What do you think?
Rate this book
Crashing the Net
Breaking barriers on the ice is just the start for a woman who craves so much more.
Ranger Deacon can’t believe the team’s bad luck. First, their season falls into a steep slump, then their number one goalie goes down with a knee injury. Morale is in the dumps and the coach springs one outrageous development on them—a woman would be joining the team to finish out the remainder of the games. He’s skeptical until he sees her play and loses a piece of his jaded heart in the process.
Piper Darrow is a hockey prodigy, a goalie at the top of her game in the women’s professional league. She just finished a stellar year when the opportunity of a lifetime presents itself—becoming the first woman to play in the men’s professional league. Plenty of obstacles stand in Piper’s way, including acceptance from the fans, the players and even her own teammates. That, along with some hard hits from opponents, she can handle. It’s the fierce desire she feels for Ranger that throws her for a loop.
Playing in a man-dominated sport is difficult enough without the additional challenge of falling for the captain of the team. Piper knows the score, is determined to get the job done, but can't help but wonder if there's more to Ranger than excellence on the ice.
Reader Advisory: This book contains references to domestic abuse, child abuse and some hockey-related violence.
General Release Date: 27th December 2016
Ranger Deacon can’t believe the team’s bad luck. First, their season falls into a steep slump, then their number one goalie goes down with a knee injury. Morale is in the dumps and the coach springs one outrageous development on them—a woman would be joining the team to finish out the remainder of the games. He’s skeptical until he sees her play and loses a piece of his jaded heart in the process.
Piper Darrow is a hockey prodigy, a goalie at the top of her game in the women’s professional league. She just finished a stellar year when the opportunity of a lifetime presents itself—becoming the first woman to play in the men’s professional league. Plenty of obstacles stand in Piper’s way, including acceptance from the fans, the players and even her own teammates. That, along with some hard hits from opponents, she can handle. It’s the fierce desire she feels for Ranger that throws her for a loop.
Playing in a man-dominated sport is difficult enough without the additional challenge of falling for the captain of the team. Piper knows the score, is determined to get the job done, but can't help but wonder if there's more to Ranger than excellence on the ice.
Reader Advisory: This book contains references to domestic abuse, child abuse and some hockey-related violence.
General Release Date: 27th December 2016
261 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 22, 2016
6 people are currently reading
26 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
December 14, 2016
I was given a copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.
The story of the NHL’s first female player fighting to prove herself in one of the world’s most brutal professional sports is an exciting read. Piper is both fierce and funny and I loved her strength and resilience.
I loved the sports action in this book. I was fully invested in Piper’s struggles on an underdog team. Even though I can still remember Manon Rheume as the first female NHL player in 1992, I believed in Piper’s struggle to be accepted by her teammates and respected by her opponents. Piper has to be tougher than any male goalie and she has to take more abuse from hockey fans, management and opposing teammates. She has the cleanest mouth of any hockey player I’ve ever met - male or female - but I loved her grit.
I do have some reservations about the romance in this book which stops me from awarding a full five stars. Piper (the fierce professional hockey player) is a virgin. Really. Seriously. And after all sorts of infantilizing, possessive, chauvinistic posturing, Ranger takes her virginity and makes Piper his. Urgh. This is why I have pretty much stopped reading m/f romance. Even when the female character is a worthy heroine, we still get the virginity nonsense.
Beyond the sex, I did like Ranger and Piper’s relationship. It starts with respect, then friendship before they become intimate. Ranger probably would’ve/ should’ve been benched for playing protective boyfriend during professional hockey games but for the most part, he does respect Piper’s skill and strength. I enjoyed Piper’s family and I loved their teammates.
Aside from the whole virgin subplot, I enjoyed this. I loved the hockey action and I enjoyed much of the romance.
The story of the NHL’s first female player fighting to prove herself in one of the world’s most brutal professional sports is an exciting read. Piper is both fierce and funny and I loved her strength and resilience.
I loved the sports action in this book. I was fully invested in Piper’s struggles on an underdog team. Even though I can still remember Manon Rheume as the first female NHL player in 1992, I believed in Piper’s struggle to be accepted by her teammates and respected by her opponents. Piper has to be tougher than any male goalie and she has to take more abuse from hockey fans, management and opposing teammates. She has the cleanest mouth of any hockey player I’ve ever met - male or female - but I loved her grit.
I do have some reservations about the romance in this book which stops me from awarding a full five stars. Piper (the fierce professional hockey player) is a virgin. Really. Seriously. And after all sorts of infantilizing, possessive, chauvinistic posturing, Ranger takes her virginity and makes Piper his. Urgh. This is why I have pretty much stopped reading m/f romance. Even when the female character is a worthy heroine, we still get the virginity nonsense.
