Game Changer by Melissa Cutler Series: Bomb Squad #3
Genres: Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Sports Romance
Published by Intermix Publication Date: May 19, 2015
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The author of Undefeated and Risky Business has another sexy hero for you to meet…
Welcome to Destiny Falls, New York, home of Bomb Squad—an ice hockey team full of rugged military heroes. A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity has the team captain packing his bags for greener pastures, but saying good-bye to the woman who’d captured his heart is easier said than done…
After being wounded in combat, Brandon Theroux lives every day like it’s his last. He never could have imagined that the sleek mechanics of his prosthetic leg would open so many doors, including minor celebrity status as a fitness model and a well-earned reputation as a rakish playboy. The only door it hasn’t opened is the one to Harper Johnson’s bedroom.
Harper has too much self-respect to join the ranks of Brandon’s “carpe diem” conquests, but when she needs someone to keep the peace in the tavern she owns, Brandon offers his help—as long as she agrees to a very tempting trade. It isn’t long before the two realize that a deal struck between friends who can’t keep their hands off each other has the potential to be a whole lot hotter than either of them is prepared to handle…
Karen’s Thoughts
GAME CHANGER is an edgy, emotional story about two mature people learning to overcome misfortune. Brandon is a war hero and amputee and he is also suffering from savior’s guilt. He has successfully dealt with losing a limb and in fact, has become a minor celebrity. He has a thriving modeling career and wants to be a role model for other veterans who are finding it difficult assimilating back into society. Brandon is an attractive guy and women are always throwing themselves at him, especially when they learn he is a war hero.
Harper is a strong and independent woman and owns a bar in Destiny Falls, where she and Brandon both live. Sparks fly whenever these two are within a few feet of each other, but Harper has not succumbed to Brandon’s charms and he doesn’t understand why she keeps resisting him. Harper is eight years older than Brandon and she isn’t interested in having him break her heart. Brandon wants to see the world and do things and isn’t interested in settling down. Harper grew up as a navy brat and wants stability in her life. She works at the bar she owns and is happy with her simple life in Serenity Falls. She knows that Brandon can never give her the commitment she needs. They both have overcome adversity in their lives and that draws them together, but what tears them apart, is the way they look at life and deal with their pasts. Brandon needs change and constant stimulation and is a risk taker and Harper likes the status quo is unwilling to take risks. Over time they each start to question the way they are living their lives and the decisions they are making.
This is the third book in the Bomb Squad series and each book is a stand-alone featuring one of the hockey players on the Bomb Squad. Brandon is the team’s captain. All the guys on the hockey team are wounded military service veterans and the team is a support system for them. I love the camaraderie the guys share and how they trash talk and give each other a hard time. Nothing gets by them and they have a sarcastic comment for everything, but they also have each other’s back. At first I wasn’t sure I liked Brandon. He is a cocky womanizer with a big ego, but as I got to know him my views of him changed. Brandon and Harper dance around each other throughout most of the book. They bicker and argue as a way to release the sexual tension simmering between them. What I love most about this story are all the interesting and colorful secondary characters. They add another dimension to the story and they are always available to encourage Brandon or Harper. This is not a light hearted easy to read story and it deals with some heavy issues, but it’s not depressing. Brandon and Harper have many friends and those friendships anchor them when they go through tough times. It’s a great message. Yes bad things happen in life, but don’t let it get you down.
