Rushing the Goal by Toni Aleo Pages: 400
Series: Assassins #8
Genres: Sports Romance
Also in this series: Face-Off at the Altar
Also by this author: Face-Off at the Altar
Goodreads
Introduced in Toni Aleo’s Bellevue Bullies Series, it’s the Sinclair brothers’ big sister’s turn to find love in the next installment of the New York Times and USA Today best-selling series, the Assassins.
Lucy Sinclair was no stranger to pain.
She grew up with three younger brothers, met a bad boy, got pregnant by him, married him, and then suffered through a nasty divorce from him. Pain. That was pain. To top it off, she even had to go through the heartbreaking divorce of her parents. Through it all, she survived. All she cared about was making sure her daughter was happy and taken care of. Despite an ex-husband hell-bent on ruining her life, she fought to overcome. She’s gotten to the point that she’s okay with being just okay. She never cared about herself because she never had the time. It was Angie and only Angie she focused on, but that all changed when Benji Paxton offered to help her daughter on the ice.
Benji knew the moment he saw Lucy, he’d never be the same. Especially when she came with the bundle of crazy that was her daughter. His heart wasn’t ready for them. After years spent sobering up and finding who he was without the alcohol, he never forgot he was being punished for not appreciating the love he had when he was younger. Because of his past, he had gotten used to being alone, a recluse, but even he had to admit it was getting old. He was lonely. Hockey wasn’t enough anymore. He wanted a family; he wanted his true love.
And Lucy and Angie were just that.
They were just two lost souls.
Floating through life with no purpose.
But finding each other gave them direction, a chance at a future.
And had them both Rushing the Goal to be together.
Rushing the Goal
Toni Aleo
So, I read book 1 of the Bellevue Bullies and I didn’t care for it. I thought the characters were immature and by the end, I was just mad at them both! So, I never picked up another Toni Aleo book. Until Rushing the goal that is!
At first, I wasn’t sure this book would work for me. Lucy was SO closed off that I felt she would never open up enough to deserve Benji. He was this perfect, yet tragic, man and Lucy was just so MEAN. But, Aleo did a good job allowing her to open up slowly. I also think that it made the character of Lucy more believable. She slowly begins to trust but she still does things that show she isn’t 100% there yet. It made it seem much more believable. I enjoyed seeing her development over the book. What made this book for me? Benji and Angie! Those two are a-dork-able! Angie is hilarious and brings humor to a lot of situations. Benji is the perfect book boyfriend. He is flawed but knows what his flaws are, he is actively seeking to be a better person, and he never gives up on Lucy, even when she gives up on him.
I felt the pace of the book was a little slow though. Normally, I can read a book in a day. I had trouble getting into the book so I put it down a few times, and then it just seemed that some parts really drug on and I was having trouble staying focused (maybe I need Angie’s medication too!).
- POV: 3rd
- Tears: Yes
- Trope: Hockey, Tortured Hero
- Triggers: abuse, addiction
- Cliffhanger: No
- HEA: View Spoiler »
Ryker by Sawyer Bennett, The Friend Zone by Kristen Callihan, Pucked Over by Helena Hunting…then you will probably like Rushing the Goal!
My name is Toni Aleo!
I am a wife, mother, and hopeless romantic.
I have been told I have anger issues, but I think it’s cause of my intense love for hockey!
I am the biggest Shea Weber fan ever, and can be found during hockey season with my nose pressed against the Bridgestone Arena’s glass, watching my Nashville Predators play!
When my nose isn’t pressed against the glass, I enjoy going to my husband and son’s hockey games, my daughters dance competition, hanging with my best friends, taking pictures, and reading the latest romance novel.
I love things that sparkle, I love the color pink, and did I mention I love hockey?
I hope to hear from you on here, my Facebook, or my twitter! Thank you so much!
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