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Pipe Dreams
(Brooklyn Bruisers #3)
by
A goalie has to trust his instincts, even when taking a shot to the heart…
Mike Beacon is a champion at defending the net, but off the ice, he’s not so lucky. A widower and a single father, he’s never forgotten Lauren Williams, the ex who gave him the best year of his life. When Lauren reappears in the Bruisers office during the playoffs, Beacon sees his chance to make thin ...more
Mike Beacon is a champion at defending the net, but off the ice, he’s not so lucky. A widower and a single father, he’s never forgotten Lauren Williams, the ex who gave him the best year of his life. When Lauren reappears in the Bruisers office during the playoffs, Beacon sees his chance to make thin ...more
ebook, 336 pages
Published
May 2nd 2017
by Berkley Books
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Start your review of Pipe Dreams (Brooklyn Bruisers, #3)

5 Stars
I adored every minute of this book and was truly sad when it was over.
We as readers all have certain elements, characters traits, plot ploys, tones, and tropes, etc., that either call to us or repel us. Qualities that, when weaved together, can make a seemingly average book feel like a rare piece of art. They don't come along very often; but, when they do, it's like Christmas.
And this book was one of those books for me.
It had SO many elements in it that came together to create a storm o ...more
I adored every minute of this book and was truly sad when it was over.
We as readers all have certain elements, characters traits, plot ploys, tones, and tropes, etc., that either call to us or repel us. Qualities that, when weaved together, can make a seemingly average book feel like a rare piece of art. They don't come along very often; but, when they do, it's like Christmas.
And this book was one of those books for me.
It had SO many elements in it that came together to create a storm o ...more

4 stars!!!
Pipe Dreams is the third book in Sarina Bowen’s Brooklyn Bruisers series and by far my favorite yet! That could very well change if I ever get my highly coveted Nate and Becca book (hehe) but in all seriousness, I love when I’m reading a series and each book gets better and better. Bowen has done that with this series and I couldn’t be happier.
Mike Beacon is a single dad and the goalie for the Brooklyn Bruisers. Four years ago, Mike was in a relationship with the love of his life ...more

Pipe Dreams is the third book in Sarina Bowen’s Brooklyn Bruisers series and by far my favorite yet! That could very well change if I ever get my highly coveted Nate and Becca book (hehe) but in all seriousness, I love when I’m reading a series and each book gets better and better. Bowen has done that with this series and I couldn’t be happier.
Mike Beacon is a single dad and the goalie for the Brooklyn Bruisers. Four years ago, Mike was in a relationship with the love of his life ...more

Review available at Under the Pages.
...more


5 stars!

OH MY GAWD. I loved this book so hard! Sarina Bowen, you have outdone yourself!!!
Pipe Dreams is the third book in the Brooklyn Bruisers series but can easily be read as a standalone novel. This book follows Mike Beacon, goalie for the Bruisers and Lauren, the office manager to the man who owns the team. Four years ago they had been in a relationship, happy and in love, until two years ago when Mike broke up with Lauren and basically disappeared from her life very rapidly. What Lauren ...more

OH MY GAWD. I loved this book so hard! Sarina Bowen, you have outdone yourself!!!
Pipe Dreams is the third book in the Brooklyn Bruisers series but can easily be read as a standalone novel. This book follows Mike Beacon, goalie for the Bruisers and Lauren, the office manager to the man who owns the team. Four years ago they had been in a relationship, happy and in love, until two years ago when Mike broke up with Lauren and basically disappeared from her life very rapidly. What Lauren ...more

May 03, 2017
Alex ♈
marked it as dnf
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.

Jul 14, 2016
nick (the infinite limits of love)
rated it
really liked it
Shelves:
adult,
contemporary
PLEASE be Nate & Becca's book.

