ARC Review: Light the Lamp by Catherine Gayle

Light the Lamp is the third book in Catherine Gayle's contemporary sports romance series about the Portland Storm hockey team. These books can all be read as standalones but do contain interconnected characters and the story does continue from one book to the next. Even though it isn't absolutely necessary to start at the beginning, I would definitely recommend it so that you get to know all the characters and see how they have all got to where they are. Beyond that though, these books are just good stories and I think that they are worth the read. These books do all deal with some heavy issues though. However what I love about them the most is that even though they contain serious subjects that have left the character broken or a bit damaged is that they show how we can truly overcome anything, and they always leave you feeling happy and hopeful.

After losing his wife in a tragic accident, Liam Kallen gets traded from the NHL team he has been on for years to the Portland Storm. Shortly after arriving in town, he sees a woman on the side of the road in a potentially dangerous situation and can't help but try to prevent the unthinkable from happening to her. He couldn't protect his wife, but he will do everything he can to protect this woman. He convinces her to let him help, and shortly after things go from bad to worse for Noelle Payne when her car ends up getting destroyed in an accident. Without Liam's help, she would have not just lost her car but also her life. When Liam finds out that she was living out of her car and is now without a home, car or job, he tells her to come and stay with him for awhile. She reluctantly agrees, and decides to take him up on his offer. Soon Liam is going out of his way to protect and provide for her in the only way he knows how. Noelle is determined to make it a short time though and continues to search for a way for her to make a difference in the world. As Liam and Noelle grow closer, he begins to heal from the painful death of his wife while finally looking towards the future for the first time. But can Noelle stick around long enough to see if they have a chance at a future together, especially when she knows that he is still not opening himself up to her completely?

I really liked Liam. He was a genuinely good guy, that was kind and thoughtful. He was always trying to help others and provide for others when they couldn't do it themselves. He was truly selfless, and never even thought about what he would get in return. He didn't expect anything from anyone else, and it made him so easy to like. He was really sweet and understanding with Noelle, and he never judged her. I liked Noelle's character, and I thought that she was so positive and optimistic. I thought that she was too trusting though, and I couldn't believe how quickly she let Liam in regardless of what a great person he was. It was hard for me to identify with her even though I liked her character. I just thought that she was a bit too free spirited for my taste, and she tended to live in the moment without much thought as to her future or the real world. She didn't seem to really be bothered with the fact that she didn't have any kind of job or place to stay, and she was determined to look for a job that was about making a difference only. I just kept thinking if I was in the same situation I wouldn't care what job I had to take in order to have a roof over my head and that I could worry about doing something meaningful after I was able to provide for myself. I also didn't get how she would just wander off to take a walk or bike ride and would completely forget to wear shoes and things like that. So as much as I liked her and thought she was nice, she was just too different for me to really connect with. I did think that she had chemistry with Liam and that they were great together. They were able to help each other out in so many ways, and I thought that they were the perfect match for the other. Liam helped her and offered her the support she needed, and she helped him to heal and really start to live again.

Overall, I think that this was a good addition to the series and I am really enjoying each story that I have read so far. I love this group so much, and I think that each and every character has something so unique and great to offer. They have all been through so much, and each one is so different from all the others. But what makes them so great is that all their differences just make them that much better as a whole. The Portland Storm hockey team and organization are so much closer than a family, and it just amazes me with each book I read how much they all support each other and lean on one another. They are always there for each other and they never expect anything in return. These books really do show that anything is possible with love and friendship. As much as I love this series and Catherine Gayle's writing, I will admit that this book had the same problem that I have found with all the rest. I love the entire book and really enjoy things up until the end. For me, her endings always seem abrupt and leave a lot to be desired. I just wish that her endings were as good as the rest of her books, because I really feel like these books would all be five stars if they didn't just stop. She always has epilogues and the characters are seen throughout the books, but they always just seem to be rushed and incomplete when it comes to the end of the book. I still think that these books are worth reading though, and I would definitely recommend to contemporary fans as well as sports romance fans. I look forward to the next book in this series as well as more from Catherine Gayle in the future.

**ARC Provided by AToMR**

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Review: On the Fly by Catherine Gayle

On the Fly is the second book in Catherine Gayle's Contemporary sports romance series about the Portland Storm Hockey team. These books can be read as standalones, but they do have interconnected characters with parts of their stories continuing in each book. I would suggest starting at the beginning of the series, but it is not necessary. I have been looking forward to getting to know Brenden "Soupy" Campbell since I read Breakaway, and I really enjoyed his story. This was a great installment to the series, and I am really liking these books. I can't wait to get the next one!

Brenden "Soupy" Campbell's hockey career has been full of injuries forcing his NHL career to be on hold. He has bounced back and forth between the minor leagues and pro, and after finally getting called up to the pros and given a contract with the Portland Storm he will do anything to remain on the team. But when he meets Rachel Shaw the new assistant to the general manager, he sets out to not only have the career but to also get the girl. He quickly finds out that Rachel has two young children and she says that she doesn't date. But Brenden isn't about to give up so easily and is determined to win her over. Rachel is holding something back from him though and she is overprotective when it comes to her kids. Can Brenden balance his career as well as a new relationship with Rachel while trying to earn her trust? Can Brenden show Rachel that she and her kids are safe with him and that he won't hurt them?

