Thank you so much to #partner Berkley for the free copy of the book!
Thank you to PRH Audio for the complimentary audiobook!

This book is out now!

I first read Bal Khabra's book Collide last year through Berkley and comparing the way that one was written to this one, you could see Khabra's growth! Collide felt like it was a debut book and I know it originally was an indie turned traditionally pub so I'm not sure how much was changed from the original format. But this one felt so much more polished!

Without knowing it, I read two romances simultaneously that started off with a the FMC bids on the MMC at a charity event and yet they both were done so differently and well done. Sage bids on Eli while working at a charity event which leds to them hanging out. Eli is smitten with Sage from the start.

I thought this was such a cute read! Sage had been through a lot and had to grow up quickly. She felt like she had to be the one to take care of her brother and put everything for him before she could focus on herself. Ballet was her life and her dream was to play the title role in Black Swan. When a fire at her apartment caused her to be displaced, sweet Eli was kind enough to let her stay with him. I love the found family feeling that came across on how his group of friends took her in.

Eli doesn't have the best reputation in the NHL and is painted as a playboy. But playing hockey is what he wants people to be talking about except he has yet to score a goal. Once him and Sage start seeing one another, his luck changes, There was an incident that caused him to be a little extra cautious in his love life. Eli is very very into Sage but doesn't allow himself to indulge. I thought that was an interesting choice by the author! Especially for someone who has written very spicy scenes in the prior book. But don't worry Eli could only resist for so long because he knew Sage was different than other women that had been in his life. I love how supportive he was of Sage and knew that she could achieve her dreams. And don't get me started on how sweet he was towards her brother!!

I paired my reading with the audiobook. Narrators Nia Serge and Aaron Shedlock both were fabulous as Sage & Elias. Both were new to me narrators and I would certainly listen to other audiobooks with them. Nia gave us the sass and vulnerability that is needed for Sage. Aaron's tone is deep and rich and just worked perfectly with his character.

Overall I thought this was a fun, quick romance and I recommend if you are looking for a romance buffer between heavy reads! You do not need to read Collide to understand this. Summer and Aiden do make appearances throughout the book.