{"id":2955,"date":"2014-06-03T13:51:13","date_gmt":"2014-06-03T21:51:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/alicrean.com\/?p=2955"},"modified":"2014-06-03T13:51:13","modified_gmt":"2014-06-03T21:51:13","slug":"sin-bin-on-the-surface-by-kate-willoughby","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/index.php\/2014\/06\/03\/sin-bin-on-the-surface-by-kate-willoughby\/","title":{"rendered":"Sin Bin – On The Surface by Kate Willoughby"},"content":{"rendered":"

(Note from Ali: Melanie Ting has sweetly sent me a few “guest reviews” in the subject of her own books, HOCKEY! In view of her benevolence and predilictions… I have named her reviews “SIN BIN”–to those of you lost\u00a0to the world of hockey it’s where you go when you’ve been naughty and are on time-out. This is a play on words… Mel’s not in trouble, she’s actually superstar! Thanks, Mel for being a peach. Baskets of kittens and buckets of kisses. <3)<\/em><\/p>\n

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Sin<\/p>\n

Okay, it\u2019s the return of the Substitute Reviewer. (It\u2019s me, Melanie Ting, have you already forgotten the good times we shared? Damn it, I thought we really connected. No wonder you never called.) While Ali lies on the sofa, surrounded by nurse cats, I am reviewing books for her. However, I am a writer, not a reviewer. In fact, I don\u2019t know how reviewers do their job. If I enjoy a book, I get so involved in the story I forget everything else. Afterwards, all I can say is: \u201cI loved it!\u201d And I loved Kate Willoughby\u2019s On The Surface.<\/i><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

On The Surface<\/i> from Carina Press is her first hockey romance, and it\u2019s a playoff winner. Here\u2019s the blurb:<\/p>\n

NHL player Tim Hollander lost his temper one time and threw a water bottle at an abusive fan. After “Bottlegate,” he’s traded to the San Diego Barracudas, where he’ll need to keep the bad publicity to a minimum while proving he can still compete with the younger guys on the ice.<\/p>\n

Erin Collier is a pediatric nurse who’s never seen a hockey game, but gets in line for Tim’s autograph at a PR event in hopes of impressing the doctor she has a crush on. When an obnoxious fan gets pushy toward Erin, Tim rushes to defend the pretty stranger, throwing a punch in the process.<\/p>\n

Grateful for the rescue, Erin agrees to stand by Tim during the resulting press conference and host him at a hospital charity event. Their chemistry is palpable, and soon their lives are intertwined. But Erin doubts a hockey player is capable of anything resembling a real relationship. And if Tim can’t get her to see beyond what’s on the surface, they’ll never last longer than a single season\u2026<\/p>\n

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<\/strong><\/p>\n

Well, you already know I loved this book, so I\u2019ll tell you why so you can decide whether we have similar tastes. Do you like cats? Well then, we do have similar tastes!<\/p>\n

But seriously, I like a little realism in my romances. Who can read when your eyes keep rolling to the back of your head? Erin and Tim\u2019s romance is a fun ride, but On\u00a0<\/i>the Surface<\/i> keeps it real. There is instant attraction, but not insta-love. You can actually see why they like each other and how their relationship develops. Best of all, they actually discuss their problems rather than storming off in a cloud of drama. And although it may matter only to me, the hockey part is very accurate.<\/p>\n

Most importantly, it\u2019s funny. I\u2019ve never met Kate in person, but I suspect she\u2019s a giggler. Because her book certainly made me giggle. The first chapter alone is hilarious as three hockey players discuss how choosing their jersey number is connected to important sexual events in their lives. She portrays those all-guy locker room discussions in a way I imagine is very accurate. (But I am willing to hang out in locker rooms to make sure she\u2019s correct, especially ones with attractive hockey players.)<\/p>\n

Kate\u2019s writing style is witty and sassy. I hate romances that take themselves so seriously that they get bogged down in the drama. On The Surface<\/i> is as bright and sunshiny as a California beach. Oh, but hot too. As hot as lying under a duvet on a summer night with two cats on top of you. Because that has happened to me, and it\u2019s hot. Kate\u2019s hero, Tim, is the right combination of tender, protective, and tough. He\u2019s been through enough trouble in his life to make him sweetly vulnerable despite his athletic fame. I think Ali would definitely choose him for a book boyfriend.<\/p>\n