----------------------------------------
I have to say, I originally wasn’t very happy going into Pipe Dreams despite having loved the Sarina Bowen books that I have read simply because the couple wasn’t who I was expecting it to be. But fret not! Bowen was able to once again win me over with her swoony boys and her even swoonier romances. As always, reading a book by her just brings me pure joy.
Most of the books that I’ve read from Sarina Bowen have been second cha ...more

----------------------------------------
I have to say, I originally wasn’t very happy going into Pipe Dreams despite having loved the Sarina Bowen books that I have read simply because the couple wasn’t who I was expecting it to be. But fret not! Bowen was able to once again win me over with her swoony boys and her even swoonier romances. As always, reading a book by her just brings me pure joy.
Most of the books that I’ve read from Sarina Bowen have been second cha ...more

Apr 18, 2017
Alienor ✘ French Frowner ✘
rated it
it was ok
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
genre-romance,
2017-reads
Sooooooo
Overall it was just so
*whispers* boriiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiing
Also can we not use a child as a main obstacle for a love story
#CanWeNotPleasePleasePlease
But really overall it was just so
*whispers* boriiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiing
Also dead wife because why the fuck not
Seriously though it was just so
*whispers* boriiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiing
Also I must have missed the tension somewhere
Because there was none
Nooooooooooooone
Sigh. I liked them enough, I guess, but I didn't care whatsoever, alright?
For more of ...more
Overall it was just so
*whispers* boriiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiing
Also can we not use a child as a main obstacle for a love story
#CanWeNotPleasePleasePlease
But really overall it was just so
*whispers* boriiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiing
Also dead wife because why the fuck not
Seriously though it was just so
*whispers* boriiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiing
Also I must have missed the tension somewhere
Because there was none
Nooooooooooooone
Sigh. I liked them enough, I guess, but I didn't care whatsoever, alright?
For more of ...more

Of the three books in Sarina Bowen's Brooklyn Bruisers series, Pipe Dreams struck the jackpot for me. Sometimes a read works for you simply based how you're feeling and right now a lighter, sexy romance with wonderful characters was exactly what I needed.

When the single dad trope is done right, I'm as happy as a clam and I can't fault Sarina here: I loved the Bruisers' goalie, Mike, a man doing a sterling job of balancing his career and raising his teenage daughter, Elsa. And when he's reacquai ...more

When the single dad trope is done right, I'm as happy as a clam and I can't fault Sarina here: I loved the Bruisers' goalie, Mike, a man doing a sterling job of balancing his career and raising his teenage daughter, Elsa. And when he's reacquai ...more

ARC from publisher
I am so so sad to report that I found Pipe Dreams disappointing, cliched…and boring. And I just want to get this review out of the way so I can go back into my Sarina Bowen happy place and await her next book.
So what we have here is a man who got out of an unhappy marriage, shacked up with a woman he’d been flirting with during many of his unhappily married years to find he was blissfully happy, only to leave her when his wife fell ill so he could care for her and his daughter. ...more
I am so so sad to report that I found Pipe Dreams disappointing, cliched…and boring. And I just want to get this review out of the way so I can go back into my Sarina Bowen happy place and await her next book.
So what we have here is a man who got out of an unhappy marriage, shacked up with a woman he’d been flirting with during many of his unhappily married years to find he was blissfully happy, only to leave her when his wife fell ill so he could care for her and his daughter. ...more

3.5 Doing the Dream Stars
Pipe Dreams is a standalone and is part of the Brooklyn Bruisers series. This is Mike and Lauren’s book. I love a second chance romance book and I liked the overall plot and theme to this one.
Mike is the goalie and he’s a man with a lot of baggie. He has a cheating ex-wife, a daughter and he wants a relationship with Lauren. But sadly you can’t have it all. Mike makes a choice years ago and it has cost him. So its years later and Lauren and Mike are interacting once aga ...more
Pipe Dreams is a standalone and is part of the Brooklyn Bruisers series. This is Mike and Lauren’s book. I love a second chance romance book and I liked the overall plot and theme to this one.
Mike is the goalie and he’s a man with a lot of baggie. He has a cheating ex-wife, a daughter and he wants a relationship with Lauren. But sadly you can’t have it all. Mike makes a choice years ago and it has cost him. So its years later and Lauren and Mike are interacting once aga ...more

RELEASE DAY (SHAMELESS) BUMPING! Yeah, I know it's obnoxious but EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ever have one of those authors that just does it for you? SB is that author for me. When I got approved for this I… had a moment. That maybe only dogs could hear, but whatevs. I had some excite happening, k?
I really did look at it on my kindle with heart eyes telling myself I should wait. Then my id kicked my superego in the nads and maybe made some lewd hand gestures. In short, I caved. I sa ...more
Ever have one of those authors that just does it for you? SB is that author for me. When I got approved for this I… had a moment. That maybe only dogs could hear, but whatevs. I had some excite happening, k?
I really did look at it on my kindle with heart eyes telling myself I should wait. Then my id kicked my superego in the nads and maybe made some lewd hand gestures. In short, I caved. I sa ...more

