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From award-winning sports romance author, Sierra Hill, comes a hot new hockey series that will melt the ice and burn the pages up of your Kindles.

I’m a veteran hockey player known as Ballas the Beast. All I want is to continue playing hockey.

She’s the niece of the team owner, known in the sports world as the Ice Queen.

When we hooked up in Vegas six months ago, it was supposed to be a one-time thing.

But things change…

Now I’m negotiating for what could be the final contract of my career against the one woman I never expected to cross paths with again.

Who also happens to be the new owner of the Vancouver Vikings. My new boss.

ebook

Published January 28, 2024

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About the author

Sierra Hill

71 books724 followers
Sierra Hill is a 2020 RONE Award-Winning author of Game Changer, as well as over 30 novels, including the award-winning college sports series, Courting Love, and the twice award-finalist erotic ménage serial, Reckless – The Smoky Mountain Trio.


Subscribe to her email list and download a FREE book here: www.sierrahillbooks.com

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 110 reviews
Profile Image for Vanessa (bookfairy.reads).
1,325 reviews141 followers
January 29, 2024
4.5⭐⭐⭐⭐🌠

🏒hockey romance / sports romance
👑Girl Boss
🔥workplace romance
🌠boss/employee
💖age gap
✨forced proximity


I was super in a #hockeyromance mood these last couple days and so I was happy to find this ARC on my kindle. #Offside released yesterday on January 28th and it did a wonderful job in scratching the hockey itch for me.😄

Offside has everything a good romance (hockey or not) needs. A big brutish MMC whose nickname is literally “The Beast”, a strong girl boss FMC with her own company – or in this case franchise – who won’t let any man disrespect her and is able to stand up for herself, a dose of humour, a good dose of spice and also some heavier and more emotional topics thrown in.

! Please bear in mind that my review includes the free prequel novella “Scoring in Vegas” which I would definitely recommend reading before starting Offside, to see how the characters’ dynamics change. !

The book starts of on a good note as well. With a one-night-stand between the two main characters (free prequel novella) , you get thrown into the action right away, which certainly makes for an interesting and fun dynamic between Ballas and Karis, especially when their casual experience turns into a work relationship (at the beginning of Offside).

I really liked both main characters a lot. They were sympathetic, had great chemistry with each other and seemed so real, because they both have their flaws. Apart from the main characters I also liked what I saw of the side characters so far and I’m looking forward to their respective books in the series.
There are three things in particular that made this one special amongst all the other hockey romances out there:

First of all, the heavily emotional part that was the reason for Karis having to step into the role of owner at such an early age.

Secondly, the fact that Ballas is not an athlete in his prime, but rather one that is in fact in his last active year. It gave a different perspective to the sport and what it means to be an athlete. Ballas is by no means old, however, being a professional athlete certainly does put a strain on one’s body and #SierraHill really nicely described not only the facts, but also the risks and the heightened emotions in this case.

Thirdly and lastly, there was the topic of violence within the sport and how that might bleed into someone’s personal life if there is a… let’s say character flaw involved. This topic was only briefly discussed, however, personally I thought that there was great potential for this and I really hope that the author will dive deeper into this topic in the next books of this series.

All in all, I really enjoyed this one, it is a quick and entertaining read with some hidden depth that made for a really good mix!😊
Profile Image for Shannon.
380 reviews
February 28, 2024
I’m still new to hockey romances but I really liked this book and I took my time reading it because I knew I’d be sad to leave this couple. I liked that even though she was 29 and he was 38, she was his boss and great at her job and he admired her for that. I also really liked the point in the book where he realized that he loved her and I appreciated the spice level of this book (it’s very spicy).
Profile Image for Shannon Kipybida.
19 reviews15 followers
January 28, 2024
4⭐
2 🌶️

🏒 Hockey Romance
🏒 Owner/Player
🏒 Second Chance
🏒 Age Gap
🏒 Secret Relationship

Favorite Quote: "Christine reaches out and is about to remove my coffee cup when I snatch it back, cradling it into my chest as if it's a toy I refuse to share. "Don't. You. Dare. I need this with a desperation you can't fathom.""

This was my first book by Sierra Hill, and I thoroughly enjoyed it!

Karis, the FMC, is now the unexpected owner of two professional sports teams and finding herself in a "man's world." Ballas, also known as Ballas the Beast, is a hockey player that is not used to more than a one-night stand and is facing the reality of his impending retirement. After a failed past, these two are being forced back together and neither can deny the attraction that they feel for one another.