I liked Brenden a lot. He was a really sweet guy that was always looking out for Rachel and her kids. He would do whatever he could to not only take care of them, but to show them what a good guy should act like. He did his best to be a good role model for the kids, and he included them in so much. He really embraced not only the relationship with Rachel, but he also made sure that the kids were a part of that. It was really cute watching him get familiar with the kids and seeing his reactions to them and his growing feelings for them. I thought that Rachel was smart and determined, and she was a really great mom. She had a tendency to hover a bit and had a tough time letting go sometimes with them, but that was understandable after everything that they had been through. It was nice to see her start to open up to someone though and I liked watching her realize that she had a whole new support system to lean on. I thought that Brenden and Rachel had a lot of chemistry, and it was good to see them take things slow. Their relationship really seemed real because it had the chance to grow naturally and wasn't rushed. They really built a solid foundation for their relationship, and I liked seeing them develop the emotional connection and not just a physical one. 

Overall, this was a good story and I really liked the characters. It was good to see familiar faces, and I really love this group of characters. The Portland Storm hockey team and organization is such a close group, and I really love that they are like a family. They are always there for each other and are the first to help or support when needed and without being asked. I love how Catherine Gayle has showed that even though there are awful things that happen in life, that we can overcome and that there are good people out there that help and ask for nothing in return. Her stories show hope and love, and they are filled with characters that have a strength that is so admirable. Even though these books do deal with some dark and painful issues, they also have such a light and happy feel to them. It is impossible to be in a bad mood when I read them, and they always leave me feeling good and filled with hope for humanity. I really did enjoy this story, and I thought that it was definitely worth the read. I did think that this one ended pretty abruptly though, and I was hoping for more. I wasn't expecting it to stop the way it did, and to me it could have had more. But I still would recommend these books and think that this series is definitely worth the read. I look forward to reading more in this series and from Catherine Gayle in the future.

**Review Copy Provided by AToMR**

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Review: Breakaway by Catherine Gayle

I have to admit that when I first read the blurb for Breakaway by Catherine Gayle, I pretty much knew that this one was going to be the book for me. Not only do I love the brother's best friend and little sister trope, but I am also a huge fan of sports and sports romance stories with hockey being my absolute favorite! All that being said though, this book was so good and yes it was partly due to those things but it was also just a really well written and interesting book! I really loved Catherine Gayle's writing style, and I was instantly drawn into the story. I loved the characters and found them very easy to like and relate to, and I loved that they were so real. I would definitely recommend this book and I already can't wait to go back and read it again.

After suffering an unimaginable attack, Dana Campbell has spent the last several years trying to stop having panic attacks. The simple touch of a man brings out the worst reaction in Dana and she is unable to accept even a simple hug from even her family members. When her counselor suggests that she find someone she trusts in order to help get over her fear, the only person that comes to mind is her brother's best friend Eric Zellinger. With the playoffs coming up, the last thing that Eric needs is to lose focus. But when Dana comes to him and asks for his help, he can hardly tell her no. He knows that what she is asking for is dangerous for many reasons. Not only does he not want to torture her and put her through pain, but he also knows that her brother will kill him if he finds out that he is touching Dana. Can Eric help Dana get over her fears and allow her to move forward with her life and help her have a normal relationship in the future? And what happens when Dana and Eric's feelings for each other start to deepen?

I really loved Eric. There wasn't a single thing about him that I didn't like. He was so kind and patient, and he was so sweet with Dana. He had always been fond of her and they had always had such a close relationship. But it was clear that he had been ready for more with her for quite awhile. He didn't know how to handle things with Dana all the time, but I loved that he would ask her when he didn't. Instead of being the typical guy, he made it a point to see what she needed and what would help her. I couldn't help but admire that about him and fall a little more in love with his character each time. He was willing to put his friendship with her brother on the line because of his feelings for her, and that told me just how deep his feelings for her went. I also loved Dana. She had been through so much, and more than anyone should ever have to go through. But instead of giving up and using it as an excuse, she sought treatment and asked for help. I loved that even though she knew it was a lot to ask, she was brave enough to put herself out there and go through what had to be torture for her at times. She was such an easy heroine to support, and I loved that even though she didn't think that there was a real relationship with Eric for most of the story she went about things like there was. She made friends with the wives and girlfriends of the guys on the team, and did what she could to be a part of the team. I thought that Eric and Dana had a ton of chemistry, but what really made their relationship one of a kind was the connection between them. They were adorable together, and you could see just how strong of an emotional bond that they had.

I loved this book and the characters in it. I thought that the secondary characters were just as interesting as Eric and Dana, and I can't wait to get to know them better. I really just loved everything about this book, and I thought that it was filled with so much hope and love. I really enjoyed seeing Dana heal and grow with Eric's help, but it was also due to all the characters in the story. Some of the guys on the team did what they could to help, even if it was something small. This book just really resonated with me, and I know it will stick with me. I thought it was so sweet of Eric to have made a room for Dana before she ever even showed up at his house, and he thought of absolutely everything for her. I can't say enough good things about this story, and I highly recommend it to all romance fans looking for a sweet and hopeful love story. This one really showed that true love can overcome anything and that even the most awful of situations can be moved past. I will warn that because of Dana's past there are a few times that rape is mentioned and she does describe what happened to her at one point, so if you have any triggers just keep that in mind before reading. Honestly though, this book was fantastic and I can't wait to read the rest of the series and more from Catherine Gayle in the future.

**Review Copy Provided by AToMR**

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