A Very Merry Hockey Holiday

By: Toni Aleo

Narrated by: Lucy Malone

Length: 3 hrs and 16 mins

Publisher's Summary

Join Lucas and Fallon along with Tate and Audrey, as they await life-changing gifts; Erik and Piper, and Phillip and Reece, who have decisions to make that could lead to exciting developments in their lives; and Claire, as she makes a Christmas wish and choices for her future. Spend Christmas morning with the Adler family, and see what the New Year has in store for Karson and Lacey, as well as Kacey King. The King family faces significant changes and resolutions that will leave listeners alternately cheering and maybe a little heavy-hearted.... all wrapped up in a big bow.

©2014 Toni Aleo (P)2014 Tantor

Catching up with all of the couples around Xmas.

This book covered the couple's from all previous books in the series (with even a brief mention of Jordan from Falling for the Backup, book 3.5 in the series) during the Christmas / New Year season. It also covered individuals who haven't yet had books of their own, Claire (Boarded by Love) and Kasey (Overtime). The book starts with Fallon and Lucas from Trying to Score with Christmas a few weeks away. Fallon is almost to term with their fourth child and Aiden is almost a teenager. The story then moves onto Fallon's younger sister Audrey and her husband, Tate, from Empty Net. Audrey (whose first pregnancy was something of a miracle) has been trying to get pregnant for the last four years, thinking she has been letting Tate down (even though Tate continually reassures her that she and their daughter are more than enough for him). The two decide to make a last ditch attempt with in-virto fertilization. After them, the story transitions to Audrey's best friend Piper and Erik from Blue Lines. The two attend Erik's Christmas charity event to give hockey gear to underprivileged kids. Next, Reese and Phillip from Breaking Away are still learning to deal with Claire's engagement (mostly Phillip). Phillip still doesn't like Jude (despite giving the two his blessing) and has maintained an adversarial relationship with him on and off the ice. The story then transitions to Claire, who is featured in book one of the Bellevue Bullies Series, Boarded by Love. While she is thrilled to see her family, she is disappointed she won't be spending Christmas with Jude. Moving onto Elli and Shea from Taking Shots, who now have five children (two girls and three boys), Christmas morning is here and the family is opening presents. We also get to see Elli maneuvering a sporting goods store with the five kids in search of a last minute gift and Quinn's unexpected behavior while there and their Christmas celebration with Elli's family. Next are Elli's best friend, Harper, and Shea's best friend and Harper's husband, Jacob, from Taking Shots. Having had her tubes tied, it is a shock and a Christmas miracle when Harper discovers she's pregnant yet again. The last couple featured is Lacey and Karson from Tangled in the Laces and Laces and Lace. This was their first Christmas together and were blessed to spend it with Lacey's brother Grady and his family, who flew down from Chicago to Nashville, as well as Karson's family. In their part of the story it is New Year's Eve and they are off to a party being thrown by Fallon and Rocky Top Wine for the Assassins. It's there that they hear that Kacey made the US women's hockey team and Lacey shares her own surprise with Karson. Lastly is Kacey, who will be featured in Overtime. The story picks up at her phone call with Lacey and Karson and finds her with in bed with Jordie, Karson's best friend. Kasey has fallen in love with him, but knows he doesn't want a relationship, and therefore feels that she needs to break off their sexual relationship to protect her own heart. From Jordie's perspective, letting her go may or may not be the biggest mistake of his life.

I really enjoyed this book and found it well written. Considering the length of the book and the brevity of each of the sections, that's not typically the case. Aleo managed to transition from couple to couple with great ease. The progression of the book made perfect sense. It read as one story instead of a bunch of little ones put together. Overall, a really enjoyable book, but I wouldn't recommend reading it without having read the previous books in the series. This is a continuation of each couple's HEA. The only one that doesn't end happily is Casey's, but that will surely be resolved in the next book in the series, Overtime.

Love it.

I really enjoyed catching up on all the couples and meeting ones I will read. Well woth the credit.

Happy Assassin holiday!

Its not often you get to catch up on the lives of the couples from previous books. I loved catching up with the players and their wives during the holiday season. I can't wait for the next Assassin story! Lucy Malone is a great narrator who puts a lot of feeling and emotion into the story. Great job Toni and Lucy!

Loved it and love the series!

I loved the story and the continuation of all the characters! Can't wait for more in the series. The narrator was perfect as always!