Cannonball Read 17

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

Now they can go and be awful together

Him by Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy

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Jamie Canning always wondered why his best friend from elite summer hockey camp ghosted him. He has an idea though, and it’s the semi-drunken hookup they had during their last week of camp. Still, to Jamie, one bad decision shouldn’t break up a seven-year friendship. Years later at the Frozen Four (cringe) college national championship, Jamie and Wes manage to chat a bit. It is still awkward, but they both push through it with the hopes that they can at least be friendly acquaintances. So, […]

It’s not about the dog

Good Boy by Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy

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Good Boy (2017) by Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy is an example of a book where the title and cover have very little, if anything, to do with the actual story. There is mention of a dog and one puppy, but it is definitely not the center of the story. I’m a fan of Sarina Bowen, and I’ve mostly enjoyed her romance novels involving professional hockey players. Even though there were a couple plot points that had me shaking my head, this was another fun, entertaining, […]

Just a Couple of Guys Being Bros

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3.5 stars out of 5! Round 3 of my adventures in hockey romance this year, and Him has definitely been the best one so far! Am I going to read the sequel for it, titled Us? Mmm, I’m not so sure yet. But potentially. Him is a m/m romance between two long-time hockey bros, Jamie and Wes, who became fast friends over the years, spending their summers at hockey camp together, until after an awkward interaction things suddenly went cold between them. A few years later back at camp […]

A hockey love story

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When I read The Understatement of the Year by Sarina Bowen, I liked it, but I was frustrated. The repetitive drama of desperate sex followed by denial and rejection just didn’t feel very romantic to me. A fellow Cannonballer (I’m afraid I forgot who) recommended that I try Him (2015) by Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy. It’s similar to The Understatement of the Year in that the romantic leads are both males and both hockey players. It was a good recommendation because I did find it both sweeter, hotter, and more […]

No, It’s Okay, He’s Really a Good Guy

Stay by Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy

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I swear that Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy are writing romances inspired by the hashtag notallmen, though I’m not sure even that’s correct since the men in this series, and a lot of Bowen’s solo work, often behave in a way that is unacceptable, but is supposedly meant to be forgivable because they are good guys. As my romance twin, Beth-Ellen, said, it’s as though they are defending men and, she added, who is the audience they are doing that for? Stay was a mostly […]

Good God What is This Piece of Sh*t?!

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It appears that 2017 is the year that I feel contrary to everyone and everything. For the most part I have enjoyed Ms. Bowen’s books. She’s written some real keepers. She has also written some garbage (side-eyeing you The Fifteenth Minute). I’ve only read one of Ms. Kennedy’s, and it was okay but not memorable. Together they have written Him, Us, and now Good Boy. Him was excellent, Us was okay, and I’m about to release some ire on Good Boy. Good Boy is the […]



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