The dynamic between Karis and Ballas, and their attraction for one another, is perfectly written. Both are strong characters, that are determined and have a drive to succeed. The reader is instantly invested in their relationship because of how well written these characters are. The tension between the two is thick and heavy and as a reader, I found myself sitting on the edge of my seat waiting for them to finally break it. When it finally does, Sierra does not disappoint and makes all of the tension and waiting completely worth it.

""Good girl. Now hands on the floor and crawl." He crooks the same finger and beckons me forward."

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and appreciated that Sierra wrote this novel in a way that made it feel immensely real. Watching the internal (and external) struggle of her characters as they face life altering changes professionally and personally makes them feel real. This book gives the best of both worlds, a true sports focused book and an undeniably good romance. Overall, I highly recommend this book and I can't wait to read the rest of the Vancouver Vikings series when it comes out!

Thank you so much to Greys Promo and Sierra Hill for this ARC to read and review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
Profile Image for QuinnReads.
3,754 reviews212 followers
February 7, 2024
Skittles for the Win

I like this book. There's a prequel, Scoring in Vegas,* that I definitely recommend reading. It is very steamy and also provides some good glimpses into what's going on in the lives of Karis Spurlock and Ballas Keeney before Karis' life is turned upside down.

This picks up several months later. I love where their first reconnection occurs. It's a fitting setting and really exemplified how Karis carries herself when faced with adversity and uncomfortable situations. I like how she manages being the tough, yet smart, boss lady while still being vulnerable and approachable. Even when she wants her emotions to lead the way, I really like how she reels things in - sometimes with a very hot assist.

Something about Karis Spurlock has fucked me up in the head and messed with my mojo.
-- Ballas Keeney

As for Ballas the Beast, he proves that he's earned his nickname on and off the ice! He makes mistakes, but I like that he owns them and isn't afraid (for long) to apologize.

There isn't a lot of ice time, but there are plenty of player, game, and general sport references. I would've liked a little more game time, but I'm not complaining as the game off the ice would melt a glacier.

BTW, I may need to send Sierra the bill for the Skittles I'm now craving! 😂 Unlike Karis, I like to taste the rainbow, no single favorite.💚💜💛💖

H = 38; h = 28/29

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

* The prequel was included in On the Line: A Hockey Romance Anthology.
Profile Image for Peggy Hogan.
1,258 reviews15 followers
January 27, 2024
Offside is the first book in the new Vancouver Vikings hockey series by Sierra Hill. I've loved the books I've read by this author, and this one was no exception. It was different from the sports romances I've read recently because Karis actually takes over as the team's owner from her sick uncle, and comes face-to-face with Ballas, a star player on the team that she had a one night stand with. It's hard for Ballas to concentrate when Karis is around, because he's so attracted to her, and although Karis tries her best to be professional as owner of the team, she is also super attracted to Ballas. The story was well-written, the characters were scorching hot together, and I would highly recommend it with more than five stars!
Profile Image for Jenn the Readaholic.
2,190 reviews72 followers
January 19, 2024
Ballas will anger you. Amuse you. Worry you. And then, he’ll make you respect him because he’s able to learn and put pride aside for the things that truly matter. Luckily, he wises up in time to avoid losing that which means the most, too. I mean, he does have to apologize and grovel a tad and bare his heart, but this man does give some good grovel and pretty words to go with his, ah, prowess. So I’ll give him a pass on the snotty attitude he dons like a cloak once in a while.

And Karis? Oh, she’s easy to like. She’s unafraid of a challenge. She’s willing to listen and learn, but she takes no nonsense when it counts. She doesn’t fight every slight dealt her way, but she earns the respect of everyone because she picks the important ones to combat. And she’s going through so much beyond this team that it’s a little amazing she’s holding it together this well. So when Ballas lets her down, I felt it just as much as she does. But when he makes sure to repair it, the happiness and love dripping from the page makes it easy to see why they’re meant to be together.