Beyond the sex, I did like Ranger and Piper’s relationship. It starts with respect, then friendship before they become intimate. Ranger probably would’ve/ should’ve been benched for playing protective boyfriend during professional hockey games but for the most part, he does respect Piper’s skill and strength. I enjoyed Piper’s family and I loved their teammates.
Aside from the whole virgin subplot, I enjoyed this. I loved the hockey action and I enjoyed much of the romance.
December 19, 2016
I really enjoyed this unique sports read.
Piper Darrow has been playing hockey most of her life and when she’s offered the chance to become the first female NHL player she jumps on the chance. Piper knows going in it’s going to be tough to prove herself in the male dominated world of the NHL but she lets her talent speak for itself. Piper sets out to not only be accepted by her own team but by the other teams and fans as well. Ranger Deacon is the captain of his NHL team that’s having a bout of bad luck and he thinks it’s continuing when they wind up with a new female goalie… until he sees her play.
Ranger and Piper’s story is sweet but I found the whole Piper being a virgin thing a bit of a reach. Other than that though it’s a great read, definitely fast paced and the characters are all interesting, I hope the author does more from the other players. I loved Piper’s fierceness, loyalty, and all around great attitude – that’s rare to see in a sports read like this and I found it refreshing. I look forward to reading more from this author!
I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.
Piper Darrow has been playing hockey most of her life and when she’s offered the chance to become the first female NHL player she jumps on the chance. Piper knows going in it’s going to be tough to prove herself in the male dominated world of the NHL but she lets her talent speak for itself. Piper sets out to not only be accepted by her own team but by the other teams and fans as well. Ranger Deacon is the captain of his NHL team that’s having a bout of bad luck and he thinks it’s continuing when they wind up with a new female goalie… until he sees her play.
Ranger and Piper’s story is sweet but I found the whole Piper being a virgin thing a bit of a reach. Other than that though it’s a great read, definitely fast paced and the characters are all interesting, I hope the author does more from the other players. I loved Piper’s fierceness, loyalty, and all around great attitude – that’s rare to see in a sports read like this and I found it refreshing. I look forward to reading more from this author!
I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.
February 19, 2023
I read this through Radish about a year and a half ago and am just now uploading all my reads from there onto Goodreads. I remember this being such a good read I devoured the entire book in one sitting. It was such an incredible story and I’m definitely going to re-add it to my tbr to read again.
November 2, 2022
Remarkably, my once unfavorable impression of Cheyenne Meadows is irrevocably changed. The way she creates the characters, and how she puts you in their spot, is the work of, a not just a good author, but of an artist.
I think the best thing about her writing is how emotional she is. She doesn’t just give one emotion for a character, she puts multiple layers in, hinting at their past, foreshadowing their future, and drawing the reader in like a sugar cube to a horse. All at once, the reader is immersed in a world of pain, love, and determination. One is not just a reader but an experiencer, and while the more intense emotions are hard to replicate in the reader, the idea is not lost.
Piper is a wonderfully complex character, as all women are. Although stereotypes for puck bunnies are heavily used in this book, she is the exception and opposite. She is kind, caring, and compassionate. As shown when she helps her teammates when they want nothing to do with her. She understands their reluctance to include her, but she has no hesitation in helping them when they need it. No hesitation in being herself around strangers. No hesitation in helping those who have been nothing but rude to her.
Ranger Deacon is hopeless, both in his love life and in hockey. His team is losing, his goalie’s out for the season, and his love life is non-existent. Yet as Meadows builds his character, one can see he has a unique past. A past holding him back from his future. He is reluctant, but she is just so kind. He is protective, now he has someone he can protect. He has charm, now someone choses to see him, not it.
Though the other characters are minor, they are no less convoluted. The details of those characters, from every moment, every word, not only bring to light their characters, but also helps build the MCs character. How they interact, how they smile, even the tags after dialogue help build the story. This book isn’t built on just setting and plot points, but the people in it, the individuals who are almost as important to the story as Meadows is.
I think my favorite thing about this book is the fact that it’s not the stereotypical romance story. Most romance stories have a helpless girl hoping for someone to come along and pick them up. And while those storylines can be entertaining, books like this one, with a strong independent female lead, are rare wonders that one is privileged to read.
This is a book that shows the complexities of mixing the present with the past, the pain with the love. Can one person love someone that is broken? Can a women thrive in a man’s land? Can someone learn to love themself? There are never ending problems, never ending questions, but they are learning that it’s ok. It’s ok not to have the answers, to not know the future. To figure it out along the way, with each other.
Ultimately, I praise Cheyenne Meadows high and low for creating such a story and highly recommend this book. I cannot wait to see what else she has in store!
