One Old, One New: The Kate Meader Edition

One Old, One New features two books - one old, one new, which are connected in some way. Today, I am sharing two books by Kate Meader.

Then Came You
Kate Meader
Series: Laws of Attraction
Age/Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Publisher: Loveswept
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Goodreads

In the courtroom, they’re rivals. In the bedroom, they’re . . . divorced. But could the road trip from hell lead to a second chance at love?

Aubrey Gates is the hottest divorce lawyer in Chicago, a barb-tongued stiletto with legs that go on for miles. When her cool gray eyes meet mine across the battlefield, I want her like I’ve never wanted anyone or anything. Then I remember who she is: the woman who brought me to my knees. The woman who destroyed my faith in relationships.

The woman I used to call . . . wife.

And she needs a favor from me, Grant Lincoln.

It seems my ex forgot to mention the demise of our marriage to her dear old grammie, and now we’re both expected to attend her ninetieth birthday party. In Boston. And because it isn’t already awkward enough, Aubrey and I are driving there together from Chicago. That’s more than a thousand miles of tension, heartbreak, and barely concealed lust.

A little piece of paper might say we’re over, but this road trip is the true test. I intend to get my wife back . . . and I won’t stop until “I do.”

After seven years, Aubrey and Grant called it quits, but the source of their divorce was still one of the best kept secrets, and it seemed even the fact that they WERE divorced was a bit of a secret. In an attempt avoid upsetting her grandmother, Grant agreed to accompany Aubrey to her birthday celebration, but little did Aubrey know, he had ulterior motives. He was going to win her back!

Meader took me on a road trip that was fun, sweet, sexy, and emotional, and I LOVED every second of it. From when I first met Grant and Aubrey, I was curious as to what happened to this once golden couple, and Meader did a great job showing me their history. It was beautiful watching these two from their first law school meeting to where they fell in love. BUT, it was painful having to see it all fall apart.

Not to worry, because in-between all the flashbacks was a lot of fabulous banter and road trip shenanigans. But, it wasn't just the verbal sparring that won my heart. I think I got tears in my eyes every time Grant put his heart out there. He was so determined to work though what broke them, and it all just tugged at my heartstrings. It was also wonderful seeing Aubrey come to terms with so many things from her past. I found myself often times very touched by what transpired in the book, and loved how Meader alternated that with more humorous moments.

Getting to know Grant and Aubrey better was quite a treat as well. Both had rather compelling backstories, which were laced with heartbreak, but also were what made them stronger, especially in Aubrey's case. Additionaly, we got to meet and spend time with their families, which was eye-opening, in the case of Aubrey's family, and wonderful, in the case of Grant's family.

I can always depend on Meader to wrap up a series nicely, and the final chapter of this book was a thing of beauty. There were tears and sniffles, because I was SO HAPPY!

Overall: It was pleasure taking this healing road trip with Grant and Aubrey.

Hooked On You
Kate Meader
Series: Chicago Rebels, #4
Age/Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Publisher: Pocket Books
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Goodreads

The steamy Chicago Rebels series returns with this racy and sassy tale of embittered hearts, second chances, and going for the goal—on and off the ice.

Violet Vasquez never met her biological father, so learning he left his beloved hockey franchise—the Chicago Rebels—to her is, well, unexpected. Flat broke and close to homeless, Violet is determined to make the most of this sudden opportunity. Except dear old dad set conditions that require she takes part in actually running the team with the half-sisters she barely knows. Working with these two strangers and overseeing a band of hockey-playing lugs is not on her agenda…until she lays eyes on the Rebels captain and knows she has to have him.

Bren St. James has been labeled a lot of things: the Puck Prince, Lord of the Ice, Hell’s Highlander...but it’s the latest tag that’s making headlines: washed-up alcoholic has-been. This season, getting his life back on track and winning the Cup are his only goals. With no time for relationships—except the fractured ones he needs to rebuild with his beautiful daughters—he’s finding it increasingly hard to ignore sexy, all-up-in-his-beard Violet Vasquez. And when he finds himself in need of a nanny just as the playoffs are starting, he’s faced with a temptation he could so easily get hooked on.

For two lost souls, there’s more on the line than just making the best of a bad situation… there might also be a shot at the biggest prize of all: love.

This review was a long time coming. I had a digital ARC for this book, and due to technical difficulties ALL books I downloaded on two days last year disappeared! Once I realized, it was too late to re-download, but then this book went on sale, I bought it, I read it, and I LOVED it!

Meader won me as a fan of this series with the very first book, and my adoration of the Chicago Rebels family continued to grow with each subsequent installment of the series. I was fully invested in these three sisters as they fought to save this team, and I couldn't help but cheer them on in their quest to make the post season.

Every book was great, but I was chomping at the bit for Violet and Bren's story. Both characters were in the background, and there was this sizzle between them. It was time to learn both of their stories.

As expected, each had a past, which was marked with some sadness. However, Bren and Violet were survivors. Violet had fought back from abandonment and cancer. Bren had worked his way back from betrayal and addiction. They both still had a ways to go, however, their best chance for success seemed to be if they worked their way through it all together.

These two were an interesting pairing. He was sort of grumpy with A LOT of drama in his life thanks to his ex. She was vivacious and came off as the penultimate party girl, aka, the type of woman Bren DIDN'T need in his life. However, when push came to shove, Violet was there in Bren's time of need, and he learned that there was a lot more to her than he originally thought.

It was beautiful watching them peel back those layers, and discover the person, who was underneath. They shared their hopes and fears with one another, and a beautiful friendship grew. Obviously, there were still the sparks and desires to be dealt with, and as it always happens in romance novels, they succumbed to their attraction, but it was obvious there was so much more to this pairing than just primal need.

Other things that delighted me:

• I loved seeing Bren being a dad. His girls were fabulous, and he was spectacular with them. 
• It was great seeing the bond between the sisters grow, and seeing Violet allow herself to become attached to these people. 
• Meader pumped up the good feelings as she took us through the post season. It was wonderful being on the road with the Rebels as they chased their Stanley Cup dreams. 
• The ending left me in a puddle of feels, which I have no regrets drowning in. 

Overall: A wonderful way to end a series I throughly enjoyed, and will absolutely miss.

**ARCs received in exchange for honest reviews

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