I have a feeling there’s more to come of this team, and I’m happy to be here for it.
1,536 reviews21 followers
February 10, 2024
I've read just about everything Sierra Hill has written, and Offside is one of my absolute favorite books she has written! Karis and Ballas were such an amazing couple to read about - both together and individually. She's a new NHL / NBA owner and he's an aging hockey player. They had a one-night stand prior to Karis taking ownership of the hockey team - the same one that Ballas plays for. But now she's in charge of the team and contract issues, which is what forces them to be around each other once again. There is still an obvious attraction between them, which Ballas makes no secret of with his friendly flirtation, but Karis is determined to keep things professional. But after Ballas gets hurt during a hockey game and Karis offers to take care of him overnight, the lines start to blur...and eventually, they completely obliterate them.

Besides the crazy chemistry between them, I loved how hockey was a true focus point of the story. Most times when you read a sports romance, you don't always get much of the sport the book centers around. But it was awesome to have hockey play a pivotal role in the story, and the way she described the action, made me feel like I was right there along the ice.
Profile Image for Zolexi Alfonso.
111 reviews33 followers
February 5, 2024

Offside by Sierra Hill
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/ 5

thank you to @greyspromo & @sierrahillbooks for this ARC!

Comes out January 28th!

This book is book 1 in the new series, Vancouver Vikings by Sierra. It follows Ballas & Karis. He is a veteran hockey player who is known to be a bit of a playboy. Karis is a boss woman team owner due to her uncles medical condition that caused her to take over. Karis and Ballas hooked up one night in Vegas and never thought they would see each other again…until Karis became Ballas’ new boss…

I won’t lie, I did in fact read this book in a day. I just had to know how it ended. I loved the banter between these two. I really also loved just how badass Karis was. She was determined to make her new life work and was not gonna let anyone stand in her way.

Ballas or “The Beast” is nothing short of a teddy bear off the rink. I loved the way he he used his words…and PHEW DID HE USE THEM WELL!!!

The spice in this was just the right amount for my personal liking. It was a short read, but boy was it a good one!
Profile Image for veraagoti.
191 reviews12 followers
February 6, 2024
okey, this one was really hot🥵! like i literally had to pause a minute before continuing reading this book…
first of all, this was my first book of Sierra Hill, and i’m so glad that i read it, because now i become addicted!
second one, i had a lot of feelings for Ballas; he made me want to throw my kindle across the room, made me so frustrated but he also made me giggle like a teenager reading wattpad for their first time.
the dynamic between the main characters, the development they had and also their chemistry was written in the best way: so if you’re looking for a hockey romance between a hockey player who had a one night stand with a woman for later becoming the owner of the same team he’s playing, this book is for you!!

thank you so much to Greys Promo and Sierra Hill for this
ARC to read and review, i enjoyed reading this and i will be looking forward to seeing what’s coming next!
Profile Image for Micronova.
230 reviews56 followers
January 17, 2024
Offside, book one of the Vancouver Vikings Series by Sierra Hill-
My rating is 4 stars.

This was my introduction to Sierra Hill and I was not disappointed.

Karis finds herself as acting owner of an NBA and a NHL team.
Ballas finds himself sitting in contract negotiations with the woman he had a passionate one night stand with.

The first thing I want to mention is that I absolutely love it when a sports romance actually highlights the sport, rather than just claim it’s a sports romance because a character belongs to a team of some sort. I really enjoyed the POV from both the player AND the owner. It made for a very well-rounded sports romance.

I won’t give a summarization of what I read but I will mention the things that I liked…

The plot and storyline were unique, I’ve yet to read a sports romance like this one. The plot was also well developed, the events of this story were absolutely believable. Not only do you have the players experience, you also have the owners experience, in addition to how Karis acquired the team(s.) I loved that the FMC was in a position of power and she rocked that shit. Karis is one of the strongest FMC’s I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading. Karis proved time and time again that she was capable of making the hard decisions. (Especially at the end.) Ballas has been playing hockey for 18 years and his body has been letting him know that retirement is likely in the near future. He’s a brooding man, coming to terms with his physicality in the sport, playing with up and coming youngsters. I really liked the dynamic between Karis and Ballas. They were very well developed characters with palpable chemistry. There weren’t really a ton of focus on support characters, with the exception of Nate but this story line was so strong, it didn’t need to rely on the support characters to help make it great. I really liked the ending. Again, it was believable!

This is a great starter novel for a series. Again, I will mention how impressed I was with both the player and owner perspectives. This really had a huge impact on the delivery of this novel. The chemistry, romance and spice were hot. I appreciated the realistic life events that occurred. This was an enjoyable, quick and seamless read, for me. I will definitely be watching for the rest of the series.

