Winter Stevens never thought that she’d be raising her best friend’s daughter with no help from the father that left her friend when she needed him most. Harry Stone, sports legend, veteran, philanthropist, and, oh yes, player extraordinaire. Winter hates the very mention of his name, and when Harry comes back into the picture, she’s sure that he’s up to no good. But people aren’t always what they seem…

It’s always nice to return to a book world that I’ve enjoyed in the past. As a very happy fan of both the Cocky Hero world created by authors Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward, and the books of Brenda Rothert, it was a pleasure to read POMPOUS PLAYER, Brenda’s contribution to the Cocky Hero Club.

Harry Stone may be one of my favorite of Brenda’s hockey men. Not only has he been a member of the Chicago Blaze hockey team, he’s also served his country, and gone on to continue to help others. Pretty much the whole package, unless you’re Winter Stevens, and you’re convinced that he’s the most selfish jerk you’ve ever met. But the Harry that Winter meets isn’t quite what she was expecting, and it’s not long before she’s having to take a good long look at the man that he actually is now.

Brenda works her usual magic here, crafting a story that takes two very different people and brings them together. Winter and Harry are more than they appear to be, and, once they start working as a team, there’s no stopping them and their feelings.

POMPOUS PLAYER is a nice addition to both the Cocky Hero world and the world of the Chicago Blaze. Sparks, sass, cooperation, and, finally, love, are all on the menu in this book, and Brenda brings it all together to give us an ultimately heartwarming and feel-good read with some spice for the win. A very enjoyable read, and one that I’m happy to recommend. ❤️