So, if you\u2019d enjoy a sports romance that leaves you smiling. I recommend On The Surface.<\/i> It\u2019s under $4.00!\u00a0Bargoon!<\/p>\n

Kate\u2019s book just came out a month ago and is getting raves from reviewers far more experienced than me. She\u2019s writing a series about the San Diego Barracudas, so if you get hooked, your next fix will be up in August.<\/p>\n

Stay tuned for my next installment, when I\u2019ll talk to an indie author of hockey romances. Meantime, if you\u2019re promising to call again, here\u2019s my number. No, wait\u2014why are you leaving without the cocktail napkin with my digits?<\/p>\n

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Add<\/a><\/p>\n

Purchase On The Surface:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Amazon<\/a> | B&N<\/a> | iTunes<\/a> | Kobo<\/a> | Google Play<\/a>\u00a0|\u00a0Carina Press<\/a><\/p>\n

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<\/strong><\/p>\n

Kate Willoughby Web Tracks:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Website<\/a> | Blog<\/a> |\u00a0Twitter<\/a> | Goodreads<\/a> |\u00a0Pinterest<\/a> | Instagram<\/a><\/p>\n

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<\/strong><\/p>\n

Kate Willoughby on All The Things Inbetween:<\/strong><\/p>\n

He Said, She Said – Gabfest and Gossip: Kate Willoughby<\/a><\/p>\n

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<\/strong>
\nMeet Your Reviewer: Melanie Ting<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Fresh<\/p>\n

“I\u2019m Mel, and I don\u2019t want you to read my book. Hmmm, maybe I should rephrase that a little: I don\u2019t want you to read my book unless you are sure it\u2019s exactly the kind of book you would like.”<\/em><\/p>\n

Errrm… Yes well, that is the introduction Mel originally sent me and why I became her fairy godmother; her PR sucks. Mel doesn’t know that while being sick all I do is click through books like they are channels on book\u00a0TV and I’ve started Fresh Air. It’s really pretty damn great. She’s a great storyteller and from the reviews and interviews she’s contributed to All The Things Inbetween she’s once more underestimating her own talents.<\/p>\n

Hailing from the Great White North, where people are nice, say ‘aboot’ and ‘eh’, have the fabulous luxury of Timmy Ho’s–Mel receives\u00a0free healthcare and returns the favors afforded to her by writing about the national sport of Canada: Hockey. She blends humor and sports with a good amount of practical romance to give her readers the romance you might have with an athlete rather than that\u00a0you would see in Hollywood (Toe Pick! Will anyone get that reference?).<\/p>\n

Mel, this is how you sell yourself.<\/p>\n

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<\/strong><\/p>\n

Melanie Ting’s Web Tracks:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Website<\/a> | Twitter<\/a> |\u00a0Goodreads<\/a> | Amazon Author Page<\/a><\/p>\n

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<\/strong>
\nIf you are interested in becoming a book reviewer or helping me with All The Things Inbetween contact me at Ali is Amazekittens<\/a> and I will have my cats\u00a0talk to your\u00a0people. There are wicked, wondrous benefits to such arrangements as the ones we would have. I am awesome at not replying to mail timely, not getting to my to-do-list, and forgetting to eat. I pay in pics of kittens.<\/p>\n

All The Things Ali Web Tracks:<\/strong> Google+<\/a> | Twitter<\/a> | Pinterest<\/a> | Instagram<\/a> | Shelfari<\/a> | Goodreads<\/a> | Last.fm<\/a> | Stumbleupon<\/a> | LinkedIn<\/a> | Camp NaNoWriMo 2014<\/a> …And I am always looking for new friends on Bingo Blitz, everyone but kittens need apply.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