I received an advance reader copy and am leaving my review voluntarily.
Profile Image for Erin Lewis.
6,250 reviews219 followers
January 18, 2024
4 Star review Offside (Vancouver Kings #1) by Sierra Hill
Sierra Hill is a relatively new author to me but what I have read I have enjoyed, so when I was given the chance to read Offside the first book in the Vancouver Kings series, I jumped right in.
This is a second chance at love story that drew me in. The characters were engaging and you cannot help but fall for Ballas (aka Ballas the Beast) and Karis.
Ballas is negotiating for what could be his last hockey contract and he is shocked when he learns that the woman he hooked up with in Vegas is the one he has to negotiate with.
This was an entertaining, well written story that drew me in and held my attention throughout.
Profile Image for Julie Booklover.
2,135 reviews105 followers
January 29, 2024
4.5 stars

Having read most of the books written by Ms. Hill and enjoying her growth as an author, I believe this book is one of her best. I was hooked from page one, and how quickly I became invested in the characters surprised me. Both main characters are interesting and, together, even better.

Ballas and I have a love/hate/anger/love relationship, but he eventually won me over. Karis is a new team owner and, surprise, Ballas’ boss. Is their relationship forbidden or a second chance?

I loved that the game of hockey was very present in this story; it was not just a secondary character like some authors do. This is the first book in the Vancouver Vikings series, and I am excited for more.
Profile Image for Marian..
1,210 reviews65 followers
June 22, 2024
I will tell you that I was expecting a little more from this story as I read the prequel and I liked it a lot and I wanted to know a lot more about these characters, unfortunately the story even though it grabbed me I finished it just to know what happened, the MMC was insufferable in many ways, he was almost forty years old and acted like a teenager, the only thing that could be saved from everything here was our FMC because she was the one who wore the pants in the whole relationship, I feel that there was more sexual tension between them than anything else because romantically speaking I felt it was very loose.

📌 I received an e-arc, and this is my honest opinion/review of it.

---


Les dire que esperaba un poquito mas de esta historia ya que me lei la precuela y me quedo gustando mucho y quería saber mucho mas de estos personajes, lastimosamente la historia a pesar de que me atrapo lo termine solo para saber que pasaba, el MMC fue insufrible en muchos sentidos, tenia casi cuarenta años y se comportaba como un adolescente, lo único salvable de todo acá fue nuestra FMC porque era la que llevaba los pantalones en toda la relación, siento que entre ellos había mas tención sexual que otra cosa porque románticamente hablando lo sentí muy flojo.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Nadene  (Totally Addicted to Reading).
1,522 reviews218 followers
January 31, 2024
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.Lately I have been in the mood for some feel good sports romance. So when Offside came on my radar, I jumped at the chance to read it. This is the first book in the Vancouver Vikings series, and it served as my introduction to the work of Sierra Hill. An author whose work I would definitely read again given the chance. Offside delivered an entertaining and steamy second chance. age-gap romance set in the world of hockey.


Before diving into Offside, readers receives a treat. Details of what transpired between Karris and Ballas six months prior to the events of Offside are provided. This allows readers to see how intense and off the charts was their chemistry was from the outset. It was a treat getting to know these two.

At the beginning of Offside, Karris reluctantly embraces her role as the new owner of the NHL team her uncle used to own. This is in addition to the NBA team she already owns. It so happens that Ballas a veteran player is a member of the NHL team, thus making Karris his boss. Awkward!  Especially in light of how things went down between them six months ago.

Hockey is Ballas's life, and the thought of giving it up scared him. He can't imagine a life without hockey, despite the signals his body emitted telling him the time to quit is near.  His determination to stay in the sport left him without a clue as to the direction his life would take when he had no choice but to quit the thing he loved. However, when a devastating injury on the ice left him out of commission for several days and after several antagonistic moments,  he begrudgingly accepted that a change was needed.

Karis and Ballas's relationship started out with a one-night stand. Karis had hope for more, especially when he provided her with comfort during a most difficult time in her life.  Now, Ballas is a serial one night stander. So his reaction to Karis scared him and has him running in the opposite direction.  However, as fate would have it, she was now his boss. This led to some interesting and fun moments between the two.

Ballas behaves as one would expect of someone who not only fears a committed relationship but dreads giving up a career they spent most of their life in.  The way he flirts with Karis will have you smiling. There were moments where he acted like an ass where Karis is concerned, which led to some serious grovelling on his part. I loved that he wasn't afraid to grovel.

