Grinder

Seattle Sharks Series, Book 1

By: Samantha Whiskey

Narrated by: Noah Michael Levine, Tatiana Sokolov

Length: 5 hrs and 29 mins

Publisher's summary

Gage McPherson was the Seattle Sharks' best Grinder, until he shattered his shoulder last season. Time heals all wounds...but the heartbroken single dad has more than his share of trust issues. The playboy only lets one girl close to his iced-over heart - his pint-sized daughter who's the center of his world. She's the only thing more important to him than hockey, and he trusts no one with her...except me.

We've been friends since we were kids, and I love his daughter like she's my own, so what's the easiest solution to help Gage out? Move in, and be his live-in nanny for the season. As far as she goes, the arrangement is perfect. But her drop-dead-sexy father? Frustrating on every possible level.

There is a thick, professional line drawn between us by his own hand, and despite understanding the terms, my body is practically begging him to cross it. Our chemistry is off the charts, but one misstep, and we could hurt the one person we love most. This game is all-or-nothing. Can I risk my heart on a guy who is known for the shut-out, on and off the ice?

Contains mature themes.

©2016 Samantha Whiskey (P)2018 Tantor

Fun Story

This story was so fun to listen to, but at times I was pulling my hair out. I don't think I have disliked a FMC more than I have disliked this FMC. Bailey was no fun at times and I was screaming at her throughout the story. There was a cute ending, but I some of the book was just so common sense but it seemed like she just didn't get it... I didn't mind the narrators, I actually liked their performance a lot!

MC=🩵 FMC=😑

Book is narrated in Duel
*I did go in blind solely based off the title and it was included in my audible plus catalogue, this was not a recommended book or an author I have read before.
Friends since they were little and he is a popular hockey player with a play boy rep (that was well earned), but he has a 3-year old daughter that he LOVES and will not bring someone into her life that will come and go, so when his best friend since childhood needs a job, it is a perfect fit. We have the back and forth on should, I shouldn't I which was cute and I loved the moments when her friends had a pact and truth or dare type of conversation. The part that I did not care for was how she was not willing to have an adult conversation with him, he had a hard line of not wanting more kids, this was clear from the start, so when she made that choice he made BEFORE SHE WAS BACK about her, I got annoyed. Yes, he ended up being AH-MAZ-ING, but every thing that came from the FMC from that point on annoyed me.

Common But Good

Very common romance tropes here but it wasn’t bad. There were some areas that needed more editing; moments that in one scene they’re saying she’s all in but he wasn’t sure, then in the next it’s reversed. It was fairly clear from both characters perspectives (as it’s in first person for both characters) what was going on so that was a little annoying to read it one way then have it reversed. Narration was good, but honestly, the voices did not fit the characters. They are 24 and 22 years old and they sound to be in their 30s-40s. Also, the little girls language was way too advanced for a three year old. Would have been believable if her advanced skills had been discussed a little more outside of her clear understanding and talent in art, but it wasn’t. She came across at around 5 years old, not 3. None of these was reason to stop listening though and I’ll probably continue the series.

Grinder: I enjoyed having more hockey references in the story as well as less gratuitous sex than other like books.

The narrators did an excellent job.
The story was enjoyable. I loved the hockey references.

Grinder .....love

Samantha Whiskey is amazing and this was my first book I read by her and won't be my last ❣❣

DNF when she became icky

Ok, so she’s just become vocal about being obsessed with having a baby with him. He CaaaaaNnNNn’t love her if he doesn’t want to have babies with her 🙄🤢 It’s pretty freaking clear he’s happy with the daughter he has and doesn’t want another kid. I can see the writing on the wall where her biological clock and nagging changes him. That “love changes him” and his opinion… and has him undo what I’m pretty sure at this point with the hints dropped was a vasectomy.

Granted, tropes about pregnancy (longing, planned, infertility, surprise, etc) gross me out… but I’m happily childfree and pregnancy has always freaked me out (I’m 38- its a pretty established conclusion/lifestyle) and so I don’t like it to play almost any role in a romance book. So take that bias into account with my review.

Hard to connect to characters

Decent story premise, but I was a little skeeved out by how desperate the female lead was. And grossed out that the male lead would bring his puck bunnies into his home with his young daughter. Honestly, I couldn't finish.

Good storyline

I loved the little girl!! My biggest complaint was that the male narrator pronounced Bailey as Belly. That was utterly annoying!

Storyline

I liked the storyline and the auditors. I really enjoyed listening to this and plan to continue the series.

Wholesome

This was a cute short hockey romance. I listen to this book because it is free on audible and I am soo glad I did. Gage was so attentive to his little girl and made sure she never felt unloved, since her mom walked out on her. Bailey loved Lettie like she was her own and protected her fiercely. This book was just so wholesome and adorable.