You Should Be Reading Lia Riley's Hellions Angels Series

I have a few post-its on my desk with authors that I regularly check up on. I should have a safer place for this, but I really have enough spreadsheets on my drive. And, let’s get real here for a minute, why can’t goodreads tell me when author’s update their titles? Sure, I can follow author’s but that isn’t the same; no, I want to know when they add a book, change the title, update the cover…

But, I digress.

Lia Riley is the latest author on my post-it that you all need to know about, especially her latest series Hellions’ Angels. These books move fast, and not only because they range from 224-256 pages. You could easily read them in one sitting and will want to; who needs to be productive at work anyway?

Mister Hockey

He couldn’t have the first clue about her dirty overactive imagination, but Jesus H. Christ riding a unicycle, she knew. Whenever she fantasized about a guy putting ranch dressing in her Hidden Valley, he was the one wielding the big, big bottle.

Do I need to really tell you any more than that?

Ok, fine. I’ll do my job.

The first book in the Hellions Angels series kept me up reading until well after midnight and I still had to force myself to go to bed. Jed West just led his team, The Denver Hellions, to its second cup in as many years; now in his off season, he is worried about the residual effects of the stick he took to the face–but shook off–in game seven. Neve Angel–big time sports reporter on the hockey beat who we will get to later–takes advantage of this nice guy when, while at a lunch interview together, her librarian sister calls desperate for a replacement speaker for her library’s hockey program. Breezy Angel, children’s librarian extraordinaire and–secretly to no one but Jed–Jed’s biggest fan, is just the thing our lonely hero needs.

Is there anything particularly special in this plot? No. But, isn’t that why we read romance? No, the character’s make this story. Breezy is the kind of funny I wish I could be (see the ranch dressing quote again). Jed is kind without it being a fault. They fall in love fast and hard and you root for them. They discover each other’s “secrets” and overreact, and then we get our HEA. This book is worth the cost of the extra coffee you will have to drink the next day. I give this one 5 out of 5 bobble heads. Buy it.

Head Coach

He’d Mr. Darcy dissed her in the stadium parking lot, but maybe she was Elizabeth Bennet-ing him with all of her prejudice.

Neve Angel, sports reporter–told you we’d get back to her–and Tor Gunnar, The Hellion’s stoic head coach, are each others’ arch nemesis and everyone knows it. Or so they tell themselves in this “doth protest too much” tale of trying not to cross professional lines. But then NHL goes on strike and Neve’s sister and Tor’s BFF are forcing all of those pheromones into the air on their group hangs and all bets are off.

Actually, I take that back.

A bet is on. Over table hockey!

And now Neve has to attend Tor’s ex-wife’s wedding as his plus-one. This is a romance novel, you know where this is going. And boy does it. Lia Riley can write a sex scene, y’all. Can they keep it simple, just one hot-as-hell weekend? I’m sure you have a good guess. I gave this one 3.9 out of 5 $10 Nachos. Buy it.

Virgin Territory*

“Patch” Donnelly is the Hellions’ ginger goalie with the temper to match. After the strike ends, Coach Tor tells Patch that he will go to Margot Kowalski–Breezy and Neve’s BFF–for yoga and relaxation training to learn self control or he will lose his starting position. Margot is sick of men and ready to start her own business, Patch is the perfect client to launch her solo career. Adding to this recipe for L-O-V-E? Margot is all about the love ‘em and leave ‘em romance and Patch is a 25 year old, seminary drop-out–and still a card carrying virgin.

Thank you for giving us the rare male virgin.

Here’s my minus-a-star problem: if someone waits 25 years to even kiss a woman because he wanted it to be special, would he really not only kiss Margot within a few hours of meeting, but hit his knees and lick her like a lollipop, giving her the best O of her life? I love instalove. But. This was unrealistic even to me.

However, who am I kidding, I have seen the same story in reverse, and then some (lady virgins who jump straight to bum-stuff for round two, for example). I give this one 4 out of 5 Icing Calls. Buy it.

^{*arc provided by publisher in exchange for honest review}

I believe Virgin Territory, now out, is the conclusion of the series and it was a lovely way to finish. Mister Hockey is still my favorite, but the series is a steal at $4.99 each. Like, seriously, go get these.

Want More?

I was so in love with this series that I quickly read Lia Riley’s Brightwater series, starting with Last First Kiss, a three book series about a cute little town that has grown for the first time since being featured in a hit movie. I’d put these books in the 3-4 star range. She has a few other series that I hope to get to, but I had to move on.

Other Hockey Romances

This is my favorite things happening in romance right now (and on TN: see our list of Hottest Goalies on the ice this season Part 1 and Part 2). I liked the Colorado Ice series by Jennifer Snow a lot, I gave the second book in the series Maybe This Love 5/5, but start with Maybe This Time. One of the first things I wrote for TN was a book review on K.A. Tucker’s Until It Fades, a cinderella story but with a hockey player instead of a prince which is way better I.M.O.