I have not been reading the Hustlers series and I have definitely been missing something great. These two are carrying so much – Annie has some serious esteem issues thanks to her parents and Alec is still working on getting over his wife’s death. But the connection between the two is unmistakable … and unavoidable. Once they meet, it is just a matter of time before they give in to the attraction.

I really liked both of these characters. They are flawed and real and not once did I want to smack them, which is saying something. There are definitely some rough patches, but that intense attraction (and some bad luck) puts them on a pretty fast time table and they really didn’t have a lot of time to figure out the other’s hot buttons. This lack of communication between the two causes a lot of their issues, but it works really well in the story. I’m with them every step and I totally see how they end up where they do.

Not having read Flirting On Ice, the first in the series, I’m not sure how this fits in, but I can say as a standalone that it works. I don’t think you’ll have any issues if this is your first meeting with the Hustlers, but you’ll probably be like me – ready for another go with the super-sexy hockey players.

(Complimentary copy provided in exchange for an honest review.)