The Risk

Here we are, back to Briar U for another hot romance! The second book in the Briar U Series brings an enemies-to-lovers with hot hockey players, some fake dating and a good dose of sexual tension! Oh! And it's so funny! So Funny! Brenna, daughter of Briar's hockey coach, wants to be a sports journalist and Jake, a player with a bright future in the NHL, plays for the enemy. If you want to have some fun with a modern-day Romeo and Juliet, The Risk is the book for you!

What happens when the daughter of Briar University's hockey coach starts fake dating the captain of their arch-rivals Harvard? Jake Connelly is 100% focused on hockey, as captain of Harvard's hockey team its his job to make sure that his team are just as focused and he has to put a stop to the friends with benefits thing that his teammate Josh McCarthy has going on with Brenna Jensen, its messing with McCarthy's head and Jake knows Brenna isn't interested. Brenna isn't interested in dating, she's all about the hook-up and move on, she's not going to give her heart to anyone. She doesn't even care about McCarthy but when Jake tells her to back off her hackles rise. The two of them have that insane hate chemistry where they could easily kill each other or rip each other's clothes off (possibly both). Then Brenna goes for an intern position at a local hockey network and the misogynist interviewing her is totally disinterested and dismissive until he starts talking about Jake who has been drafted to play for his team, the Oilers, at the start of the next season. Hating herself Jenna tells the creep that she and Jake are dating. Jake doesn't mind going to dinner at this guy's house and pretending to be Brenna's boyfriend, the only catch? For every fake date he wants a real one. But with the hatred between their rival hockey teams and their coaches growing exponentially is it all going to blow up in their faces? I liked this, heck I'd read the back of a cereal packet if Elle Kennedy wrote it, but I didn't love it. I guessed what Brenna had done to upset her father quite early on (downside of being old and having read a ton of books) and Jake was too cocky for me, verging on the bossing Brenna around and telling her what to do and what she thought. Yet, Jake was also pretty self-aware and caring - go figure, he was complicated. These gripes are because I love Elle Kennedy, don't let them detract from the fact that I devoured the book in a single day and enjoyed every second of it. I just want to see Jake's legendary abs :)

I loved meeting Brenna in The Chase and couldn't wait to read her story (and find out who is worthy of her heart). Though this is book 2 in the series and can be read as a standalone, I definitely recommend The Chase since that's where our hero and heroine are first introduced. Sparks were already flying between Brenna and Jake from the moment they meet and the witty banter continues in The Risk. Their back and forth was so delicious and I loved that they each gave as good as they got. Jake is not over the top alpha, but he's also not an overly sweet or coddling kind of guy. He's pretty selfish for the majority of the book, but I respected his dedication and drive to hockey and his future. Brenna is actually pretty similar in personality, which is why the relationship still worked for me. I would have loved even more hate/love between them and felt that the enemies to lovers vibe fizzled out a little too quickly, as did the fake relationship aspect of the story. Brenna's back story was much more emotional and poignant than I thought it would be and the storyline with her father (though a little prolonged) provided a lot of insight into her actions. The push and pull at the end wasn't too angsty, and I was glad that it resolved fairly quickly. I would have liked a little more groveling, but that's not Jakey's style. ;) Overall, I really liked Jake and Brenna, but I'm not sure I *loved* them. Catching up with Summer, Fitzy, Hunter, and Hollis was wonderful and fun, but it was the little nods and mentions of Garrett Graham (forever my favorite Off Campus guy) and Ryan Wesley (#Wesmie!) that left me with a dopey grin on my face. The storyline between Hollis and Rupi was good comic relief, but I will admit that Rupi was too over the top for me and began grating on my nerves. The entire storyline with Hazel also felt pretty unnecessary and was too cliche and predictable. I would have loved more about Nate Rhodes, especially some insight into his uncharacteristic reaction during the finals, and it seems like all signs are pointing to Hunter to be the focus of book 3 in the series. Elle Kennedy likes to surprise us though, so who knows where the series will go. I just know that I wish it didn't have to eventually end. *I voluntarily read an advance reader copy of this book*