Sure Shot: A Hockey Romance

By: Sarina Bowen

Narrated by: Jacob Morgan, Emma Wilder

Length: 9 hrs and 13 mins

Publisher's Summary

A new standalone hockey romance from USA Today best seller Sarina Bowen.

On the eve of her 30th birthday, sports agent Bess Beringer is ready to make some changes. Armed with a five-year plan - indexed and color coded - she’ll tackle her personal life with the same zeal that she brings to her successful agency. 

A big, tall, ripped hunk of hockey player who’s just been traded to the Brooklyn Bruisers is not a part of that plan. Mark “Tank” Tankiewicz has a lot of baggage. He’s a ride-or-die loner with a bad reputation. He’s on the rebound. He’s also the sexiest thing on two legs, and for some crazy reason it’s Bess that he wants. 

She knows better. But then she falls stupid in love with him anyway. And for a while it seems like maybe he’ll do the same. 

Until she asks him for the one thing he can never give her...

©2020 Sarina Bowen (P)2020 Sarina Bowen

Goal!!!

I absolutely fell in love with Tank. Throughout the book he had me hooked and I can not explain exactly what made me head over heals without giving you a spoiler but let me tell you, he is a keeper!!
The fling Tank and Bess had 9 years ago was enough to show them how much chemistry they had but if Bess hadn't ghosted Tank, I'm not sure he would have been ready for this relationship 9 years later. Bess wasn't even really ready for Tank even now. He did not fit into her 5 year plan. Well sometimes life has other plans! What a great story this was! Sarina scored another goal with this Brooklyn Bruisers book. The Brooklyn Bruisers have made me a hockey fan.....at least for book boyfriends! Make sure you get this book!

Jacob Morgan is wonderful as always

Sure Shot is a great addition to my library. I'm not sure how many books Sarina Bowen has written, but I have listened to 39 audiobooks she wrote or co-wrote. She is absolutely an auto-buy/ for me. - SB brings her wonderful characters to life and I love feeling involved with their stories. Even the couple of books I'm not ready to listen to again were marred for me by the female narrator and not the story or characters; this is the segue to my only criticism. The female protagonist in Sure Shot is much more than a survivor; she's a business owner, a successful business owner, in a male-dominated profession. She's not obnoxious but she is a tough cookie. When Bess is deferential it is a choice on her part, not because she's passive. And yet Emma Wilder in general and well as in this book has this faltering voice affectation that makes her sound unsteady. It doesn't ruin the book, but I found that I had to remind myself who Bess was.

Sure Shot is what happiness feels like

I loved this audiobook. I loved reading this book and I loved listening to it. Emma Wilder is amazing as Bess, and Jacob Morgan is wonderful as Mark. Their performances are beyond fantastic, and they don’t only make the story justice, they bring it to another level. I also enjoyed listening to Tim Paige, who makes a special appearance as the narrator of the few news posts in the book.

It’s really good and worth listening to. Even if you already read it.

Sure Shot is most definitely one of my top reads of 2020. It’s a hockey romance masterclass. It’s beautifully written and it will definitely make you swoon.

I love the Brooklyn Bruisers. This series owns my heart. Every single book is a masterpiece, and Sure Shot might be the best one yet. It’s not surpring because Sarina Bowen is always outdoing herself. She’s such a talented writer and storyteller. There’s nothing better than reading one of her books, either for the first time or the tenth time.

Sure Shot is Bess Beringer’s story. She’s stong, smart and determined. She’s a very successful sports agent, and about to turn thirty. She’s making some changes in her personal life. She has moved to Brooklyn to be closer to her family, and wants a family of her own. But she didn’t count on Mark “Tank” Tankiewicz, a former lover who still has the ability to make her swoon, to come back into her life.

Mark is a great guy. He’s a bit of a grump, but charming and funny. He’s dreamy and swoonworthy. His reputation precedes him, but he has depth, and you’ll see he’s hiding a wounded soul. He’s definitely book boyfriend material. He’s the new player on the team, traded from Dallas—Brooklyn’s nemesis, and is completely out of his depth. He’s not getting along with his new teammates on and off the ice. He’s getting divorced, and is a regular feature in the gossip blogs, his character constantly in question. Basically, his whole life is falling apart. He’s not looking for a relationship, but he wasn’t expecting to run into Bess again, the girl he had a fling with nine years ago.

I loved Bess and Tank together. Their banter is hilarious, and their chemistry off the charts. The intensity of their attraction comes through loud and clear. But more importantly, it’s evident they have a special connection. It’s not about sex, even when they both try to keep their relationship secret and without strings. Bess’s conflict with it is pretty evident, but Tank’s reluctance has deeper roots, and they come to light when he opens up to Bess, showing her his vulnerability.

One of the things I love most about this series is that it has a very strong small-town vibe. Brooklyn—and especially DUMBO—are described so vividly and with such attention to detail, that they come alive in the reader’s mind, and they really play a very important role in these stories. It’s part of their DNA.

The other thing I love is the characters. I’m in love with each and every one of them. The depth and intensity of the supporting cast is one of Sarina Bowen’s trademarks.

I loved seeing Bess bonding with Becca and Georgia, and Tank trying to explain his role on the team to Jason Castro. Heidi steals the show more than once, as only she does, and we get to hang out with Zara, Dave and Nicole for a little while. It was great to see Patrick O’Doul so zen, happiness definitely suits him. Baby Bayer had a couple of magic moments as well, and I loved meeting Henry, such a lovely guy.