This is third in a series, though the others don't really factor in much. It does feature as another datapoint in the ongoing Nate/Becca slow-burn which is so far the biggest reason to read these all in order.
This one doesn't have the problematical elements that were tacked onto the first two books. This one builds its problematical elements right into the two main characters. This is an improvement because it makes the story much more believable. But that's offset by having characters that I di ...more
This one doesn't have the problematical elements that were tacked onto the first two books. This one builds its problematical elements right into the two main characters. This is an improvement because it makes the story much more believable. But that's offset by having characters that I di ...more

4 sweet stars
I love this series and I'm always excited for the next book!Pipe Dreams was an intense,emotional and sweet story.It's a second chance romance with a slow burn.Both characters are lovable!Lauren is smart and independent, you can easily connect with her.Mike is one of my favorite so far!I like him a lot, he has everything I wanted in a hero.Lauren and Mike have some really intense and sweet moments.I love that in this book we don't have a lot of drama.I'm sure Mike will captivate you ...more
I love this series and I'm always excited for the next book!Pipe Dreams was an intense,emotional and sweet story.It's a second chance romance with a slow burn.Both characters are lovable!Lauren is smart and independent, you can easily connect with her.Mike is one of my favorite so far!I like him a lot, he has everything I wanted in a hero.Lauren and Mike have some really intense and sweet moments.I love that in this book we don't have a lot of drama.I'm sure Mike will captivate you ...more

Best of the best! I love Sarina Bowen for realistic characters and fantastic stories. And once again she gave it to me in the third Brooklyn Bruisers book. And who doesn't like those sexy hockey players sometimes or... all the time.
We finally get to know story of the Brooklyn Bruisers's goalie Mike Beacon. He has a complicated past with Lauren Williams, once a friend, then a girlfriend, now ex with which he could have a second chance. If they get courage and get along with all the misunderstandi ...more
We finally get to know story of the Brooklyn Bruisers's goalie Mike Beacon. He has a complicated past with Lauren Williams, once a friend, then a girlfriend, now ex with which he could have a second chance. If they get courage and get along with all the misunderstandi ...more

“You’re the one, Lo. There’s nobody else.”
“I love you so hard, it hurts.”
Synopsis:
Mike and Lauren were involved a couple years ago, but when Mike’s ex wife gets terminal cancer he walks away from Lauren without explanation. Now they are thrown together again because of the Bruisers hockey team and Lauren is finding it hard to forgive Mike for the way he stomped on her heart.
”He walked out on her two years ago without an explanation. For weeks she’d sobbed into his voice mail because ...more
“I love you so hard, it hurts.”
Synopsis:
Mike and Lauren were involved a couple years ago, but when Mike’s ex wife gets terminal cancer he walks away from Lauren without explanation. Now they are thrown together again because of the Bruisers hockey team and Lauren is finding it hard to forgive Mike for the way he stomped on her heart.
”He walked out on her two years ago without an explanation. For weeks she’d sobbed into his voice mail because ...more

3.25 Stars
Overall Opinion: I couldn’t put this down at first! It had all the feels in the flashbacks and current encounters that I was craving! Sadly, it then started to fizzle for me. I’m not quite sure exactly why either. It was probably about the halfway mark and I just wasn’t jumping to the next chapter like I was before. I liked the overall premise, the separation was understandable (even though the H could’ve gone about it wayyyyy better), and they end up getting a HEA. What’s wrong then? ...more
Overall Opinion: I couldn’t put this down at first! It had all the feels in the flashbacks and current encounters that I was craving! Sadly, it then started to fizzle for me. I’m not quite sure exactly why either. It was probably about the halfway mark and I just wasn’t jumping to the next chapter like I was before. I liked the overall premise, the separation was understandable (even though the H could’ve gone about it wayyyyy better), and they end up getting a HEA. What’s wrong then? ...more

"You're my happy thought, Lo."
The Brooklyn Bruisers series, I swear, just gets better with each and every book. This trend held true with Pipe Dreams. It's funny that the hero of this book, Mike Beacon, the Bruisers goalie, never really piqued my interest in prior books. But, little did I know, his story would be the most emotional and enjoyable of them all. This angst fan was in all her glory here!
Widower and dad, Mike, lives a life of trying to balance pro hockey with fatherhood to ...more

