Strong and Wild

Lakes Hockey Series, Book 2

De: Sloane St. James

Narrado por: Alex Kydd, Savannah Thomas

Micky

I'm new to this city, but things are looking up. My bestie's husband hooked me up with a great apartment above the hockey bar where I currently work, and I've got a great side gig bringing in plenty of cash to help fund my dream of opening my own cocktail lounge, Sugar & Ice. Life is sweet. My new neighbor, on the other hand, is not.

When he reveals his true self, I hate what I discover. Until some of his secrets unravel, proving we have more in common than I realized, and I don't mean hobbies like rock climbing or outdoor concerts. No, we have the good stuff—shared trauma. I promised myself I'd never let that negativity back into my life again, but my heart tells me Rhys is worth it.

Rhys

Hockey comes first. Always has, always will. I've got a one-year contract, 365 days to prove to them I'm worth the investment—which is why I need to stay far away from the woman across the hall. We know each other quite well, but she thinks we're strangers. I need to keep it that way.

The problem is she's everywhere. Across the hall, on my laptop, bartending where my team hangs out. Micky is like a loose thread that I can't stop tugging. Then, one night, she steps in to do me a favor, and all my defenses get shot to hell. Now, I'm showing her the real me, but it might not be enough for her.

This spicy hockey romance features dirty talk, praise, degradation, angst, enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity, and, of course, a happily ever after. Intended for mature listeners.

©2023 Sloane St. James (P)2024 Podium Audio

Great story but the narration fell a bit short

I read this series in a week and just knew I needed the audio versions. Sadly, I don’t feel the male narrator for this book did as well as it could have been. His voice and volume were as if he was trying to keep quiet while reading his parts.

Rhys is a new player for the Lakes hockey team. He has a year to prove his value so he'll be signed to a longer contract. He knows his goals and his distractions. He plans to avoid getting caught up with a love life and strictly focus on the game. He does enjoy watching The Queen of Tarts, a paid service website where she bakes on screen.

Micky is living in an apartment that a hockey rookie would normally be renting. Lonan is dating Micky's best friend (Birdie) and worked a deal so she could live there. She's working at the bar downstairs but her goal is to open a bar/patisserie mash-up called Sugar & Spice.

+++Warning+++ below will contain some spoilers

Rhys quickly learns Micky is the Queen of Tarts. She doesn't learn until a bit later and she feels betrayed. Micky does everything she can to avoid Rhys but is unable to continue when she finds a female pounding on his door one evening. Turns out it's Anna, Rhys's sister. After talking to her for a few minutes, Micky recognizes traits that are similar to Rhys. She learns she's his sister. Micky also picks up on Anna's symptoms of withdrawal. Since Rhys is out of town for a game, Micky helps Anna get through her withdrawal symptoms overnight. She texts Rhys so he has a heads up with what he's coming home to. Rhys later learns Micky had someone close to her that was an addict.

After taking care of Anna, Rhys and Micky start a friendship. They try to keep everything as friends... With benefits. As we all know, at least one person falls for the other and I was there for it! Rhys can fight a relationship all he wants but won't be successful. Micky can try to guard her heart with sky high walls but can't keep them from falling.

Hot hotter hottest

Great story starting next book right away! Can this series get any hotter… we will find out.

Best so far!

Lonan's story was great but Rhys 🔥🥵. This is a great series and the audio was amazing

Steamy and Sticky

Wonderfully written and read. The passion jumps off the pages.
The addiction aspect really hit home and I’m glad when writers expose others to this issue.

Secret Identity Neighbors

Rookie Rhys is trying to focus on his first season in the NHL. Deciding that he’s going to not looking for a relationship, he will find other ways to be happy. He signs up for a cam girl service and falls for the tattoo’d red head who does cooking shows online.

Freya is saving up for a commercial location. She’s a bartender and a cam girl. She starts to fall for a subscriber who always makes her blush. While doing a show, she decides to make macaroons for the new neighbor across the hall.

The new neighbor is Rhys. Her number one subscriber. She doesn’t know this but Rhys connects the dots the second he finds the box of macaroons on his porch.

Once it comes out that Rhys is the subscriber she’s been falling for, she’s so mad! Their frenemies relationship goes to avoiding each other. Until Rhys sister shows up in the middle of detoxing.

I absolutely love Freya. She was hysterical and so witty. I would love for a friend like Freya. She was so real and brought a lot of character growth to Rhys.

Tropes:
Hockey Romance
Reverse Age Gap (24-29)
Secret Identity
Enemies to Lovers
Frenemies
Forced Proximity

2nd Favorite in the Series

First, I'm embarrassed with how many times I've relistened to this book. Freya is such a vibe. I love her witty one liners and how she's not going to take anyone's crap. I actually read this book before reading Before We Came, but once I read Before We Came, it made me like her even more. In the beginning I didn't have a strong opinion of Rhys but it becomes clear that he keeps to himself and is very protective of the people he cares about. The one thing I found odd in this book is how Anna, his sister, treated him more like a boyfriend than a brother. Her odd comments about how she'll find another man to take care of her, the threats of selling herself for drugs. Big weird.
Regarding performance, I think Alex Kydd is the perfect Rhys and Savannah Thomas the perfect Freya. I will say because I've listened to so many books where Alex Kydd plays the MMC, his girl voice makes me cringe. Not his fault, he has a hella deep voice.

Must Read!

LOVED this book. Had a good story line, great spicy scenarios, and overall enjoyable to read.

Even better on audio!!

Holy sh*t this book was 10x hotter on audio. I first read this book shortly after it released, and I’m so happy it made its way to audio. Congrats Sloane on another banger!

Can’t get enough!

I recently discovered Sloane St James and I just can’t get enough! This story was spectacular and captivating! The narrators did an excellent job as well! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Absolutely PERFECT book & audio!

How could I not immediately love Rhys and this book?!! I love how fierce and feisty Micky is and how hard she works for what she wants - some of my favorite qualities in a FMC! I love every spicy scene between them and how Rhys is determined to top a top, right from the start. The banter and chemistry between them is so palpable and so freaking hot!

Their story was beautiful, despite the struggles along the way. The way that Sloane incorporates the topic of addiction into the story and how both of them handle each situation is written so well and I love the representation of it, as it is hard to know/love someone who struggles with addiction.

AUDIOBOOK
omg this audio was absolutely perfect! The narrators were fabulous and it’s exactly how I envisioned them both sounding! Hearing Rhys and his dirty mouth was 🥵🥵. The audiobook is to die for!

Tropes:
🏒 Hockey
🏒 Close Proximity
🏒 Enemies to Lovers
🏒 Degradation and Praise
🏒 Hand Necklaces
🏒 Aftercare

This series is easily becoming a favorite hockey series of mine and I cannot wait to keep reading the other books!