Reviewed: Empty Net by Toni Aleo...

Definition of an Empty Net: When a team pulls the goalie for an extra attacker, desperately seeking a goal.
Audrey Parker was in a horrible place.
She hated her job, her sister was getting married and moving out, but worst of all, she was in love with a total jerk. No matter what she did, every guy she met hurt her. All she wanted was her happily ever after. Her Prince Charming. Her Lucas Brooks! She didn’t know how to change her life but she knew she needed too.
Feeling like she was about to hit rock bottom, Audrey wakes up next to Tate Odder.
Tate Odder had lost everything.
After being brought up from the Assassins’ farm team, the Florida Rays to the Nashville Assassins, Tate hopes he’ll forget everything he has lost. He doesn’t. Each day gets harder to live in a place he doesn’t know. Even being the first rookie goalie to shut out an opposing team three times during the Lord Stanley Cup Finals, he still felt empty. With the loss of his parents and sister still heavy on his heart, Tate isn’t sure how to live like everything is okay.
But when he wakes up beside Audrey Parker, things start to change. She turns his life upside down with her kooky sense of humor and her bright clothing. She is intelligent and beautiful, and for once, he doesn’t feel empty.
Will Audrey be the person to fill the holes in Tate’s heart, making him whole again?
Or will another player ruin everything, leaving him feeling forever like an empty net?

I am such a HUGE fan of Toni Aleo. She has quickly become one of my favorite authors!!
WOW...Each book I read in the Assassins series only makes me love this series that much more!!! Empty net might be my favorite of the series so far. But it is tough because I loved each book in different ways. 
I have been waiting anxiously to read this book when I found out that it was Audrey's. I loved her in Trying To Score and wanted to see her get her HEA that she so desperately wanted and deserved.
I loved that the characters from the previous books continued through this story as well as the introduction of new characters. Oh how I hated Levi!!  Tate *sighs*  I just loved Tate and Audrey together and I love the direction that Toni took their story. So good!!! 
This was just a great read!!  It was a heart-warming, sad, funny, sweet story with a great H/h that you desperately wanted to see get their HEA. It was such an entertaining read that I did not want to see end. It was so good that I had trouble putting it down. Fantastic epilogue that hinted to the story in the next book and definitely had me wanting more!!! 
Thanks Toni for such a great story and a great series. So much fun to read.  Another reread for me and definitely has a place in my keeper pile. BEST OF THE BEST rating. 

***ARC obtained per Toni Aleo. Thank you so much Toni. It was my absolute pleasure to read!!

The Assassins Series Books #1 thru 2 / AMAZON

Reviewed: Trying To Score by Toni Aleo...

AMAZON

The Assassins Series Book #2

Fallon Parker’s dream was to have her family’s wine company at the top of all wine magazines and to have a cellar of her own. After graduating from college, she has worked hard to make that dream a reality, even if that meant having a nonexistent love life. She had her chance at love and that was a bust, so she put everything into the wine company. After becoming the official sponsor of the Nashville Assassins, Fallon finally feels like everything is falling in place, that is until Lucas Brooks comes back into her life.

Lucas Brooks hates his life. He is lonely, he is sober, and he is angry. On the ice, when he’s not in the sin bin, he the leading scorer in the NHL but off the ice, he is a mess. He threw away the most important person in his life, and has regretted it ever since but when Lucas sees Fallon again after being traded to the Assassins; he is bound and determined to get her back. Even if she wants nothing to do with him.

The sexual tension between Fallon and Lucas is electrifying as Lucas tries to convince Fallon that he is a changed man. Fallon tries to resist Lucas, but it is so hard when all her body wants is his. But when Lucas finds out that Fallon has been keeping a huge secret from him, the game he is playing stops and penalties are called.

With new rules and new players on the ice, will Fallon and Lucas be able to work out their differences and work as a team or will they be left trying to score alone.

LOVED IT!!!