May 01, 2017
Sabrina
rated it
really liked it
Shelves:
arc-edelweiss-netgalley,
sports-jocks-fighters
NOW LIVE!
Amazon*B&N*Kobo

I wasn't sure how this read would turn out for me since Lauren's character came off as very cold in the previous book, but this series has been going so well for me I couldn't pass up the opportunity to read it. I didn't have anything to worry about because once we got to see her character more you saw the pain she was trying to hide and it really made me feel for her.
Lauren and Mike were really fun characters to read about and I was happy that they didn't let the past r ...more
Amazon*B&N*Kobo

I wasn't sure how this read would turn out for me since Lauren's character came off as very cold in the previous book, but this series has been going so well for me I couldn't pass up the opportunity to read it. I didn't have anything to worry about because once we got to see her character more you saw the pain she was trying to hide and it really made me feel for her.
Lauren and Mike were really fun characters to read about and I was happy that they didn't let the past r ...more

This book was a freakin' mess. My 1-star review might not offset all the freebie 5-star Netgalley raves, but for those who have to fork out money for it, I suggest spending cash on pretty much any other romance out there instead of this disappointing read.
ALSO, SPOILERS, SO IF YOU'RE PHOBIC, YOU'VE BEEN WARNED.
1) The hero, Mike, is a cipher who Bowen presents as an egotistical "dumb jock" (Bowen's words, not mine) into knocking up the women with whom he has sex, and who suffers from random, une ...more
ALSO, SPOILERS, SO IF YOU'RE PHOBIC, YOU'VE BEEN WARNED.
1) The hero, Mike, is a cipher who Bowen presents as an egotistical "dumb jock" (Bowen's words, not mine) into knocking up the women with whom he has sex, and who suffers from random, une ...more

I liked it better than the previous book--not as many glaring hockey related errors and the story had a little more depth and angst. I was happy to see that the character Lauren was redeemed. No wonder she was such an angry bitchy mess in Hard Hitter! The hero Mike was a bit clueless at first-- He definitely owed Lauren a long overdue apology and an explanation---but if he had done that then there would have been no need for this second chance romance!
I enjoyed this one and all the drama that we ...more
I enjoyed this one and all the drama that we ...more

Apr 13, 2020
Giorgia Reads
rated it
liked it
Shelves:
sports-romance,
contemporary-new-adult-romance
3 stars
Still not totally on board with the ghosting.. I’m a heartless b***h sure, he had some reasons but no, today’s mood is the unforgiving type😄
Still not totally on board with the ghosting.. I’m a heartless b***h sure, he had some reasons but no, today’s mood is the unforgiving type😄

Nov 21, 2016
Wendy'sThoughts
rated it
really liked it
Recommends it for:
Sarina Bowen Fans, Hockey, Romance
This is a tale of reverse positions...
What does a Goalie do when he has to leave himself open...
And the object of his desire...
Is protecting her heart like it is the Stanley Cup...
He made a huge mistake and wants a final chance...
She still feels the pull...
But can she forgive and let him be the one...
The Brooklyn Bruisers are at it again....
Pipe Dreams (Brooklyn Bruisers, #3)
Rookie Move (Brooklyn Bruisers, #1)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Hard Hitter (Brooklyn Bruisers #2)
https: ...more
What does a Goalie do when he has to leave himself open...
And the object of his desire...
Is protecting her heart like it is the Stanley Cup...
He made a huge mistake and wants a final chance...
She still feels the pull...
But can she forgive and let him be the one...
The Brooklyn Bruisers are at it again....
Pipe Dreams (Brooklyn Bruisers, #3)

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

https: ...more

❝I miss the hell out of you, that's all. I miss you so much it hurts.❞
The third book in the Brooklyn Bruisers series, Pipe Dreams brings us the story of the Ice Princess herself, Lauren Williams and the man who thawed her, goalie Mike Beacon. This was a sweet, second chance romance.
If you read book #2, Hard Hitter, you learned Lauren may not have been so good with adults, but she had an affinity for children. She was great with them. In Pipe Dreams, Lauren is focused on becoming a mo ...more