(Note from Ali: Melanie Ting has sweetly sent me a few “guest reviews” in the subject of her own books, HOCKEY! In view of her benevolence and predilictions… I have named her reviews “SIN BIN”–to those of you lost\u00a0to the world of hockey it’s where you go when you’ve been naughty and are on time-out. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"spay_email":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false},"categories":[1],"tags":[727,986,1215,1628,1695],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":2964,"url":"https:\/\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/index.php\/2014\/06\/01\/he-said-she-said-gabfest-and-gossip-kate-willoughby\/","url_meta":{"origin":2955,"position":0},"title":"He Said, She Said - Gabfest and Gossip: Kate Willoughby","date":"2014-06-01","format":false,"excerpt":"\u00a0 Welcome to this edition of the Substitute Book Reviewer. While Ali is recovering her equilibrium, I\u2019m driving this bus for a few\u00a0posts. Allow me to introduce myself, I\u2019m Melanie Ting. And I\u2019m a writer, not a reviewer. Therefore my reviews will lack the professional polish of Ali\u2019s work, but\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Interviews"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/Banner.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":3098,"url":"https:\/\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/index.php\/2014\/06\/09\/sin-bin-play-the-man-by-jaymee-jacobs\/","url_meta":{"origin":2955,"position":1},"title":"Sin Bin - Play The Man by Jaymee Jacobs","date":"2014-06-09","format":false,"excerpt":"It\u2019s Day Three of the Substitute Book Reviewer, aka Melanie Ting, lover of all things hockey. Time for my indie author choice. Jaymee Jacobs has been a favourite writer of mine since the days we were both in an online writing group and giving it away for free. But we\u2019ve\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Book Reviews"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/Jaymee-Jacobs-pink-and-black.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":3103,"url":"https:\/\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/index.php\/2014\/06\/10\/he-said-she-said-gabfest-and-gossip-jaymee-jacobs\/","url_meta":{"origin":2955,"position":2},"title":"He Said, She Said - Gabfest and Gossip: Jaymee Jacobs","date":"2014-06-10","format":false,"excerpt":"Okay, this is the last post of the Substitute Reviewer aka Melanie Ting. I feel that my hijacking of Ali\u2019s blog may be causing her get better faster. She\u2019s gasping, \u201cMust get out of bed before that crazy author alienates all my readers.\u201d And then dragging herself to the laptop\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Interviews"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/Sidney-Crosby.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":7283,"url":"https:\/\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/index.php\/2019\/09\/13\/book-review-wonderland-academy-year-one-by-melanie-karsak\/","url_meta":{"origin":2955,"position":3},"title":"Book Review: Wonderland Academy: Year One by Melanie Karsak","date":"2019-09-13","format":false,"excerpt":"Title: Wonderland Academy: Year One Author: Melanie Karsak Genre: New Adult & College Fantasy My rating: 5 of 5 stars Just putting this out there--I am a huge Alice and Wonderland freak. I lurve Alice and everything Wonderland. I have copies of the books in other languages. I collect figurines.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Book Reviews"","img":{"alt_text":"Wonderland Academy by Melanie Karsak","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Wonderland-Academy-Banner.png?fit=851%2C315&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":2142,"url":"https:\/\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/index.php\/2014\/02\/28\/feeling-peckish-sudden-heat-by-denise-a-agnew\/","url_meta":{"origin":2955,"position":4},"title":"Feeling Peckish - Sudden Heat by Denise A. Agnew","date":"2014-02-28","format":false,"excerpt":"I've been reading a whole lot of Ellora's Cave books lately since I invited EC authors to do Making Love 101 with me. Denise A. Agnew was one of the authors who offered me a review copy of her book. She also stepped up to do an interview about her\u2026","rel":"","context":"In \"Denise A. Agnew\"","img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i2.wp.com\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/02\/suddenheat_msr.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":2148,"url":"https:\/\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/index.php\/2014\/02\/28\/he-said-she-said-making-love-101-denise-a-agnew\/","url_meta":{"origin":2955,"position":5},"title":"He Said, She Said - Making Love 101: Denise A. Agnew","date":"2014-02-28","format":false,"excerpt":"This is a woman after my own heart! I read that she is a coffee slurper which can only mean that she must be a sister of my soul or at the very least connected to me cosmically through taste buds. Denise A. Agnew has written more books than there\u2026","rel":"","context":"In \"Denise A. Agnew\"","img":{"alt_text":"Making Love 101","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/Making-101-image-4.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2955"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2955"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2955\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2955"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2955"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/havecoffeeneedbooks.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2955"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}