Pippa Grant is taking readers back to her beloved fictional town of Copper Valley. Now, what could be better than a new book featuring someone from the Thrusters, Copper Valley's professional hockey team, or the Fireballs, the town's professional baseball team? Well, a crossover novel, of course! Yup, The Secret Hook-up is second chance, slow burn romance featuring Addie Bloom, the batting coach for the Fireballs, and Duncan Lavoie, the captain of the Thusters, both of whom are in their thirties. Once upon a time, these two were secretly hooking up. It was a situationship of sorts; but while Addie viewed it as casual, Duncan saw it as progressing into something of far more commitment and permanence. It's been four years since he walked away from her, and not a day has gone by that Duncan hasn't regretted it. When an opportunity presents itself for a second chance, Duncan is ready to pull out all the stops (and the cash) to prove himself worthy of the woman who has owned his heart for years. But will Addie ever be ready to live and love out in the open with the only guy who could make her believe in forever?
When you've got a crossover novel that involves characters from the Copper Valley Thrusters AND the Copper Valley Fireballs series, hilarity is to be expected. But even with the cameos from well-loved couples from the Copper Valley universe, this standalone was very much about Addie and Duncan. Was their love story a complicated one? Yes, and that had a lot to do with their histories, particularly Addie's. She was stubborn, wary, and hesitant, but those were all based on her past experiences. When she and Duncan were in their situationship four years prior, keeping things casual was necessary in order for Addie to feel comfortable, and only to a certain degree. Giving up control is not something that cam easily to her, and while Duncan's frustration and disappointment got the better of him that first time, having another shot at getting it right was an opportunity he didn't take for granted. I loved seeing these two build an even stronger foundation. Duncan was patient and understanding, and Addie rewarded that by opening herself up to the possibility of having the job AND the man she loves. There were lighthearted moments, but there was also a bit of angst, and of course, there was heart and heat. Pippa Grant did not disappoint. Thrusty and Ash would be quite proud. Five stars for The Secret Hook-Up!
Jill M Lewis
LifeWithPrinceMan
EJ
Jen Valencia
Ciera aka @bookameme