Loved this book - that throw away line seems too trite but wow, this is an engaging read. Wannabe hockey NHL player, Beau, gets drawn in to the life of mechanic Connor.

The two men are at two different places in their lives. Connor has found a place to put down roots; Beau is on his way to greater things although he doesn't have the ambition to make it there.

They both go through a journey, and I remember how compelling it was to root for them.

Infused in the mix are Connor's 4 siblings, which is the reason why he has left the Marines, following the accidental death of their parents. This is immensely rich part of the story.

The novel is infused with getting life in perspective. There is so much emphasis nowadays on making something of yourself, as if you are no one if you haven't made it to the top.

Connor offers Beau a grounded place; he just needs to be brave enough to sink into it.

Hoopla only has #1 of this series, so I hope more come along soon. ( )

Damn it, A.E. Wasp! You made me cry!

Connor was in the Marines, but had to return home after his mother and step-father were killed in a car accident. He became the guardian for his 4 siblings, and was struggling with how to manage his emotions, their emotions, keep food on the table, and get them to all the places they needed to be. The whole family was going through a tremendous adjustment, and they had social services breathing down their neck the whole time.

Beau was an ECHL hockey player who tended to move around a lot, and was recently playing for a team near Hidden Creek. He was living in the team house, but hated it mainly because of one homophobic teammate.

Connor met Beau at the garage Connor worked at, and found out that Beau was looking for a place to stay and was handy at fixing things. He gave Beau a trailer on the property to live is he would help fix up the house to get it ready for inspection (it was damaged after Harvey).

Beau brought so much light into the lives of the kids and Connor. He helped them come closer together, and helped keep Connor's sanity. There were some times where things fell apart and feelings had to be dealt with, but it was beautifully written. My heart really broke for the family. Thankfully, once Beau came on board and Connor realized that asking for help was not a bad thing, he was able to build his circle of support, and they all became much healthier.

I would love to read more about Beau and Connor, and I would LOVE to read more about some of Beau's hockey teammates. This was yet another fabulous Hidden Creek book.

I am voluntarily reviewing an ARC of this book I received from the author ( )