Catherine Gayle

I really enjoyed this story about a woman trying to recover from a brutal rape that took place 7 years ago. Thankfully the author didn't ignore the counselling aspect as some writers do. The heroine had done all that and this was her last hope. She asks her brother's BFF to try to get her used to a man touching her. The hero had loved her for years from afar. He was super sweet and caring and just all in for her. She was not as interesting a character but I think the author put more effort show more into writing the hero which is fine with me as I like to read best from the hero's POV. He was pretty well developed. There was a lot more going on with him than just the romance. He had a lot to deal with on the work/hockey front too.

There were just a couple of things which held it back from being a 5 star read for me. First the heroine's odd insistence that the hero only loved her as his BFF's little sister and didn't really want to touch her, that she didn't truly turn him on. There was just no rationale reason for her to think this for very long based on the hero's words and actions. It just wasn't there. Second I know it was about hockey and I enjoy hockey but there was just too much intricate description of moving the puck around. I don't need a play by play in a romance novel. Third and this one is mostly just personal preference, I would have preferred it if the entire team had not known what was going on. It seemed first an invasion of privacy which the heroine would not have appreciated and second a missed opportunity for some conflict and angst.

On the whole I greatly enjoyed it and am planning to look up the rest of the series. show less

ARC: Rites of Passage (Tulsa Thunderbirds) by Catherine Gayle

With Ms. Gayle there is no halfway. Her stories are absorbing journeys that impart wisdom, demand attention and leave readers craving more. Kleenex is always close at hand in my case. Raw emotion is hard to contain. Rites of Passage deals with a hot button topic that still is misunderstood years after it's first appearance. HIV. Three letters that have changed many lives over the years are still the catalyst for debate. Rites of show more Passage humanized this disease and gives a voice to those unknown faces living in fear. I applaud this courageous story, it's hard not be affected by the struggle of anyone in pain whether it be emotional or physical. If I had to describe Rites of Passage in two words, I would use hauntingly beautiful. show less

The trait I love most about author Catherine Gayle is her fearlessness. She is not afraid to tackle hot button issues such as interracial relationships, rape, living with HIV and other subjects of controversy that may not go over well, but she does so with heart, humor and insight that allows for deep emotional connections to each story she writes. That being said, sometimes even an author may need a breather from all the seriousness, so I was glad to see her let her hair down and lighten up show more a bit with Cody and Dani. Dani leads with her heart and lets the rest fall into place. Cody is not your average heartthrob, he's a thinker with a ton of skill on the ice, but no clue in matters of the heart. Defensive Zone shows the versatility of an author whose heart shines through with every story. This time with a little romantic comedy, she puts her sense of humor center stage while not skimping on the wonderful heartwarming characters. show less

I'm proud to be a Catherine Gayle fan and stories like Free Agent are the reason why. There is no need to offer up a piece of your heart because these characters lay claim to all of it. From every hardship that Beatriz has had to overcome, to the private inner doubt that Blake secretly endures. These characters get under your skin in the worst possible way, but it feels good despite the heartache known to be headed their way. What appealed most to me however is the message. We all matter on show more this great big ball of dirt we call home. Feelings matter, people matter and life matters, no matter how big or small. That's something we all need to hear and remember in this day and age. Ms. Gayle is one of a handful of authors that I don't mind losing sleep for. Masterfully written. show less