Originally posted at Booklovers For Life
I LOVEDDD this!! Omg. Pipe Dreams might be my favorite of the Brooklyn Bruisers series. I freaking loved Lauren and Mike so hard! Their second chance romance is angsty, emotional, and SO sweet. Mike is definitely a man who knows how to grovel and win back the love of his life. ;) If you love second chance romances or sports romances, you need to read Pipe Dreams in your life!
Widower, single father, and hockey goalie Mike Beacon lost the love of his life af ...more
I LOVEDDD this!! Omg. Pipe Dreams might be my favorite of the Brooklyn Bruisers series. I freaking loved Lauren and Mike so hard! Their second chance romance is angsty, emotional, and SO sweet. Mike is definitely a man who knows how to grovel and win back the love of his life. ;) If you love second chance romances or sports romances, you need to read Pipe Dreams in your life!
Widower, single father, and hockey goalie Mike Beacon lost the love of his life af ...more

Lauren has earned the reputation as an Ice Princess, and not without merit, so much so she even has a glare named after her. Going by what we’ve previously seen of the right hand woman to the team’s manager, she’s stand offish and has made her resentment at being at the club rather clear. The time and distance away from the stadium have been therapeutic but she is in no way looking forward to being back, or the prospect of running into the team’s goalie, Mike Beacon.
As a result of misplaced ...more

A very sweet and incredibly smitten hero makes the story. He’s handsome and sweet which makes up for the fact he’s not very bright.

Backstory:
The married H and h had unrequited crushes on each other that went unfulfilled for EIGHT YEARS until the hero finds his wife with her tennis coach. This is the all-clear for the couple to get together until dun dun DUN.
The hero has a good reason for leaving the heroine, but huge points off for not communicating it. It also sets her up to get slutshamed by ...more

Backstory:
The married H and h had unrequited crushes on each other that went unfulfilled for EIGHT YEARS until the hero finds his wife with her tennis coach. This is the all-clear for the couple to get together until dun dun DUN.
The hero has a good reason for leaving the heroine, but huge points off for not communicating it. It also sets her up to get slutshamed by ...more

Original review: The Daydreaming Bookworm
*I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
Pipe Dreams is the third (and hopefully not the last!) installment in the Brooklyn Bruisers series and once again Sarina Bowen has proven that she can do no wrong. To be completely honest, I was not very excited for this book, mainly because I was really hoping that this would’ve been Nate and Becca’s story. But dammit to hell, Sarina Bowen somehow managed to g ...more
*I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review.*
Pipe Dreams is the third (and hopefully not the last!) installment in the Brooklyn Bruisers series and once again Sarina Bowen has proven that she can do no wrong. To be completely honest, I was not very excited for this book, mainly because I was really hoping that this would’ve been Nate and Becca’s story. But dammit to hell, Sarina Bowen somehow managed to g ...more

Whoooop! Pipe Dreams was absolutely perfect! I enjoyed every minute of this book. It's my favorite in the Brooklyn Bruisers series. I remember I was a little scared with Lauren's character who was so uptight in the previous book but that is all a facade. She's just a woman with a broken heart and two years of building wall around herself to prevent from any pain to happen again.
Mike Beacon is a the Brooklyn Bruisers' goalie and I have to admit I don't really remember him but he was such a fine ...more
Mike Beacon is a the Brooklyn Bruisers' goalie and I have to admit I don't really remember him but he was such a fine ...more

A fabulous second-chance romance and great addition the the Brooklyn Bruisers series. So far my favorite book in the series. Each book just keeps getting better and better.
Mike and Lauren started having feelings for one another years ago while Lauren was the office manager for the Brooklyn Bruisers hockey team and Mike was the goalie. Neither one of them acted upon these feeling or even knew that the other person felt the same way. Mike was married and a stand up guy and would never stray even ...more
Mike and Lauren started having feelings for one another years ago while Lauren was the office manager for the Brooklyn Bruisers hockey team and Mike was the goalie. Neither one of them acted upon these feeling or even knew that the other person felt the same way. Mike was married and a stand up guy and would never stray even ...more
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Sarina Bowen is the twenty-time USA Today bestselling author of three dozen books, including: the True North series, and Brooklyn Hockey. She's the co-author of Him/Us and the WAGs series with Elle Kennedy. She's the author of The Ivy Years series, and more!
Are you looking for a friends-to-lovers story or maybe even a secret baby book? You can read a list of Sarina's books broken out by trope ...more
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“I miss the hell out of you, that's all. I miss you so much it hurts.”
—
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“This feels right. We feel right. Whether it’s two years that passed or twenty-two, if I hold you in my arms it will always feel exactly right.”
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