Rushing The Goal

Assassins Series – Book 8

By Toni Aleo

Buy : Amazon / B & N / ITunes / Kobo

Synopsis

Introduced in Toni Aleo’s Bellevue Bullies Series, it’s the Sinclair brothers’ big sister’s turn to find love in the next installment of the New York Times and USA Today best-selling series, the Assassins.

Lucy Sinclair was no stranger to pain.

She grew up with three younger brothers, met a bad boy, got pregnant by him, married him, and then suffered through a nasty divorce from him. Pain. That was pain. To top it off, she even had to go through the heartbreaking divorce of her parents. Through it all, she survived. All she cared about was making sure her daughter was happy and taken care of. Despite an ex-husband hell-bent on ruining her life, she fought to overcome. She’s gotten to the point that she’s okay with being just okay. She never cared about herself because she never had the time. It was Angie and only Angie she focused on, but that all changed when Benji Paxton offered to help her daughter on the ice.
Benji knew the moment he saw Lucy, he’d never be the same. Especially when she came with the bundle of crazy that was her daughter. His heart wasn’t ready for them. After years spent sobering up and finding who he was without the alcohol, he never forgot he was being punished for not appreciating the love he had when he was younger. Because of his past, he had gotten used to being alone, a recluse, but even he had to admit it was getting old. He was lonely. Hockey wasn’t enough anymore. He wanted a family; he wanted his true love, and Lucy and Angie were just that.

Benji and Lucy were just two lost souls.
Floating through life with no purpose.
But finding each other gave them direction, a chance at a future.

And that had them both Rushing the Goal to be together.

Michel’s Review

My Favorite Book by Toni Aleo!

I am a huge fan of the Assassins series and the Bellevue Bullies series. Hot hockey players, sizzling romance, and Toni Aleo’s talented writing skills are the perfect combination of sports romance, contemporary romance, and new adult romance all wrapped up in an emotionally engaging story.  I have enjoyed every single book in both series.   I have to say that Rushing The Goal is my favorite book in both series.  It had the special magic of both series, strong family dynamics, team unity, and the entire cast of characters (both series) helping Lucy and Benji find their happily ever after.  This book had passion, heartbreak, humor, and dealt with issues that many people can relate to.  Add an adorable little girl to the mix that not only steals the characters heart but also the readers. The best thing about this book is that Toni put a lot of herself in this book.  A reader could easily see huge chunks of who Toni Aleo is.  It made this book even better!

I love witty, snarky dialogue between characters.  I love sassy women and dirty mouthed men.  When the dialogue between two characters has me laughing, cussing, and engaging right along with them, you know the author has done something right. When you reach the point where the characters are revealing their hearts, their hopes and fears, and you are crying right along with them, you know the author has put her heart into these people she created.  Toni Aleo brought Lucy and Benji to life in Rushing The Goal.  Although the readers met these characters in previous books, the impressions we walked away with were completely off, there are many layers to these two dynamic people.

Without giving away any spoilers let’s just say… the shrew and the dork are a match made in heaven.  Angela is the angel that owns both of their hearts.  These three people are going to have to face the biggest battle of their lives in order to win the biggest prize, the title of FAMILY.  It’s going to be more EPIC than the Stanley Cup Championship.  They are fighting for each other.

Benji is going to gain more than he lost.  He’s not only going to win two princesses , but he’s also going to gain three Sinclair brothers, a coach father in law, a lovable meddling mother in law,  and the Glittery Butterflies hockey team.  He’s going to learn to let go of the past and reach for the future.  He’s doing more than collecting rare toys, he’s collecting a family.  He’s getting the title of Daddy.

Lucy and Angela have lived through a horrific past.  They are still dealing with the after effects of that past.  Angela still has to spend time with her father.  Lucy has to let go of the most precious piece of her heart every other weekend and deal with the damage every other Monday.  For her baby she would do anything.  Somewhere along the way she lost herself.  Her family has been supportive, her career is finally taking off, and the woman she lost is beginning to surface since she met Benji Paxton.  The lovable dork hockey player has stolen her heart.  He stole Angela’s heart the first day they met.  Can she let this man into their lives?  He’s worth the risk.  He’s worth opening up her heart for.

There is so much more to this story that many readers will relate to.  Divorce is an ugly thing but when a child is used as a pawn it is heartbreaking.  Alcoholism is devastating but when someone finally accepts and conquers their addictions it’s the ultimate victory.  Learning to forgive yourself and let go of the past is opening the door for a happy future. Fighting for those you love is worth everything you are.  Becoming a family is priceless. It’s the rush of a lifetime.

Toni Aleo delivered a fantastic story.  I loved that she included all of the characters from both series to become the ultimate support system for Lucy and Benji.  The Sinclair family is healing and gaining more members.  I still love those Sinclair boys even though they play with poop… lol… read the book !

Rushing The Goal can be read as a stand alone or in series order.  It is a heartwarming romance and story of family love.

I loved Rushing The Goal by Toni Aleo!

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Toni Aleo is the author of the Nasvhille Assassins series: Taking Shots, Trying to Score, Empty Net, Falling for the Backup, and Blue Lines.

When not rooting for her beloved Nashville Predators, she’s probably going to her husband’s and son’s hockey games and her daughter’s dance competitions, taking pictures, scrapbooking, or reading the latest romance novel.

She lives in the Nashville area with her husband, two children, and a bulldog. Read more about Toni here.

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