Bennett proves again why she is my go to for a heartfelt read dressed up in hockey pads.  Tacker has had an unimaginable couple of years.  Losing a loved one and having to sit by while they died leaves a lot of pain behind and he's not been handling it well.  After a HUGE mistake involving too much alcohol, a truck, and a cement wall, he has to finally address it or lose the only thing keeping him sane - hockey.  Enter Nora.  Smart, pretty, and empathetic, she turned her own horrible past into a career that lets her help others.  And it allows her to create a special connection to Tacker, guiding him as he comes to terms with his own emotions.  

My only complaint is that I would have liked to have seen a little more of their therapy sessions.  We are there for the oh-so-important break through and along the way as they share & grown closer.  But Tacker's pain and guilt has been such a driving force in his life for so long that seeing the how of his recovery, not just the large leaps would have been nice.  

I do appreciate that even in a book with so much pain and emotion, however, Bennett kept their actual relationship pretty drama free.  There's a little concern over their growing feelings because of their professional relationship but I feel like it is handled in a way that gives the concerns their due.  It's not handled lightly but addressed and then they move on.  I also like that the romance isn't the main focus of the story - it's about Tacker coming to terms with his past.  The love story is there but he has to be in the right place before it can go anywhere.  

All about the feels, second chances, and moving on, Tacker manages to deliver on all of its potential of a book that was meant to grab you by the heart.  It was so good to see Tacker coming out of his self-imposed prison and learn to live again, connecting with others, and forgiving himself for being alive.  

(While it is helpful to have read the rest of the series, it definitely is not required.  Most of the focus is on Nora and Tacker so their story can easily stand on its own.  I missed Dax's story, the book before this one, and I did just fine :) )

**Review given honestly and freely after receipt of a reader copy. This opinion is completely my own and was not influenced in any way.**