Spin-off Saturdays: On Saturdays, I will review a series that is a spin-off series. It is recommended that you read the original series first in order to get the most out of the spin-off series. Here is this week’s offering:
WAGs Series is a spin-off of the Him Series
SERIESous’ Top Picks: Canadian Author, Must Read Author
Series: WAGs
This is a spinoff of the Him Series.
Author: Elle Kennedy and Sarina Bowen
# of Books: 2 (Full Reading Order Here)
Book Order: Connected
Complete?: Yes
Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Sports, Hockey
Heat Rating: Hot
Point of View: First Person, Alternating
Publication Date: January – June 2017
Source & Format: Public Library—eBook
WARNING: If you have not finished the original series, this review may have spoilers!
My Expectations?
I was in a bit of a reading funk when I remembered that I had this series on my Kobo waiting to go. Heated Rivalry the TV show had just came out and it reminded me that I never read the spin-off of the other great MM hockey romance, Him, so I was in the mood to return to the hockey world!
How Does It Compare To The Original?
–Different Romantic Pressures–
Well, to state the obvious from the book covers: the couples are heterosexual in this series. So there isn’t the prejudice about two men falling in love and playing in a professional hockey league.
However, it does tackle the other pressures of dating a professional athlete like copious amounts of time on the road for games and how that can impact relationships. But I’d say these pressures weren’t the main focus – it was more about the couples actively falling in love while they sort out their personal lives.
–Not as Much Character Growth–
Again, because the pressures the couples face are a little different, I did feel like the characters didn’t have that much growth by the end of their books. They skew towards the light-hearted romance category and some melodramatics rather than soul-deep romances if you understand what I am trying to say.
However, I will say that I found Blake’s character to be so refreshing as a romance lead in a sports novel. He wasn’t some dark-brooding, alpha; he has this positive energy to him that I found refreshing for this genre.
Anything I Didn’t Like?
I didn’t totally see the connection for the first couple; it was a little too opposites attract for me. And I didn’t like some of the logic/ethics for the plot resolution in Stay (#2).
Series Rating: 3/5
Good Boy 3/5 | Stay 3.5/5
If you are looking for solid romance stories set in the hockey world that aren’t focused solely on the smut, this is a good duet for you to try with its light hearted approach with a dash of serious undertones. But I just wanted it to “wow” me a little more than it did.
Read if You Like: hockey romances, contemporary romance
Avoid if You: dislike contemporary romance
- Hard to Fake by Piper Lawson (Denver Kodiaks Series #1)
- The Bet by Elle Kennedy (Off-Campus Series #1)
Synopsis for Good Boy (from Goodreads):
“We’re way more than friends, Jessie.”
“Blake—”
“But no worries. I’ll just sit tight until you figure that out.”
Hosting her brother’s wedding for an MVP guest list is the challenge of Jess Canning’s life. Already the family screw-up, she can’t afford to fail at this, too. Especially after the colossal mistake she made with the best man during a weak moment last spring. Nobody—absolutely nobody—can find out about that, and there will not be a repeat. Absolutely not. No matter how devastatingly sexy his smile, he’s a giant manchild who’s never been serious in his life. And if Jess wants to prove herself to her family, serious is what she has to get.
For Blake Riley, this wedding is a gift from fate itself. The girl he has his eye on is the maid of honor, and he’s the best man? Let the games begin. So what if Jess is giving him a little—fine, a lot—of resistance? He just needs to convince the stubborn blonde that he’s really a good boy with a bad rap. Beneath the flirty jokes and goofy smile, he’s got layers—even if Jess doesn’t want to see them.
Luckily, every professional hockey player knows that you’ve got to make an effort if you want to score.
And Jess is just the girl he wants to win.