Karis shows how well she coped in a male dominated field. One can understand her reason for not wanting the role, given how she was unexpectedly thrust into the position. However, she handled it like a pro. She didn't shy away from making hard decisions.

The author dived into the world of hockey by giving readers a look from both the athletes and management perspective. It was refreshing to see emphasis being played on the sport from the games, the injuries, management decisions and everything from that world to include the arrogance and entitled actions of persons within the industry.

Offside set the bar for the remainder of the series. Fans of romance will want to pick this one up.This review was originally posted on Totally Addicted to Reading
Profile Image for K Webz.
1,988 reviews
January 28, 2024
I am so ready for this new series, if this book is any indication how it is going to go. The characters were well written and had so many layers to them. Karis is known as the “Ice Queen” among many. She is a female in male dominated world of sports. When she takes over the NHL team for her uncle who is suddenly ill, she comes face to face with her one night stand from a few months ago Ballas. He lives and breathes hockey, it is his life. With him being an older player, he knows his time is coming to an end. But after an injury and no one to help the first few days after he is released, it is Karis who steps up and brings him to her place.

The way these two dance around the attraction to each other is one where you know when they give in, it is going to be something spectacular. As the chemistry between them is so flipping hot!

And the way Sierra addresses so many issues in this story is amazing.
243 reviews8 followers
February 16, 2024
After a steamy night together, Ballas “the Beast” and Karis find that their worlds are going to start colliding on a daily basis. Karis takes over the hockey team that veteran player Ballas is hoping to retire from and the sparks are just as hot as their first night together. Still, their work relationship keeps them from exploring what could be….for a while.
Ballas finds himself at the wrong end of a dirty hit and is sidelined with a nasty concussion and with not family, Kariis offers to watch over him while he recovers-in her home.
It doesn’t take long for them to reconnect and soon find they are hiding their relationship.
No worries though as these two find a way to get
To their HEA and set the stage for the team and coming books in the series.
Profile Image for Natalye Emery.
112 reviews1 follower
January 22, 2024
Book Review 🏒

Offside
By: @sierrahillbooks

Rating: 🏒🏒🏒🏒

"Good girl. Now hands on the floor and crawl." He crooks the same finger and beckons me forward. -BALLAS!!!!🥵🥵🥵

Ballas. He will make you angry, he will make you swoon and he will make you worry. Big bad hockey player on the verge of retirement meets his match when his one night stand in Vegas ends up being the Vikings new owner.

Karis “Ice Queen” wise beyond her years. The powerful women everyone wants to be but she also has her insecurities.

Mix these two hard headed characters together and you get some great banter and some TENSION!
Profile Image for Ashley Herndon.
1,262 reviews19 followers
January 29, 2024
This was great.

I loved Ballas and Karis.

This book has hockey, heat, and heart!

It’s a one night stand to boss scenario but the woman is the boss. I loved that flip on script!

It was great. Well written. Awesome character. Fabulous plot.

Highly recommend
2,287 reviews19 followers
February 18, 2024
I absolutely loved this story. It will suck you in from the beginning as it gives you all the feels. I loved the characters, the banter and the sizzling chemistry. It’s entertaining and well written story. Looking forward to reading more.
618 reviews
February 9, 2024
Karis and Ballas

This was a GREAT STORY! I loved everything about it! Ballas is “The Beast” a bad ass hockey player, but nearing the end of his career at 38. He’s taken a lot of hits and his body is starting to not come back the way it used to, especially having had several concussions. That can be a huge concern for the rest of his life. Karis is 29 and her uncle runs two sports teams when he suddenly has a cardiac arrest and goes into a coma. Karis is thrown into the role of managing both teams and making all these decisions that she’s not ready to make yet however, one night in Vegas when she and Ballas up, changed everything. She was stressed and just wanted one night of distractions. He was everything she didn’t know she needed and she was he didn’t know he wanted. The story is wonderful in that it slowly builds the way their day-to-day life continues as they figure out how they feel about each other and their careers. I loved everything about it. I’m looking forward to the next one in this series.
Profile Image for Amanda.
729 reviews
August 27, 2024
Ebook. Library. It was fine. A little wordy and some random loose strings, but a decent enough fluff read.
Profile Image for Lindsay Jenkins.
390 reviews19 followers
January 29, 2024
The Beast has to learn…

