Fedora's Reviews > Fake Shot

FAKE SHOT is the second in Julia Connors' Boston Rebels hockey series. Jules Flynn has crushed on Mathieu Colter, aka Colt, for a long time. Too long, in fact, as she's felt unable to move ahead from these ill-advised feelings for her older brother's best friend, who obviously does not return those feelings in any way, shape, or form.

Life and circumstances conspire to throw them together, half a dozen years later, so that he's temporarily living in her brother's old apartment in their childhood home, now hers. Before too long, they're finding that they've at least a friendship of sorts, and then before they know it, they're fake engaged, only now they're both feeling... entirely too NOT at all pretend about things.

Julia Connors' writing is page-turning, and her characters' emotions vulnerabilities feel all too real. Jules very much has a tender side despite the cool, competent successful contractor-in-a-man's-world image she tends to present, and Colt very much does as well, though he guards his behind a devil-may-care player front. When Colt finally recognizes the depths of his feelings, I loved how all in he is, and I loved his determination to be there for Jules, come what may. She's safe to reveal herself fully, as he is to her, and once they both realize this, all bets are off.

I really enjoyed this older-brother's best friend, reformed rake, fake relationship story, and cannot wait for the next in this terrific series.