page full of strong, solid, charismatic characters, and enough issues with meddling parents, spiteful sisters, doting uncles, spunky friends, and even evil ex’s to make this a super-fun read! With Shea really willing to lay his heart on the line for love, you can’t help but fall in love with this story. So much so, that I can’t really think of a single critique to give this book. Perhaps if gut-wrenching emotions, and enchanting and borderline “sappy” love scenes are not for you, then you might want to give this one a pass. However, if you are a true romantic, or are trying to find a book that really makes you believe in a “happily-ever-after”, then look no further! I am eagerly anticipating the rest of this series!
Two other books from this series, Trying to Score and Empty Net, are also out now! Blue Lines has a tentative release date of August 12, 2013.
Rate: A+
If your blurb didn’t reel me in, the cover would for sure!