Jude Sinclair here, hockey player for the Bellevue Bullies and lover of all ladies. Hockey’s in my blood, and not to sound full of myself, but I’m good at it…really good. The draft is within my reach—it’s mine to take—but that’s not the only reason people know my name. They know me because of my way with women. They know the score, and I aim to please. I just tend to stay away from repeat performances. In other words, I don’t do relationships beyond my family and friends. I’m happy with life. However, I should warn you that my story and how I see it playing out is about to change due to a certain redhead on campus.

She’s beautiful. Stunning. Breathtaking.

She’s my game changer.

~*~

He’s trouble from the moment I see him. I don’t know what I’m thinking, but from the moment I meet his gaze, I’m his. It’s a scary feeling.

I’ve never trusted anyone outside my aunt and uncle—and even that took months. I didn’t have it easy growing up. My mom was usually strung out, and she didn’t give me a second thought. Drugs and the men who paid her were more important to her. It was horrible, but I’m stronger today. Because of my past, security is what I need most. Money assures me that I can take care of myself today, tomorrow, and next month. I don’t want to ever be hungry or go without again, so I work hard for every penny.

Oh, by the way, I’m Claire Anderson. I’m a hard-studying sophomore at the University of Bellevue, dancer for the school dance team, and a burlesque dancer at a club, but that’s my secret.
You may think you know how our story ends, but you have no clue. It’s not easy falling in love… or living happily ever after. At first it may seem so, but when is anything worth having ever won without a fight?

Especially when you’re boarded by love.

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Excerpt

I can still taste her on my lips.

I swear. The taste hasn’t left me since I kissed her less than twenty-four hours ago, neither has the hard-on. She has me completely wound-up tight, whacking off till my dick is raw and wishing like hell to get in her pants. When I walked in to find her in only a sports bra and shorts that should be illegal… Well, I’m surprised I’m still vertical.

God, she is fucking hot.

Her long red hair is in a mess on top of her head with a cute little black bow at the base. She stands with such amazing confidence while the other girls cover their stomachs with their arms or slouch to the side, but not Claire. No, she stands proud, beautiful, and man, I just want to rush over there and touch her again. I still can’t believe she kissed me senseless then ran off without a second glance. While I don’t mind being used, I wasn’t done.

I need her. On me. Beneath me. Anywhere on me. Now.

I can’t take my eyes off her. I’m supposed to be watching some girl dance, but there is no way. Not with Claire in the room. She stands with the brunette from her Facebook. She’s even prettier in person, but she holds no candle to Claire. Hell, no one does. I watch as they talk, and the love just shines out of the brunette’s body for her. It’s crazy to watch. It reminds me of my mom’s love, and I figure it’s her mom. I need to ask because I have to know. I don’t know what it is about this feisty little redhead, but I want to know her ins and outs. Then I want to sleep with her. Continually. And then some more.

Michel’s Review

Boarded By Love by Toni Aleo was a fantastic start in the Bellevue Bullies series.  It is the spin off of the Assassin’s series and features a college team located in Nashville, TN.

This novel features Claire Anderson, the troubled niece of Phillip Anderson, Assassin player featured in the Breakaway novel.  Claire was a real troubled teen in the Breakaway novel and gave Phillip and Reese a very hard time.  Her mother was a junkie that abused and neglected Claire throughout her childhood.  Claire adopted her mother’s wild lifestyle until she went to live with her Uncle Phillip after her mother’s death.  It took a lot of patience and unconditional love to bring this young woman around.  Now she is on the right track. She is in college,dancing, and  pursuing her dreams.  She’s got herself together and is very focused.  She wants to become a dance choreographer, preferably in the Burlesque style.

When she meets Jude Sinclair, captain of the Bellevue Bullies hockey team, she is knocked for a loop.  It is the first time she has been attracted to someone in three years.  He makes her want more than her dancing and future career.  He gives her the love she never knew she needed.  But will her dreams of Burlesque dancing and the route she is taking to secure those dreams keep Jude around for the long haul?  She is afraid to tell him that she is working in a Burlesque club for fear of losing him.  When the opportunity arises to make her dreams come true, she will have to come clean with her secrets and risk losing Jude.  She will have to faith in their love.  Trust doesn’t come easy for Claire.

Jude Sinclair is the Bellevue bad boy.  He has a different girl in his bed daily.  He is upfront with the girls and makes no promises.  He’s sexy, hot, charming, and a very gifted hockey player.  He will be going into the NHL draft soon and is focused on his hockey career.  When he meets Claire Anderson, she changes his perspective on relationships.  He wants Claire in his life and he doesn’t want to share her with anyone.  She has stolen his heart.  Claire is his game changer.

Boarded By Love was more than a new adult love story.  Both Jude and Claire’s families played strong roles throughout the book.  The reader saw a true glimpse of what real families are and how their relationships are important to a couple’s dynamics.  We saw how these family relationships shape and mold their thoughts, feelings, and drives.

I loved all the characters in this book.  They were very real and had an important role in the story.  I loved seeing some of our favorite Assassin players make their appearance.  I loved their protectiveness towards Claire and how they intimidated Jude.  I loved Jude’s reactions to them.

While most New Adult books dwell on a lot of angst, indecision, and self reflection, Boarded By Love did not.  Toni Aleo created characters that were very real and at the maturity level that they should be.  Jude and Claire were very focused individuals, had good heads on their shoulders, and reacted just as they should have in all the emotional moments.  Their relationship was beautiful.  Toni allowed them to meet, flirt, date, and fall in love.  She progressed their relationship in a way that most relationships progress in real life.  It was beautiful watching Claire and Jude fall in love and tackle all the problems that came their way.

I can’t wait for the next book in this series.  Like I said earlier, Toni created some interesting secondary characters.  I am hoping the other Sinclair brothers get their own books.  I am also hoping that Lucy Sinclair finds her true love, hopefully it will be an Assassin.  The other team members and campus friends were intriguing as well.  I think we have a lot to forward to in the future from Toni Aleo.

I highly recommend Boarded by Love.

My name is Toni Aleo!

I am a wife, mother of two and a bulldog, and also a hopeless romantic.

I have been told I have anger issues, but I think it’s cause of my intense love for hockey!
I am the biggest Shea Weber fan ever, and can be found during hockey season with my nose pressed against the Bridgestone Arena’s glass, watching my Nashville Predators play!
When my nose isn’t pressed against the glass, I enjoy going to my husband and son’s hockey games, my daughter’s dance competition, hanging with my best friends, taking pictures, scrapbooking, and reading the latest romance novel.
I have a slight Disney and Harry Potter obsession, I love things that sparkle, I love the color pink, I might have been a Disney Princess in a past life…probably Belle, and did I mention I love hockey?

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