Kate Willoughby

Kate Willoughby is victorious with CLEAN SWEEP the first book in the San Francisco Dragons series. I adored this story. It was refreshing and original. Hockey defenseman, Cameron Bowes, is selected by his team to be on a television show that showcases his home. The problem is, his place is a complete mess. Enter, Dakota Kelly (aka Suzette), the maid his teammate hires for him, to clean his house.

CLEAN SWEEP was fun and captivating. The characters are genuine and likeable. Cam is a great guy show more but a complete slob. To his credit, he does work hard to become a neater person with Dakota’s guidance. He is sweet and great with kids. I was impressed how he speaks to Zinny about important topics. I respect Dakota. She is a devoted guardian to her niece, Zinny. Dakota put her life aside to raise Zinny and would do anything for her. Cam and Dakota complement each other.

Kate Willoughby did a fantastic job writing this story. There were unexpected twists and a solid plot. The characters were well-developed and grew throughout the story. They faced meaningful challenges and obstacles. I love the dogs. They added a lot to the story. This is a book that is hard to put down. It had a cute ending, that made the book feel complete. I cannot wait for the next book in the series. I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book. show less

Kate Willoughby’s FALLING FOR FLYNN is an excellent start to the Hockey on Tap series and a clever spin-off of the In the Zone series. Former college hockey player and current girls’ hockey coach, Tracy Duval, signs up for the Barracuda Fantasy Hockey Camp to prove that women can play hockey and make a statement against their sexist ads. She captures the attention of retired NHL player, Flynn Hammerstrom. However, after dealing with his ex-wife’s continual crusades, Flynn is not sure show more if he can deal with the attention Tracy stirs up. This contemporary sports romance takes place in San Diego. It is suitable for adult audiences.

Being in my forties, I appreciated a hockey romance with characters close to my age. I enjoyed both Tracy and Flynn. The two have great personalities and chemistry. I like that Tracy tastefully proves her point. She is a classy individual and good role model for the girls. It is understandable why Flynn was leery with the situation. His ex-wife was a bit extreme. Flynn is a good guy who deserves a second chance at happiness.

I love that Flynn and his former Barracudas line mates Cole Ripley and Slater Jones began a brew pub together. This is an interesting premise to this series. I liked the insights into the business. FALLING FOR FLYNN is a heartfelt and enjoyable read. The story was well-written and believable. I look forward to future stories in this series.

I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book. show less

Kate Willoughby scores with On the Brink, an In the Zone prequel. First round NHL draft pick and Holtzer University junior Hart Griffin is determined to make his dream of playing professional hockey come true. After an unexpected night with fan Jeremy Fenton, he begins to question his sexuality. This contemporary sports romance is appropriate for new adults. The story takes place in Michigan.

I loved Hart and Jeremy’s story! At 95-pages, I flew through the book in one sitting. I love that show more Jeremy is an art major. He is creative, courageous, and fun. Hart is a wonderful team captain who is intelligent. I enjoyed the plot. I felt bad for what Jeremy went through and love how he handles the situation. I also appreciated how Hart acted. He did a lot of soul searching in this story. I love that Hart gives Jeremy self-defense lessons. I also thought it was great that they started out the school’s diversity campaign. I thought Hart’s method of getting the team to stop their inappropriate slurs on the ice was clever.

Kate Willoughby has an excellent writing style. Her hockey scenes are descriptive and easy to visualize. Her scenarios are believable and heartfelt. Both characters are well-developed and grew throughout the story. On the Brink is an excellent addition to the In the Zone Series.

Complimentary copy provided in exchange for an honest review. show less

Actress, Christine Caspary, recruits San Diego Barracudas right winger, Joe Rutherford to meet a little girl whom she met through the Grant A Wish Foundation. The two have chemistry, but their schedules and point of their careers make a relationship challenging.

I enjoyed Joe’s character. He has lived and breathed hockey his whole life. Now nearing the end of his career, he has to decide what his life will entail after he retires. It does not help to be surrounded by people that are at the show more start of their careers. Joe is a great guy. He cares about others. I love that Joe had a crush on Christine before she contacts him.

I like that Joe mentored rookie, CJ Noonan. Having rookies live with a host family or a veteran player is a big thing in hockey. I enjoyed reading about that situation. Noony’s character transformed a lot through this story and added interest to the book. He went through some relevant growing pains that were very realistic in his situation. Having a son who plays hockey, I enjoyed some of Joe’s tips like keeping a journal about how he played in his games and things that happened so he could refresh his memory before he played that team again.

Both of my parents were born in Hungary. So I love that Christine is Hungarian. I could relate to her family’s traditions, especially the food and holidays. It made me crave my family's cooking. Kate Willoughby did a great job capturing the Hungarian culture.

I appreciated the similarities between Joe and Christine’s professions, for example; they are both very superstitious; they are away from home a lot; and they are in the eye of the public. They were things that made it easy for the couple to relate.

The plot was believable and thoroughly constructed. The hockey scenes are well described. A lot of things happen that keep the reader engaged.

This is the first book I have read by Kate Willoughby. I really enjoyed her writing style. I definitely want to back-track and read the preceding books in the In the Zone Series. I have a feeling I would have even enjoyed Under the Spotlight more having known the history of the characters from the previous books. I highly recommend this book to lovers of sports romances.

Complimentary copy provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. show less