Heat It Up by Stina Lindenblatt Review
4 Smooches
Synopsis
Some games are hotter off the ice…
Sofia Phillips feels cursed. Her father cheated on her mother, her boyfriend cheated on her—she’s done with dating. A summer work-exchange program in Finland is the perfect escape. But instead of gaining experience as an athletic trainer, she’s cleaning toilets. Awesome. The trip is a disaster, and even better, she meets Kyle Bennett. In the sauna. Naked.
Sexy hockey player Kyle was the star right wing for an NHL team. But after an accident killed his wife and left him injured, Kyle has appreciated the “therapeutic” benefits of booze and puck bunnies. Now in Finland for the summer, he’s coaching in an elite hockey-training camp for teens. When Sofia’s grandmother decides to set her up with a nice Finnish man, Sofia recruits Kyle as her make-believe boyfriend. Neither expects their first kiss to sizzle. And neither expects, while stranded on an island during a storm, to have a scorching night of passion.
But as their charade, and then their attraction, develops into something deeper, the past comes back, threatening to destroy them. They must decide if their feelings for each other are strong enough to survive—or it will be game over.
Review
This is my first book by Stina Lindenblatt but it won’t be my last. Sofia and Kyle’s journey was full of trials and tribulations but through it all I thoroughly enjoyed their journey. Full of fun highs and dramatic lows Sofia and Kyle had a long road to a HEA and I really enjoyed reading it all.
The best part of this book was that the author placed it in Finland which it is clear from her writing is somewhere near and dear to her heart. I love books that make me feel like I am visiting somewhere I have never been and Heat It Up did just that. Full of wonderful imagery that makes me want to start planning a trip to Finland ASAP I almost have to say that the location was so great it almost overshadowed the story. Almost.
Stina did a good job of telling the tale of two broken people just trying to get by and in the process learning to live and trust again. Not everything was easy but it all served a purpose. If you enjoy books about learning to trust mixed with some pretty hot sex scenes than give this one a shot.
~miranda
