Steele

Arizona Vengeance, Book 9

By: Sawyer Bennett

Narrated by: Brian Pallino, Jill Redfield

Length: 5 hrs and 36 mins

Publisher's summary

A second chance may be just what James Steele needs....

I might be one of the older players on the Arizona Vengeance, but I like to think that also makes me one of the wisest. Or at least I used to.

Turns out, I’ve been a bit selfish. I’ve been married to hockey and my team for years, which hasn’t left much time for my actual wife, Ella. Now I’m juggling a separation I never wanted, the pressure of being a single dad to our teenage daughter, and the career I sacrificed it all for.

While my game on the ice might be on fire, the game in my personal life is clearly lacking, as evidenced by the fact I just saw my wife on a date with another man. If I have any hope of saving the family I love, I need to reprioritize, and fast. So it’s time for me to get back to fundamentals, just like I did when I learned how to play hockey. I’ve never backed down from a challenge, and romancing my wife is a challenge I am very much looking forward to.

Time to put on my game face, because I’m in it to win it.

©2020 Sawyer Bennett (P)2020 Sawyer Bennett

Reality Check

This was such a great second chance story. It felt like it was real life. She's trying to date again. He's jealous of the new boyfriend. Their daughter is giving them grief and sass. Yeah, real life.

Will Steele be able to win Ella back? Will she want him back? Will Lucy accept whatever the outcome is? And will she get a puppy?

I love how his teammates had his back and how the wives and girlfriends had Ella'a back and engaged with her even though she and Steele were not back together. I think the thing I liked the most was watching Ella reflect on why she felt the way she did and come to the realization she did. That's a hard thing to do and she did it and admitted to her concerns.

This was my first Brian Pallino and Jill Redfield narration. They are good combination and I truly enjoyed listening to them.

Memorable and Brilliant Performance!

Steele is second chance romance filled with hilarious banter, romance, passion, and the team work between both parents trying to work out the way to gave their daughter the chance to prove she'll be able to take care of a puppy on her own.

This story is about family, love, understanding, priorities and respect. I absolutely love it, and right now getting emotional at listening to the amazing performance of one of my top favorite voice authors who recently passed away.

The audible version was phenomenal. Brian Pallino's performance was brilliant, just perfection. He always make feel as if I'm part of the story. Both narrators did an excellent job by bringing the story to life.

THIS IS MY MOST FAVORITE STORY BY FAR FOR MANY REASONS, AND I CAN'T HELP BEING EMOTIONAL WHILE LISTENING TO HIS UTTERLY AMAZING STORY!

My favorite book of 2020

I have been waiting for this book for a long time, and it beyond exceeded my expectations.

After his wife asks him to leave, Arizona Vegeance's James Steele just leaves, but as time goes by he realizes that he was not the best husband to his wife, and not the best father to his daughter Lucy. Then he decides that he is not letting his family go without a fight. James plays to win, and he will stop at nothing to win his girls back.

I loved this story because it was a real reminder of the power of love and the importance of showing that love to those most important to you.

The narration was fantastic, and made the book really come to life.

Second Chances

In this newest installment of the Arizona Vengeance series, we again meet Jim Steel. In the last book we watched him spy on his wife who he is separated from at a food festival. This book picks up a few weeks after the food festival.
Jim Steel while dedicated to his team, hasn't been the best husband and father and he hasn't always made the best decisions for his family. This book tells Jim's story as he fights to get his wife back and bring his family back together while maintaining his hockey career.
I do wish we had more backstory on this couple, I would have enjoyed some extra chapters devoted to their beginning, but the author did provide enough backstory and memory scenes to be satisfied.

While it is a quick listen at 5 and 1/2 hours, it was great listen. It was the first tiem that i've heard Brian Pallino narrate, I really enjoyed his performance. Jill Redfield has done some great narration for other authors and it was a treat for her to perform on this book.

