Boarded Hearts

Seattle Scorpions Series, Book 1

By: Ruth Stilling

Narrated by: Sadie Lake, Jarman Day

My whole life, I've come out on top.

One of the finest players ever to grace the NHL? Check. Most prolific playboy with an enviable reputation between the sheets? Check. Award for the cockiest athlete in America? Also, check, and well deserved I'd say.

So why does my life feel anything but the perfect image I project? And why won't the one woman who came crashing into my life and knocked me on my six-foot-four ass take me seriously?

She doesn't even recognize me, let alone worship the ground I walk on. I'm in uncharted territory, tearing up my rule book and unearthing buried demons in my pursuit of her affection.

I always get what I want in life, but apparently, Felicity Thompson didn't get the memo. I want her in my bed, but all she offers me is her witty British tongue and no-nonsense attitude.

It isn't supposed to be this way. She's supposed to unravel for me. Yet the harder I pursue her, the more my own layers peel away.

Felicity Thompson is fast becoming not just what I want but the very woman I need in my life, and I'm terrified to admit that when it truly matters, I might not be coming out on top after all.

©2024 Ruth Stilling (P)2024 Podium Audio

No third act breakup

I am really leaning more and more to books with no third act breakup especially for dumb reasons like uncertainty. Or fear of commitment. So glad this book didn’t have that trope.

Swoon

Based on the blurb and cover art, this is not at all what I was expecting. I thought this was going to be college hockey but no the FMC is 39 and the MMC was 34. My mind was blown on that alone. The cover art makes them look like young 20’s. The FMC has 17/18 year old children 🤯.

Aside from that I really enjoyed the story. More than I expected. It was so close to perfect for me. I think the ending was a little bit rushed and that fumbled it for me. Near the end the MMC goes through a bit of a mental health crisis and pulls away from everyone. The FMC remains steadfast. She literally does nothing other than remaining in his life. Then like a switch flipped the MMC is totally fine and the FMC was also happy he was back to normal. There’s no grovel, no hurt feelings, nothing. They literally pick up where they left off like the time he was distant was nonexistent. I think there needed to be a little more reconciliation with what happened.

Aside from that I wish we saw a little more of her relationship with her kids. I guess they are grown and not around so that’s why we never see them but her son lives in her city and is a hockey player. It would have been cool to see the relationship development between him and the MMC over their shared love of hockey.

The rest of the story was really great. It was nice to have older characters. I loved the MMC’s family. The love story was very swoon worthy.

Love love loved this book

Highly recommend this book. It’s sooo good. Great story with some new ideas . I’ll definitely be following this author

Jon and Felicity

Jon and Felicity are everything. Felicity gets out of a loveless and bad marriage. Jon is a hockey player getting out of his playboy days and wants to settle down. He meets Felicity and HE FALLS HARD for her. I just can't get over them and their relationship. I want to tell you all about it but you really should read it yourself.

Jon is the ultimate book boyfriend. He is caring, protective and patient.

NARRATION:

Sadie Lake and Jarman Day were the perfect narrators for Jon and Felicity. They brought these characters to life and made an amazing book even better.

Jon & Felicity

Boarded Hearts, the first book in the Seattle Scorpions series, follows Felicity, a newly divorced single mom, and Jon, a hockey team captain known for his playboy reputation. Felicity isn’t looking to date, focusing on herself and her kids, but Jon is determined to prove he’s different from her ex and worthy of her love. I loved how Jon patiently broke down Felicity’s walls with genuine care and dedication, and how Felicity supported Jon as he confronted his mental health challenges. Their emotional journey is heartfelt and uplifting, and the narrators beautifully capture their chemistry, making this an unforgettable, must listen!

Love!

Such a great story and performance! I loved the men’s mental health rep! And I loved the single mom aspect with a new twist! I loved it!

Hockey Former Playboy

Omg Swooning! Just perfect writing and narration! I love Jon and Felicity!!! Hot hockey former playboy and sassy fmc from England. What’s not to love!

All a bit much.

Well that’s a bunch of hours that I wish I had spent on another book. Too much too fast from all the characters. I rolled my eyes too many times at the possessiveness and ridiculousness of it all. Im an hour from the end and am almost just going to stop listening.