Game Changer (Bomb Squad #3) by Melissa Cutler

Welcome to Destiny Falls, New York, home of Bomb Squad—an ice hockey team full of rugged military heroes. A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity has the team captain packing his bags for greener pastures, but saying good-bye to the woman who’d captured his heart is easier said than done…

After being wounded in combat, Brandon Theroux lives every day like it’s his last. He never could have imagined that the sleek mechanics of his prosthetic leg would open so many doors, including minor celebrity status as a fitness model and a well-earned reputation as a rakish playboy. The only door it hasn’t opened is the one to Harper Johnson’s bedroom.

Harper has too much self-respect to join the ranks of Brandon’s “carpe diem” conquests, but when she needs someone to keep the peace in the tavern she owns, Brandon offers his help—as long as she agrees to a very tempting trade. It isn’t long before the two realize that a deal struck between friends who can’t keep their hands off each other has the potential to be a whole lot hotter than either of them is prepared to handle…

Type: Contemporary Romance
Heat: 3 out of 5--though very limited
Rating: 4 out of 5

Amazon | All Romance | Goodreads

Game Changer. So, so, much more than I expected. And I was expecting an awesome sexy read to begin with so that's saying something. I really loved everything about this one as Brandon and Harper screw things up, patch them back together and figure out what the hell is really important in life.

So. Why this one rocked so much awesome...

• I love the set up of this series. *noms* Military men who have overcome tremendous odds and injuries from war--they're all amputees of some sort or suffer PTSD--and formed a hockey team. So Military men. And a sports fix. And they're all sexy to boot. This one was a little light on the sports aspect since he was out of town for a large portion but there are some nice scenes.

• The Heroine--Harper was amazing. For starters she's 39 when the books starts and I freaking LOVE when a heroine is over 35. She's fierce and a fighter and even though life decides to beat the hell out of her she comes back and kicks it's ass.

• The Hero--*noms* Well, once he gets past the man-whore stage. lol Brandon is a survivor. He lost his leg during deployment and has since modeled and worked towards helping others who have lost limbs. He was a bit too slutty at the start for my taste but oh he rallied and really turned out pretty amazing and was a great friend. Very lickable too. 

• Harper and Brandon go at it like you wouldn't believe. They get under each other's skin in the worst way. Then manage to become best friends and the most important person in the other's life without quite realizing it. I loved seeing their change and how important they were to each other. It was sweet and heartwarming. 

• Horrible sex! Yes. I said it. They...were a terrible lay! heh That first time it's just a disaster. Not just a little blip but full out can't-keep-it-up-fake-the-big-o bad. You just never see that in a romance and I loved that even though it wasn't the easiest scene to read. And they made up for it later with some seriously eye crossing sex. 

• A different set up--Most of the book these two are living in different states while he's on a television shoot and she's home dealing with life. Even though they were apart the whole time it worked so well. The romance was very very slow coming but it was right for both of them and didn't feel rushed. They needed that time on their own and to really get to know each other through texts and calls and such. I loved that time and how they checked in with each other the whole time and fell in love.

• The Bliss List. During the book Harper goes through a pretty big health scare (not pregnancy) that really rocks her world and she ends up coming up with a Bliss List with Brandon's help. Things she wants to do to get back to living and experiencing life. I loved her list. Big things. Little things. Seeing her friends help her make them happen. 

• The ending. It totally made me swoon. The big reveal. The declaration. It just. Yeah. It had me a little teary eyed.

All in all, Game Changer was fun, touching and incredibly unique. Cutler can back a serious punch and really leave a girl smitten and in a swoon. My only complaint is that Marines wasn't capitalized in the book. He's a Marine. Not a marine. Other than that...I was all in and I'm seriously ready for more.

Have you read Cutler? Do you have a favorite?

Have you read a hero/heroine dealing with amputation or other big hurdles?

Do you like a slow burn where the characters become best friends first?

  

*covers link to Amazon

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