I think the best thing about her writing is how emotional she is. She doesn’t just give one emotion for a character, she puts multiple layers in, hinting at their past, foreshadowing their future, and drawing the reader in like a sugar cube to a horse. All at once, the reader is immersed in a world of pain, love, and determination. One is not just a reader but an experiencer, and while the more intense emotions are hard to replicate in the reader, the idea is not lost.
Piper is a wonderfully complex character, as all women are. Although stereotypes for puck bunnies are heavily used in this book, she is the exception and opposite. She is kind, caring, and compassionate. As shown when she helps her teammates when they want nothing to do with her. She understands their reluctance to include her, but she has no hesitation in helping them when they need it. No hesitation in being herself around strangers. No hesitation in helping those who have been nothing but rude to her.
Ranger Deacon is hopeless, both in his love life and in hockey. His team is losing, his goalie’s out for the season, and his love life is non-existent. Yet as Meadows builds his character, one can see he has a unique past. A past holding him back from his future. He is reluctant, but she is just so kind. He is protective, now he has someone he can protect. He has charm, now someone choses to see him, not it.
Though the other characters are minor, they are no less convoluted. The details of those characters, from every moment, every word, not only bring to light their characters, but also helps build the MCs character. How they interact, how they smile, even the tags after dialogue help build the story. This book isn’t built on just setting and plot points, but the people in it, the individuals who are almost as important to the story as Meadows is.
I think my favorite thing about this book is the fact that it’s not the stereotypical romance story. Most romance stories have a helpless girl hoping for someone to come along and pick them up. And while those storylines can be entertaining, books like this one, with a strong independent female lead, are rare wonders that one is privileged to read.
This is a book that shows the complexities of mixing the present with the past, the pain with the love. Can one person love someone that is broken? Can a women thrive in a man’s land? Can someone learn to love themself? There are never ending problems, never ending questions, but they are learning that it’s ok. It’s ok not to have the answers, to not know the future. To figure it out along the way, with each other.
Ultimately, I praise Cheyenne Meadows high and low for creating such a story and highly recommend this book. I cannot wait to see what else she has in store!
August 31, 2019
Reviewed by Aubrey
Book provided by the publisher
I love Piper. She is what I would want my girls to be like. Strong, determined, focused and spunky. She holds herself in a male dominated field. Injecting a feminine touch to the team that wasn't there before. I really love the feminist slant of the story.
Piper is the new goalie for the Wildcats but she needs to prove herself. Most of the other players on the team don't quite trust her but Ranger is enchanted by her. He can't get enough of her. But will he risk his reputation to go out with her?
Ranger feels very protective over Piper even though she doesn't need it. I really like how alpha he is. Their relationship is rather organic. You may have seen it happening while reading the book but Meadows has a way of making it sweet and endearing.
Ranger and Piper share a love for hockey. It was interesting to see how they found other things they enjoyed besides hockey. The respect they had for each other makes their relationship stronger. Their relationship wasn't the typical sports relationship since they both are playing for the same team. They had boundaries they needed to sort out and deal with.
The book reminded me a lot of Toni Aleo's books which I adore. I really hope the author decides to make this book into a series.
Book provided by the publisher
I love Piper. She is what I would want my girls to be like. Strong, determined, focused and spunky. She holds herself in a male dominated field. Injecting a feminine touch to the team that wasn't there before. I really love the feminist slant of the story.
Piper is the new goalie for the Wildcats but she needs to prove herself. Most of the other players on the team don't quite trust her but Ranger is enchanted by her. He can't get enough of her. But will he risk his reputation to go out with her?
Ranger feels very protective over Piper even though she doesn't need it. I really like how alpha he is. Their relationship is rather organic. You may have seen it happening while reading the book but Meadows has a way of making it sweet and endearing.
Ranger and Piper share a love for hockey. It was interesting to see how they found other things they enjoyed besides hockey. The respect they had for each other makes their relationship stronger. Their relationship wasn't the typical sports relationship since they both are playing for the same team. They had boundaries they needed to sort out and deal with.
The book reminded me a lot of Toni Aleo's books which I adore. I really hope the author decides to make this book into a series.
July 16, 2021
I do love a sports romance but I just didn't feel any connection between the MC's. No spark or pull and the sex felt cold to me. Would still try this author again as may have just been this particular setting/ story/ characters that didn't work for me.
January 2, 2022
Read on Readict. Loved this story of Piper and Ranger. To be on two teams is nothing to sneeze at! Look forward to reading more by this author.
January 25, 2022
OUCH! and WOW. Our lady is hard core!
May 10, 2022
I don’t like to give spoilers on the books that I read. I believe the blurb on the back is enough for you to decide if you will read the book or not. If you choose to read, enjoy
February 15, 2023
I have read this Book on Readict. And it is my absolute favorite book of all time.
October 14, 2024
I love this story!!! Piper and Ranger are soo cute... I just wish there was more or a second book even... I want more hahah
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews