Hard Checked

This was by far my favorite out of this series. It gives you drama, excitement and an actual happy ending that completes a romantic book.

Be still my heart…every time Sebastian came up in previous books my dislike for Madison grew & my heart broke for him a little bit. He deserved his happily ever and someone who was worth his love in return…he deserved Gigi 💙

Sebastian, member of the Ice Kings Hockey team, is in the middle of one of the best seasons of his career. He’s just returned home from an out of town game only to be served divorce papers. It’s not exactly how he thought his New Year’s would go. Not wanting to be alone, Sebastian heads to the local bar that he and his teammates frequent. As he sits there drinking until he’s blitzed, Gigi grows more and more concerned. At closing, she ends up taking him to her apartment above the bar to sleep it off. When he awakes the next morning, he doesn’t remember anything and is rude to Gigi. He later returns to apologize and finds he truly enjoys Gigi’s company.

Gigi is a free-spirited, college educated, divorced woman. Her father, the only family she has left, is close to retirement and is having health issues so she returned home to work in the family owned bar. From the first moment she laid eyes on Sebastian, she was intrigued. Sebastian always had a frown on his face and never seemed happy, but he was married. While drinking away his sorrows, he opens up to Gigi and admits he was served divorce papers. Gigi listens, offers advice, and leaves it at that as she believes he still has unfinished business with his wife. While working through his issues, Gigi and Sebastian’s friendship grows and feelings develop. But Gigi doesn’t want to be a “rebound”.

I LOVED this novel! I was sooo ready to learn the background behind Sebastian’s failing marriage. Stacey Lynn delved into hard topics—infertility, mental health, and divorce. I enjoyed “seeing” divorce from a man’s POV. All too frequently, we only hear the woman’s side so this was refreshing. I was also glad Sebastian got the closure he so desperately needed, while alerting her family to her health issues. I was truly glad she was able to get the help she needed. I also loved the “family” dynamic at the bar. The regulars that had helped change Gigi’s diapers when she was a baby—priceless. The chemistry was off the charts. I enjoyed their hikes because they led to meaningful conversations. The puppy was adorable too! Flawlessly written! Highly recommended! I read a gifted copy and all opinions stated are my own.