Strong and Wild

Lakes Hockey Series, Book 2

By: Sloane St. James

Narrated by: Alex Kydd, Savannah Thomas

Micky

I'm new to this city, but things are looking up. My bestie's husband hooked me up with a great apartment above the hockey bar where I currently work, and I've got a great side gig bringing in plenty of cash to help fund my dream of opening my own cocktail lounge, Sugar & Ice. Life is sweet. My new neighbor, on the other hand, is not.

When he reveals his true self, I hate what I discover. Until some of his secrets unravel, proving we have more in common than I realized, and I don't mean hobbies like rock climbing or outdoor concerts. No, we have the good stuff—shared trauma. I promised myself I'd never let that negativity back into my life again, but my heart tells me Rhys is worth it.

Rhys

Hockey comes first. Always has, always will. I've got a one-year contract, 365 days to prove to them I'm worth the investment—which is why I need to stay far away from the woman across the hall. We know each other quite well, but she thinks we're strangers. I need to keep it that way.

The problem is she's everywhere. Across the hall, on my laptop, bartending where my team hangs out. Micky is like a loose thread that I can't stop tugging. Then, one night, she steps in to do me a favor, and all my defenses get shot to hell. Now, I'm showing her the real me, but it might not be enough for her.

This spicy hockey romance features dirty talk, praise, degradation, angst, enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity, and, of course, a happily ever after. Intended for mature listeners.

©2023 Sloane St. James (P)2024 Podium Audio

Great story but the narration fell a bit short

I read this series in a week and just knew I needed the audio versions. Sadly, I don’t feel the male narrator for this book did as well as it could have been. His voice and volume were as if he was trying to keep quiet while reading his parts.

Rhys is a new player for the Lakes hockey team. He has a year to prove his value so he'll be signed to a longer contract. He knows his goals and his distractions. He plans to avoid getting caught up with a love life and strictly focus on the game. He does enjoy watching The Queen of Tarts, a paid service website where she bakes on screen.

Micky is living in an apartment that a hockey rookie would normally be renting. Lonan is dating Micky's best friend (Birdie) and worked a deal so she could live there. She's working at the bar downstairs but her goal is to open a bar/patisserie mash-up called Sugar & Spice.

+++Warning+++ below will contain some spoilers

Rhys quickly learns Micky is the Queen of Tarts. She doesn't learn until a bit later and she feels betrayed. Micky does everything she can to avoid Rhys but is unable to continue when she finds a female pounding on his door one evening. Turns out it's Anna, Rhys's sister. After talking to her for a few minutes, Micky recognizes traits that are similar to Rhys. She learns she's his sister. Micky also picks up on Anna's symptoms of withdrawal. Since Rhys is out of town for a game, Micky helps Anna get through her withdrawal symptoms overnight. She texts Rhys so he has a heads up with what he's coming home to. Rhys later learns Micky had someone close to her that was an addict.

After taking care of Anna, Rhys and Micky start a friendship. They try to keep everything as friends... With benefits. As we all know, at least one person falls for the other and I was there for it! Rhys can fight a relationship all he wants but won't be successful. Micky can try to guard her heart with sky high walls but can't keep them from falling.

Secret Identity Neighbors

Rookie Rhys is trying to focus on his first season in the NHL. Deciding that he’s going to not looking for a relationship, he will find other ways to be happy. He signs up for a cam girl service and falls for the tattoo’d red head who does cooking shows online.

Freya is saving up for a commercial location. She’s a bartender and a cam girl. She starts to fall for a subscriber who always makes her blush. While doing a show, she decides to make macaroons for the new neighbor across the hall.

The new neighbor is Rhys. Her number one subscriber. She doesn’t know this but Rhys connects the dots the second he finds the box of macaroons on his porch.

Once it comes out that Rhys is the subscriber she’s been falling for, she’s so mad! Their frenemies relationship goes to avoiding each other. Until Rhys sister shows up in the middle of detoxing.

I absolutely love Freya. She was hysterical and so witty. I would love for a friend like Freya. She was so real and brought a lot of character growth to Rhys.

Tropes:
Hockey Romance
Reverse Age Gap (24-29)
Secret Identity
Enemies to Lovers
Frenemies
Forced Proximity

Sexy and Fun

I really enjoyed this one. This was a completely different vibe than book 1, which I kind of love. The only reason it even felt like the same world was because of the characters. This was spice personified, and had a great plot.

Yes! Yes! Yes!

Yess! I love this series and I’m so happy the author is putting them all on audio!

One of the HOTTEST Audios🔥🔥

MICKEY & RHYS!!!🥵

Dear Lord, Alex Kydd & Savannah Thomas are INCREDIBLE as Rhys & Freya! This may be one of the hottest audios I’ve ever listened to! They bring it to life so well, I was feeling EVERY emotion & I was sweating 🥵 I already adored this book, but PHEW! Add this audio & my obsession is unreal now! SO SO GOOD!

I LOVED Mickey so much! One of my favorite female characters of all time! She was funny af, tough as hell with a soft side, took no shit, did whatever it took to achieve her dreams with zero guilt, & knew how to hold her boundaries!👏🏼

Rhys, omg RHYS. Tough, broody, & aloof at first but bless it when he went after what he wanted with Mickey. Consent king while being kinky & possessive as hell. Everytime he used “Freya girl”, I melted!! Plus that sweet & protective side he had for those he loves. I just wanted to hug him through all the mess with his sister.

If you can’t tell, I frikkin’ loved this & 100% recommend adding to your TBR! Sloane St. James is one my favorite authors, she does hockey romance SO WELL!

Holy hot audiobook!

I read this ebook first, then knew I had to preorder when i had heard it was coming out on audio. The narrators did an exquisite job bringing Mickey and Rhys to life. Alex Kydd will forever a be top tier male narrator in my opinion. Savannah Thomas is new to me, but did a fantastic job! Love an emotional and top tier spicy hockey romance? Strong and Wild is definitely for you!

Perfection!!!!

Getting to relive this book in audio was everything! Savannah and Alex were absolutely perfect as Micky and Rhys! You weren't just hearing the words... you could feel them! All the emotions and angst! I couldn't stop listening! Definitely a must listen audiobook!

Can’t get enough!

I recently discovered Sloane St James and I just can’t get enough! This story was spectacular and captivating! The narrators did an excellent job as well! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Absolutely PERFECT book & audio!

How could I not immediately love Rhys and this book?!! I love how fierce and feisty Micky is and how hard she works for what she wants - some of my favorite qualities in a FMC! I love every spicy scene between them and how Rhys is determined to top a top, right from the start. The banter and chemistry between them is so palpable and so freaking hot!

Their story was beautiful, despite the struggles along the way. The way that Sloane incorporates the topic of addiction into the story and how both of them handle each situation is written so well and I love the representation of it, as it is hard to know/love someone who struggles with addiction.

AUDIOBOOK
omg this audio was absolutely perfect! The narrators were fabulous and it’s exactly how I envisioned them both sounding! Hearing Rhys and his dirty mouth was 🥵🥵. The audiobook is to die for!

Tropes:
🏒 Hockey
🏒 Close Proximity
🏒 Enemies to Lovers
🏒 Degradation and Praise
🏒 Hand Necklaces
🏒 Aftercare

This series is easily becoming a favorite hockey series of mine and I cannot wait to keep reading the other books!

Best so far!

Lonan's story was great but Rhys 🔥🥵. This is a great series and the audio was amazing