This is hard review to write because I don't want to give away any spoilers.
This is the second book I've read from Toni Aleo and if I wasn't a HUGE fan after reading Taking Shots, I definitely would be after reading Trying To Score!!!
 I love love love this story!!! Toni's writing and this series are the reason I love to read so much!!! SO FREAKING GOOD!!! This is my favorite book in the series. 
In Taking Shots I loved Shea's character~he made the book for me. In Trying To Score it was the story that made the book for me. I was hooked from the beginning and I wanted nothing more then to immerse myself in the story!! I couldn't pull myself away from Lucas, Fallon, Aidan and Audrey because I couldn't wait to see what happened next. I'm so glad Toni brought Shea and Ellie back, they had some great scenes~so funny. Toni wrote another great hockey-playing, sexy, tattooed, sweet, cocky, romantic hero and more HOT sex scenes!! 
Trying To Score is heart-warming, romantic, sweet, sexy, funny and a bit sad. Just a great read that is definitely taking up room in my keeper pile while waiting to be reread.
I can't wait to read Empty Net and I hope that it is not the last of this series because I definitely don't want it to end!!  5 out of 5 rating. 


**Received this copy from Toni Aleo ~ Thank you so much!!! :)


Toni Aleo Website


Assassins Series Book #1 / AMAZON





The Assassins Series Book 3 ~ Release Date: September 11, 2012

Reviewed: Taking Shots by Toni Aleo...

AMAZON

The Assassins Series Book #1

Elli Fisher has never thought she was good enough. Let it be her job, her weight, her love life, nothing, she was convinced she couldn’t do anything right. She had walked through life for the past six years in a daze, never thinking that life could be good again after the abuse she endured from her ex boyfriend. She is lonely, sad, and depressed, that is until she meets Shea Adler. After doing a promotional shoot for the NHL team, the Nashville Assassins, she meets the hunky hockey player who shoots a puck, shattering her world.

Shea Adler was tired of the life he was living outside of the rink. The girls, the money blowing, the drinking, everything had to stop and it all did when he met Eleanor Fisher. He had never met anyone like her. She is feisty, witty, shy, and simply gorgeous. When he laid eyes on her, it was as if he was taking the hardest hit of his life into the boards, and he had to have her. 
Elli is a little skeptical of Shea, but he knows that they were meant to be together, and he needed her in his life. But Elli just doesn’t understand what Shea could see in her. She is overweight, loud, and not even that pretty, so why would someone so gorgeous and so amazing want to be with her? It seemed that no matter how hard she tried to shake Shea off, he wasn’t going anywhere, and for the first time Elli didn’t feel alone.
But could Elli throw her insecurities out the window and love Shea with everything inside of her? Or will she let a past relationship, and her family ruin any chance of her being happy?
Would Elli miss her shot at love?

LOVED IT!!!

Toni Aleo has definitely gained a HUGE fan in me after reading Taking Shots. I love love love everything about this book and I am so excited to read the rest of the series!!
Taking Shots has everything that I look for in a book and it is a perfect example of why I love to read so much. I love a HEA, I love a love-at-first sight (or close to first sight), I love a great epilogue, I love the flawed, low self-esteem, insecure heroine with the seemingly flawless, confident, secure hero, and I am a sucker for the fall in love-break up-get back together romances--they are my favorite. Taking Shots had all of this plus HOT, STEAMY sex scenes, a sigh-worthy, sexy, glasses-wearing, muscled, tattooed, hockey playing, sweet, romantic hero and the best lovable cast of secondary characters that added so much to the story.  Taking Shots captured my interest from the beginning and entertained me till the end!! I couldn't get enough of this book. I definitely didn't want it to end but oh, how I loved the ending!!! I want a Shea of my own *sigh*. Definitely going in my keeper pile to be reread. Taking Shots has quickly become a favorite of mine. Thank you Toni for writing a book that made me sigh, laugh, cry a little, smile a lot and fall in love--it was a perfect day of reading!!!  5 out of 5 rating. 
Toni wrote the best dedication and acknowledgement to her husband--so sweet!!! :)


Toni Aleo Website


The Assassins Series Book 2 /  AMAZON


The Assassins Series Book 3 ~ Release Date: September 11, 2012

New Author/Book To Me: The Assassins Series by Toni Aleo...