Hockey - good. Spice - good. Strong FMC - good. Put all that together and you have a great story.
I throughly enjoyed reading a story that was not predictable and allowed for characters that grew and didn’t spring from one extreme to another.
Glad to see it will be a series so I can read more about this team and hopefully more about Ballas.
Profile Image for Kylee.
3,008 reviews57 followers
January 28, 2024
Offside is a second chance romance with veteran hockey player Ballas and team owner Karis. Their story gives you everything you need and want. It is emotional, unpredictable and has twists and turns to hold you captive to the storyline and characters. The heat, steam and chemistry between these two will have your skin on fire. There is plenty of push and pull between these two as they navigate their feelings, changes to their dreams and ultimately falling in love.
1,498 reviews16 followers
February 8, 2024
They have history...and a future together. I love that there's a bit of forbidden-ness along with some anger that is warring with the memories of what was and feelings that still linger. I love that Karis is his boss but that Ballas the Beast is hard to resist, yet she does try. I love that there's strong chemistry and that Ballas has this strong alpha presence. He doesn't think he has the ability to be gentle and care for anyone, but I love that pieces show through his grumpy side.
40 reviews
February 19, 2024
Leading the Team ( and series)

Ms. Hill writes a flirty new novel with this premier book, laying the groundwork for a strong hockey series. The fact she starts off with thr management angle establishes the characters and situation. I'm looking forward forward to Book 2!
1,099 reviews3 followers
February 19, 2024
One of the first things I do when I read a story that includes hockey or another professional sport, is judge it on it's accuracy related to that sport - the overall practices, the rules, the equipment. Inaccuracy bugs me and takes away from my enjoyment of the story. I'm happy to say that was not the case with this one.

Karis and Ballas have a steaming hot night followed by a few hours of caring - then nothing. Although it seems neither can forget the other, until they end up face to face accross the negotating table. One thing leads to another, add in some unfortunate luck, and the two end up with some forced one on one time. The chemistry between the two is cumbustable but strong feelings can be difficult to accept if you're not ready for that.

Eventually the two get there HEA. I found the story a bit light on some of the details and the reality of what thier relationship actually means in the environment they work in, but overall enjoyed the read. The hot scenes are steamy and the writing style is easy. I look forward to what's next for this team. 3.5 to 4 star read from me.
Profile Image for Donna.
325 reviews210 followers
January 24, 2024
"What is it that they say about never saying never?"

💙 Hockey Romance
🏒 Owner/Player
💙 One Night Stand in Vegas
🏒 Second Chance
💙 Age Gap
🏒 Secret/Forbidden Relationship
💙 HEA

Ballas and Karis's story starts in the prequel Scoring in Vegas where a bold proposition in Vegas with hot hockey player Ballas gives Karis a night to forget about her breakup from her cheating long-term boyfriend. It's intense and steamy, one night with no strings attached. I loved how he treated her, giving her everything she never had before, wanting nothing more than to pleasure her. And I loved how there was a glimpse of the heart of the beast who's averse to relationships. What would happen when the night was over without a goodbye? They were never supposed to see each other again but could there be more? The rest of their story continues in Offside.

"How quickly things can change in the blink of an eye. Just like the direction of a puck on the slick ice rink—you can’t control the things not already in your possession."

Grumpy, arrogant veteran player Ballas "The Beast" dominated both on and off the ice. He was flirtatious and dirty but also protective and unexpectedly comforting, respectful and caring. I just wanted to wrap my arms around him as he struggled with multiple injuries and the longevity of his career. He was such a force to be reckoned with and I loved how he knew what he wanted with Karis and went after it unapologetically.

"What is it that they say about your past catching up to you? Or never mixing business with pleasure?"

Karis fell into an ownership role she never asked for but was fierce and resilient as she tried to be accepted and respected. I loved how she stood up to the culture of toxic masculinity in the sports world and never backed down. I adored her relationship with her uncle who meant everything to her and I could identify with her need to be there for him. She truly had the weight of the world on her shoulders but she handled it all with grace and bravery.

"Our scars are what make us unique but don’t need to define us. Each one holds a story behind it that made us who we are today."

Even with the fear and risk of scandal, Ballas and Karis couldn't stop thinking about each other, an irresistible pull and growing attraction between them. I loved the way Ballas's self-restraint and control shattered around Karis as well as the way Karis completely lost herself in Ballas even though she frustrated me sometimes with how much she held back. Their vulnerabilities tugged at my heartstrings, Ballas with the uncertainty of his future in hockey and Karis with her fear of loss.