Sure Shot is a beautiful second chance story about moving on, true love, and trust. About embracing change, and realizing that there’s more than one way to find happiness if only you’re open to the possibilities. It’s witty and hilarious, but just as heartfelt and soulful as you’d expect from Sarina Bowen. It’s the perfect combination of laugh-out-loud fun and very emotional and heartbreaking revelations. It will touch your soul and make it cry a little, both from heartbreak and laughter.

Sure Shot is Sarina Bowen at her best, and that alone makes it worth your time. It’s hockey perfection, steamy romance and wonderful characters. I loved everything about this story, and can only hope there are more hunky hockey players coming our way in the near future.

This narration gave me all the feels!

This is a second chance romance that hits the ground running and instantly stole my heart.

I had previously read the ebook, but jumped at the chance to listen to two of my favorite narrators read this story. Their performances were so beautiful and heart wrenching at times that it literally brought me to tears. I fell even deeper in love with this story and it is because of the amazing performances of Jacob Morgan and Emma Wilder.

I knew I loved Bess before reading Sure Shot but I don't think I was prepared for how much I would relate to her. She was such a balanced heroine fiercely independent, owns her own business, confident, handles professional athletes better than any man. She is also honest with herself about her personal goals and making space for them in her professional life and is vulnerable with her friends and Tank.

What can I say about Tank? I love a hero who is a little damaged and has lived and learned from his mistakes. There is something so desirable about the way Tank is healing or maybe running from his divorce and trade and the reasons behind both. He's just so dreamy and masculine and hurting and healing and it is everything.

I think it is actually the 10th Brooklyn Bruisers book if you add in Bountiful and Moonlighter and I feel like Sarina Bowen really had fun with this one There were references to many of the previous characters and even a cross series reference that was a super fun Easter egg!

This book hit me right in the feels. I found a deeply personal connection to Tank and Bess' story and their experiences. Sarina Bowen addressed what can be a sensitive topic with compassion and kindness. Like all of Sarina Bowen's books I could not put it down, I completed the whole book in less than 24 hours, reading between my other adult responsibilities. I tried to read slow, I really did, but Sarina Bowen writes stories that I have to keep reading and worlds I never want to leave.

Might be my favorite in this series

This might have been my favorite so far. I hope that Sarina Bowen continues with this great series.
I think I liked this book a lot because their challenges felt very real.
And the narration could not have been better!! It can really make or break an audiobook!

great book

Loved this story. It was definitely couldnt put it down for me. The story was so fast pace and it never got to a "slow" part for me.

Might be my favorite

This might be my favorite Brooklyn Bruisers novel yet. I seriously love all the Bruiser stories but this one was so sweet. Sarina never disappoints, and the narrators were awesome. Jacob Morgan has a swoon worthy voice.

Simply Horrible

This story was so disappointing. What a weak female lead. She gives supposedly “strong” women a bad name. Also I’m sorry but Emma Wilder’s voice added to the wimpy-ness; too breathy and pretty pathetic sounding (but hey that’s how she’s portrayed so maybe she was spot on). Finally Tank really wasn’t that great either; if Bess hadn’t BEGGED him and given up ALL of her dreams then they would’ve stayed apart. And what kind of a guy lets the woman they love do that? I’ve liked all of the other stories and was expecting more from a supposed bada$$ female sports agent (whatever). What a waste of time & money. Boo.

Worth listening too!

I have so enjoyed all of Ms. Bowen’s books that I have listened to and this one was pretty good!

I would recommend reading David’s book first so you can meet Bess. It will make this book even better for you.

Why can’t Jacob Morgan just do all the male narration? He has to be one of my favorite narrators his voice makes this books even better! Emma Wilder is a little to breath before me but not bad.

Sure Shot

I was leery of trying this book, I enjoyed books 1 and 2 but book 3 wasn’t my cup of tea. But I am glad I listened. It took me a little bit to get into. I think because I wasn’t really buying them knowing each other. I get they had a fling 9ish years ago but it felt surface.

So now that they are both older, and have more life experience I liked that Bess and Tank talked and got things out in the open. I felt terrible for Tank and the end of his marriage. I can completely see why he didn’t want to talk about it. But I was also a little frustrated because Bess kind of had a right to know what happened. So when it all came out it was messy.

I do like how Bess understood though and I also liked that she stood up for herself. I was afraid she would just go along with it things just because she loved him.

So overall I liked the direction this book took, the ending was endearing.

The narration is fantastic as always both narrators do a great job bringing these characters to life in our ears.

Is Ms. Bowen the Queen of hockey romances?

It's difficult not to hand her the crown. I've loved this series for a long time and while it's been a minute since I've visited with the Bruisers, I felt like revisiting with old friends, even if Mark and Bess are pretty new characters to me. This is a second chance hookupship to more fun time with a little bit of angst thrown in. It might get a little deep in places so maybe check triggers if fertility is a problem. But I really enjoyed this and both narrators are favourites of mine so I don't find any fault there at all.

Loved it

This is a great story and the narrators help to bringing it alive. I will definitely listen to it again.

So sweet my teeth hurts

I really liked this one too.
The narrator's were excellent. Storyline good.
A bit sad that it's the last one in the series. And I already read True North series as well.
Sarina Bowen is an excellent writer. Can't wait for her next book!

Enjoyable listen

Enjoyed listening to this book. Prefer some of Sarina Bowen’s other books, and this one won’t particularly stick with me, but a decent listen.