AMAZON / Assassins series Book#1

Elli Fisher has never thought she was good enough. Let it be her job, her weight, her love life, nothing, she was convinced she couldn’t do anything right. She had walked through life for the past six years in a daze, never thinking that life could be good again after the abuse she endured from her ex boyfriend. She is lonely, sad, and depressed, that is until she meets Shea Adler. After doing a promotional shoot for the NHL team, the Nashville Assassins, she meets the hunky hockey player who shoots a puck, shattering her world.
Shea Adler was tired of the life he was living outside of the rink. The girls, the money blowing, the drinking, everything had to stop and it all did when he met Eleanor Fisher. He had never met anyone like her. She is feisty, witty, shy, and simply gorgeous. When he laid eyes on her, it was as if he was taking the hardest hit of his life into the boards, and he had to have her. 
Elli is a little skeptical of Shea, but he knows that they were meant to be together, and he needed her in his life. But Elli just doesn’t understand what Shea could see in her. She is overweight, loud, and not even that pretty, so why would someone so gorgeous and so amazing want to be with her? It seemed that no matter how hard she tried to shake Shea off, he wasn’t going anywhere, and for the first time Elli didn’t feel alone.
But could Elli throw her insecurities out the window and love Shea with everything inside of her? Or will she let a past relationship, and her family ruin any chance of her being happy?
Would Elli miss her shot at love?

**Read the first chapter of Shea and Elli's story here!**

AMAZON / Assassins series Book #2

Fallon Parker’s dream was to have her family’s wine company at the top of all wine magazines and to have a cellar of her own. After graduating from college, she has worked hard to make that dream a reality, even if that meant having a nonexistent love life. She had her chance at love and that was a bust, so she put everything into the wine company. After becoming the official sponsor of the Nashville Assassins, Fallon finally feels like everything is falling in place, that is until Lucas Brooks comes back into her life.
Lucas Brooks hates his life. He is lonely, he is sober, and he is angry. On the ice, when he’s not in the sin bin, he the leading scorer in the NHL but off the ice, he is a mess. He threw away the most important person in his life, and has regretted it ever since but when Lucas sees Fallon again after being traded to the Assassins; he is bound and determined to get her back. Even if she wants nothing to do with him.
The sexual tension between Fallon and Lucas is electrifying as Lucas tries to convince Fallon that he is a changed man. Fallon tries to resist Lucas, but it is so hard when all her body wants is his. But when Lucas finds out that Fallon has been keeping a huge secret from him, the game he is playing stops and penalties are called.
With new rules and new players on the ice, will Fallon and Lucas be able to work out their differences and work as a team or will they be left trying to score alone.

**Read the first chapter of Lucas and Fallon's story here!**

Release Date: September 11, 2012 / Assassins series Book #3

Definition of an Empty Net: When a team pulls the goalie for an extra attacker, desperately seeking a goal.
Audrey Parker was in a horrible place.
She hated her job, her sister was getting married and moving out, but worst of all, she was in love with a total jerk. No matter what she did, every guy she met hurt her. All she wanted was her happily ever after. Her Prince Charming. Her Lucas Brooks! She didn’t know how to change her life but she knew she needed too.
Feeling like she was about to hit rock bottom, Audrey wakes up next to Tate Odder.
Tate Odder had lost everything.
After being brought up from the Assassins’ farm team, the Florida Rays to the Nashville Assassins, Tate hopes he’ll forget everything he has lost. He doesn’t. Each day gets harder to live in a place he doesn’t know. Even being the first rookie goalie to shut out an opposing team three times during the Lord Stanly Cup Finals, he still felt empty. With the loss of his parents and sister still heavy on his heart, Tate isn’t sure how to live like everything is okay.
But when he wakes up beside Audrey Parker, things start to change. She turns his life upside down with her kooky sense of humor and her bright clothing. She is intelligent and beautiful, and for once, he doesn’t feel empty.
Will Audrey be the person to fill the holes in Tate’s heart, making him whole again?
Or will another player ruin everything, leaving him feeling forever like an empty net?

**Read the first chapter of Tate and Audrey's story here!**

Toni Aleo Blog

Toni Aleo is a new author to me that I found at Insightful Minds Reviews Blog. This series sounds so good and I can't wait to read!! :)  Thanks so much for sharing IMR.