I would have liked to see the added complication of others finding out about their relationship but this couple complemented each other perfectly nonetheless. Ultimately, this was a story about dreams changing as people learn and grow, adapting to an uncertain future and embracing life's detours with love giving an assist.

"I would do that again and again and not live to regret it for a second."

Turns out the Beast really does have a big heart! 💙💙💙

* Special thanks to author Sierra Hill for sending me this ARC to read and review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. Quotes subject to change at time of publication. Available January 28, 2024. *
60 reviews5 followers
February 5, 2024
ARC BOOK REVIEW: Offside by Sierra Hill

My love for Sierra Hill’s books is eternal. Everything she writes is pure gold and this new hockey series (Vancouver Vikings) is no exception.

“You are beautiful, Karis. Our scars are what make us unique but don’t need to define us. Each one holds a story behind it that made us who we are today.”

The extraordinary author Sierra Hill brings us on a steamy journey of a veteran hockey player (Ballas) and his relationship with his new boss (Karis), who interestingly had a one-night stand in Vegas six months ago. I would add that this is Ballas’s typical MO, one-night stands only. I would recommend reading the novella “Scoring in Vegas” to get a better understanding of these characters, but it’s not required.

Our MMC Ballas, who is nicknamed the Beast, is in his last year of playing professional hockey. Ballas has rightfully earned that nickname on the ice because of his aggressive style, but he also has that nickname off the ice due his the size of his…. Well you know! Ballas is a flawed character but owns up to his mistakes and he’s an honest guy, which earns him favor in my opinion. Our FMC Karis can be summed up in two words. Boss Bitch!!! She is wrote perfectly and I love her. She is thrust into taking the ownership of literally an enterprise at an early age, and she carries herself as a seasoned veteran when faced with difficult situations. She is able to keep her emotions in check even when her instinct is to lead with them.

This book has such a real and raw feeling to it, where we can see the internal and external flaws of each character and their struggles to deal with them. This books has everything you are looking for: smoking hot hockey players (which is all the rage these days), insane chemistry and spicy scenes between our main characters and the emotional element of watching the characters make life altering changes. Overall, I highly recommend this book for a great read and I can’t wait for more Vancouver Vikings.
Tropes
• Girl Boss
• Workplace Romance
• Age Gap
• Forced Proximity
• Sports Romance
• One night stand

*ARC courtesy of the author and all thoughts and opinions are my own. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. Thank you to the valued author and publisher for providing a copy.*
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2,675 reviews51 followers
February 4, 2024
Ballas 'The Beast' Keeney

When Sierra Hill announced she had a new series about to start and it revolved around as hockey team ... You betcha I was in! OFFSIDE is book #1 in the Vancouver Vikings and I enjoyed every moment of it. It is a second chance sport romance which involved two wonderful characters I fell hard for. After reading the prequel novella, Scoring In Vegas, I couldn't wait for their full story.

Imagine spending a hot night in Vegas with a one-night-stand only to find that she is the woman you're about to negotiate a contract extension with. Meet Ballas 'The Beast' Keeney, an ageing hockey player, who is now facing this exact predicament. His hookup was with Karis Spurlock, the new owner of the Vancouver Vikings franchise which covers the NHL and NBA teams.

While Karis never forgot her night with Ballas and always wished there could have been more between them. Ballas, well he just continued with his womanizing ways. Seeing Karis in his negotiation meeting came as a bit of a shock to Ballas, as well as the fact that he feels an attraction to her... what the? Owner and player, normally an off-limits relationship, but will Karis and Ballas be able to follow the rules?

I enjoyed OFFSIDE. Karis was a strong woman, she needed to be, she proved her worth in a male dominated world, she knew how to make the tough decisions. I loved Ballas, he was approaching the end of his career, and his body was really feeling it. I loved the chemistry they shared, their banter was wonderful, and their spice was woowee ... HOT!! Sierra did a wonderful job of focusing primarily on this couple, it really was their story, often secondary characters intrude, but not in this one.

OFFSIDE is definitely a favourite this early in 2024.

Read and Reviewed for Reading Is Our Satisfaction

✨✨✨✨✨ FIVE BEASTLY STARS ✨✨✨✨✨
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