Second chances

Jim Steele is a professional hockey player with the Arizona Vengeance. In a previous book, we learned about Jim’s separation from his wife.

This is truly a wonderful story about a man trying to win back his wife after taking her for granted for so long. When she begins to date, he begs her to give him a chance to win her back. Steele must dig deep to right his wrongs to prove to Ella that his family is the most important thing in his life, even above his hockey career. When his efforts begin to pay off, will Ella fully trust that the new and improved Jim Steele is here to stay or will he revert back to his old ways.

I'm not gonna lie, I was skeptical.

I'm not gonna lie, I was skeptical.

Having read all the other Vengeance books, I was a little unsure going into this book. I had seen Steele in action and I was not sure that there was going to be a way for Sawyer to redeem him. I WAS WRONG.

This is an amazing story about a husband trying to win back his wife and oh man, does Steele get it right. It was wonderful to see how he changed and realized the errors of his way...and oh, his bossy side is HAWT!

Brian Pallino and Jill Redfield were awesome in these roles and I just didn't want it to end....

Amazing!!

This book... was so good! I loved that this whole book was about Jim realizing his mistakes, bettering himself and winning his wife back. It is a refreshing concept that the man is willing to fight for his relationship while being understanding of his wife’s position on the issues in their marriage. Even if you don’t read the rest of the series, I’d recommend giving this book a chance!

Another great story

Steele is a true team player. He gave 150% to his team and at times only 50% to his family. The love he felt for both was unconditional but there was a defect somewhere to make things a little hard. Ella gave demands and at times they were met but not to the extent they should.

When Steele saw the women who made his heart beat and his child who was the first true love of his life move on in a way that would destroy him and them. he stepped up. He knew what he needed to do and how he needed to do it.

I loved the fight Steele had while working and the fight for his family. His loss of what was number one became clear and yes there was obstacles but it didn't matter. Steele was not only up for the challenge but he wanted to defeat it and show his family who they were in his life. His work family never gave up on his family. The women are always the heart of the Vengeance and this story is no different!

Brian Pallino and Jill Redfield did a great job portraying these characters. At times I felt I was there looking in hoping for the best.

Great story and narration

Every time I read a book in the Arizona Vengeance series, it feels like I am coming home to family. Steele is a great addition to what is one of my favorite series from Sawyer Bennett. The narration by Brian Pallino and Jill Redfield really enhanced my listening enjoyment as they brought the story to life for me.

Their voices were on point for these characters and they did a great job expressing the emotions and struggles that Jim and Ella go through.

From the first to the last chapter I was riveted to the story that Sawyer Bennett wove and couldn’t put down. This is James (Jim) Steele’s second chance at love story with his estranged wife, Ella that drew me in and had me captivated from the first to the last word.

Jim has spent so much time concentrating on his hockey career that he has left his wife and their relationship behind. Now separated, Jim is a single dad to their teenage daughter and struggling.

Shocked to see his wife dating another man, Jim knows he needs to make changes in his life before he loses Ella forever. This was such a an emotional story that I feared at times that the happily ever after might be beyond reach. Jim is so swoon worthy that you cannot help but fall for him and it was heartwarming as he worked so determinedly to bring the love back into his marriage.

As always, it was great to catch up on the other couples of the Arizona Vengeance; I love getting updates on what is happening in their lives.

True love does exist!

I loved Steele! It is a fantastic addition to the Arizona Vengeance series and a wonderful second chance romance. Steele and Ella have only been separated for six months after Ella asked for a separation, but this time is a chance for them to reevaluate, rebuild and reignite their relationship!
James(Jim) Steele has been juggling his family and his career for years but in Ella’s eyes his team was more important. She finally had enough but he wouldn’t give up on them. Their love was never lost, just their connection and now they have another chance grab onto the love and future they always thought they would have.
This story will warm your heart and make you believe that true love and soul mates really do exist!
I had the opportunity to listen to the audio version and the narrators definitely added to my enjoyment of this story!