Book Review: Thrown for a Loop by Sarina Bowen

I had such a great time reading this. It was light, fun, and totally entertaining. Zoe and Chase had the best chemistry, and I loved them reconnecting. Thrown for a Loop is now available!

Thrown for a Loop (New York Legends #1) by Sarina Bowen

The bad boy of hockey has a few skeletons in his closet. And also a pair of old figure skates…

Zoe Carson, former figure skating queen, needs a fresh start as a hockey skating coach. An NHL gig with the New York Legends is her big chance. Unfortunately, that means facing off against the star player who broke her heart ten years ago.

Chase Merritt knows his game is off, and he’s on the verge of losing sponsors. But he doesn’t need the ice princess from that intense college summer showing up and telling him what he’s doing wrong—even when she’s right.

On the ice, they’re magic. Off the ice, they’re nothing but heat and stubbornness, and everyone on the team is enjoying the show. But when an old video of Zoe and Chase’s figure skating routine goes viral, they’re forced to work together more intimately than ever before. Can the two get it right this time or will the whole world watch them crash and burn?

4 out of 5 stars

Thrown for a Loop was an entertaining story. It was cute and light, moved at a great pace, and had me smiling. I thought Zoe and Chase were wonderful characters. I loved learning about their past and watching them work through that complicated history in the present and fall in love. It was filled with humor, bits of emotion, and a nice amount of spice, there was even a little mystery added. I had a fantastic time reading this!

I loved learning about Zoe and Chase in their youth and the present-day tension and bits of conflict between them. I liked the present and past storytelling and was excited for the two to intersect. I felt for both of them and the things they endured, but I loved who they became. I enjoyed them letting their guards down, opening up, forgiving, and trusting each other again. There were a lot of fun scenes as well as friction and angst, but overall, I thought this was pure goodness. There is a definite slow burn happening, and I loved the chemistry between them as it developed.

I adored the added mystery element, which was unexpected and kept me on my toes. I really liked the guys on Chase's team. Some were hilarious, others surly, but they were a well-rounded group that added to the entertainment value, and I’m looking forward to more stories with them. I enjoyed Zoe’s friendship with her coworker, Darcy, and how they bonded. She was a delight! I even liked her boisterous and grumpy boss, he was somehow endearing. Zoe’s had a personal conflict she was dealing with in addition to her relationship with Chase, and I was happy with how that played out, it was a long time coming.

This is one of those stories that was just a good time to read. It wasn't overly in-depth, but it gave me just what I needed to keep the story moving along and keep me invested. This was a wonderful start to a new series, and excited for more!

Complimentary copy received.