Besting the Blueliner

The Playmakers Series® Hockey Romances, Book 8

De: G.K. Brady

Narrado por: Tor Thom, Amanda Stribling

I’ve been counting down to summer—finally, a chance to escape. After a brutal hockey season, all I want is peace and quiet on my new ranch. But a streak of bad weather traps me with my neighbor, Terra White, and suddenly, solitude doesn’t seem so appealing.

Terra’s got a spark I can’t ignore, even though I keep telling myself to. She’s funny, adventurous, and easy to be around. But her father is a different story. Disapproving and overprotective, he’s made it clear he thinks Terra deserves someone who won’t let her down. After my own failed marriage, I’m not convinced that’s me.

Back in the city, I can’t get her out of my head. I message her, and our friendship grows over late-night calls and texts that feel like they mean more. I know Terra wants a love that lasts, but I’m not sure I can live up to her family’s expectations—or my own.

Letting her in means risking everything, and I don’t know if I’m ready to take that leap.

©2022 G.K. Brady (P)2024 G.K. Brady

Hot and Sweet at the same time

Besting the Blueliner

Cam Blue is new to the Colorado mountains and new to the Colorado Blizzards,the NHL team. Cam and his dog, Grace, love spending time at their cabin up in the mountains, which is where they meet and rescue Tara White. Tara's no stranger to the mountains, but accidents happen and she ended up pinned beneath her side by side. They ended up getting stuck in the mountains due to bad weather and that's when they get to know each other. This is a heartwarming story, a kind of enemies-to friends - to lovers type of story.. I wouldn't necessarily put it into the hockey Romance category as that is almost like a micro-trope. But the nature of the sport does come into play, so it still works. HEA at the end and it's worth the wait! Tor Thom and Amanda Stribling are telling the story in your earbuds and did an amazing job! As always, Tor melts the snow with the heat and this is the first time for me hearing Amanda, but she did great.., definitely grab this audiobook!

New Book Boyfriend

Besting The Blueliner is a steamy friends to lovers, grump/sunshine sports romance. I liked how easy and comfortable they were with each other right from the start. These characters were so good, I just loved when Terra and Cam finally got together. The way he treated her was so dreamy, I want a guy like that. Tor Thom and Amanda Stribling did a very good job bringing these characters to life. If you a chance read this series you won't be disappointed, plenty of book boyfriends HEA's.

This is cute!

This is cute! I enjoyed the storyline. It has a few ups, downs and a chuckle or two. The characters are delightful. I enjoyed Terra as she has a bit to overcome. Cam is just the best! I loved him. The whole naming scheme of his family is awesome! Brilliant! Such a great guy! Loved the whole neighbor ranch theme.

I listened to this on audio. Tor Thom and Amanda Stribling are the narrators. They both do a wonderful job.

Very Enjoyable

I really enjoyed this story. I didn’t ready any of the other books in the series and didn’t feel I needed to for the benefit of Cam and Tara’s story. However, I did feel as maybe I was missing something with the hockey team.
Great performance by the narrators.

Great audiobook

I listened to the audiobook version of this book and I really enjoyed it. Everything about Terra and Cam is just so cute. I love how they met, and how they were basically forced to spend time together in the beginning. Their relationship developed slowly from dislike to tolerate, to a friendship, until they finally fall in love. I also loved how, like in every real life relationship, mistakes are made on both sides. The romance was excellent and the spice was chef's kiss. The narration by Tor Thom and Amanda Stribling was excellent. Their tone of voice, and their inflections are just superb. Great audiobook!

Entertaining listen

G.K Brady is a relatively new author to me, and I am shocked that I have not read more from this talented author before. From the first chapter I was invested in professional hockey player Cam Blue and Terra White’s story.

Cam has been badly burnt in the past and Terra is worried that she will never find “the one” thanks to an overprotectivefather and brother. These two meet in unusual circumstances and fate has plans for them.
 
As Terra gets to know the real man, she knows that he could be Mr. Right but is she good enough for Cam?. This is a slow burn story that was enhanced by the entertaining narration by Tor Thom and Amanda Stribling. Their performances brought the characters and story to life. Not only are their voices easy to listen to, but they brought humour and romance to their performances.
 
I loved their journey; it was entertaining and heartwarming to watch the walls crumble between them.

Grumpy indeed - or is he?

I just loved Cam and Terra's story. They've each got their baggage to unpack, but the way they met was priceless... and the beginning of things to come. Plenty of ups and downs for these two, and I have to say, good riddance to Robert and Britta! Read and you'll understand why. I also enjoyed appearances by some of my favorite characters from previous books in the series... looking forward to reading more in this series. I had previously read this story but enjoyed how narrators Tor Thom and Amanda Stribling. brought the story to life. Makes me want to listen to more in the series.

Great story with amazing narration

GK Brady writes amazing stories with delightful characters. This book is so good, funny and filled with passion. It also has some of my favorite tropes - hockey, forced proximity and grumpy sunshine. Cam and Terra are a treat..from their initial meeting to the end of the book they are full of laughs, swoon and amazing banter. The start out a bit crabby with each other but as the spend more time together (forced proximity) their relationship turns from friendship into a beautiful romance. They become each other biggest confidants, support system and cheerleaders Tor Thom and Amanda Stribling deliver a fantastic performance. They gave the characters perfect voice, personality and emotion. I love how narrators give readers/listeners a whole new experience to enjoying authors words.

Ticked all my boxes

I have listened to a couple of books by this author and I’m really surprised I haven’t come across her sooner. If you love sports romances look no further than professional hockey player Cam Blue and Terra White’s story in Besting The Blueliner (The Playmakers #8).
Terra is convinced she is never going to find her forever partner because of her overprotective father and brother but then she meets Cam but the problem is he has been burnt and is not looking for more heartbreak.
So can Terra convince Cam to take a leap of faith and take a chance on love and more importantly will she realise she is worthy of love……
Tor Thom and Amanda Stribling did a wonderful job bring the characters and their journey to life. They were spot on with the banter, the humour and the love that flows throughout this book.
This is a heartwarming and entertaining, slow burn that I have no hesitation in recommending to all romance lovers. I can’t wait to read or listen to more from the very talented G.K. Brady.

White and Blue - can they get along?

Once again in Hockey Land courtesy of author G. K. Brady, and what a pleasure it is as always. Besting the Blueliner is the 8th entry in The Playmakers series and just as full of excitement and conflict and fun and romance as the others. And I have an advance listening copy – an audiobook! – and these stories are at their best when performed by another pair of excellent narrators. Tor Thom’s voice always takes me by surprise. It’s so deep and gravelly that it’s easy to picture a big, burly hockey player, but then I realize that he can oh so convincingly be tender, sweet, scared, sexy, sexy, sexy with that voice, too. He makes Cam a tough guy with a soft, gooey center. And contrary to an opinion he voiced in an interview, he does the female voices just fine. Amanda Stribling gives you all aspects of Terra’s personality and emotions. She can sound small, meek, confused, hurt – and then roar back and be a strong, confident woman not afraid to fight for herself. I loved listening to every minute.

Cam Blue hasn’t been a Colorado Blizzard defenseman for long, and there’s no guarantee he’ll be one long-term. That’s just how hockey goes. Their cup-winning season has just ended and Cam’s gone to his cabin in the mountains to let his body recover and to find what he craves most: solitude. The company of his sweet dog Grace (named after Grace Kelly) is all he needs. And maybe that strip of land he tried to buy from his jerk neighbor. He’s not quite a mountain man yet, but he’s learning.

Terra is an interesting contrast: a grown woman treated by her father as if she is a teenager, treated by both her father and brother as if she is the housekeeper, and “thinks” she has a boyfriend although he doesn’t stay in touch often and has never done more than kiss her. On the other hand, she runs the family business very competently and she is an authentic mountain woman, capable and confident in the woods. Except when she topples her father’s new ATV and can’t free herself. She was looking forward to a week alone at the cabin but this accident could become serious in these lonely woods.

Grace hears Terra’s cries for help and Cam and Grace follow the sound. He is able to free Terra but she’s skittish, sarcastic, not too friendly. By his own admission Cam is a surly SOB so their first meeting doesn’t exactly make them BFFs. But there is something there . . . .

There is so much going on in Besting the Blueliner; it’s a joy to follow all these twists and turns and learn surprise after surprise – and watch two people who are determined they can’t, shouldn’t, won’t be together keep winding up together. Keep wanting to wind up together. Cam is recovering at a snail’s pace from a failed marriage, a horrible divorce and an ex-wife who still wants money all the time; Terra insists that yes, Roger is so her boyfriend, and maybe his lack of interest or any sparks is fault of her self-described unsexy self, and maybe Cam could teach her a thing or two? Interesting idea. That strip of land Cam wants to buy plays a key part, as do Terra’s overbearing, overprotective father and her underachieving, undermotivated brother. Terra is terrified of dogs; Cam couldn’t live without Grace. Even with his innate grumpiness Cam feels an overpowering urge to protect Terra. She feels safe with him and opens up more than she ever has to anyone else. And there is a protective streak for him in her, too. They seem to be opposites but the more they are together the more it seems they should – must – be together. But family, and relationships and hockey management may make that impossible.

Thanks to Home Cooked Books and author G. K. Brady for providing an Advance Listening Copy of Besting the Blueliner. I really, really cared about this couple and wanted to knock all the obstacles down myself to ensure they could be together. The narration was the icing on the cake to an already perfect novel. It was also heart-warming as usual to catch up with players and other characters from previous books in the series; everyone is connected to everyone somehow and it’s fun to read. I recommend this book, this series, and the rest of what G. K. Brady writes without hesitation. I voluntarily leave this review; all opinions are my own.