Drake: A Pittsburgh Titans Novel

Loving this series. Oh Wow what a fantastic storyline. Loved Drake and Brienne connection. Amazingly superhot together. Loved that both he and she worked out well together. They so deserved happiness.Jake, Colby and Tanner were adorable. Love that they had all become a loving Family together ❤

Loved Drake as @ character who just took no f…s about anything except his kids. Dour and grumpy at times then so utterly sexy. Lots going on and Brianne is the underdog dealing with bereavement, running an empire and fulfilling a brothers and city’s dream with a new hickey team. Loved the way they both changed and the relationship developed. Always like karma to bite back but ex is left hanging in the air to do more damage and the kids weren’t given enough book time. Would have liked to see them blended as a family but really love this series.

~~I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads ~~This is the fifth book in the series - and I though Cohen's book was going to be the best but now I think this is vying for my favourite of the series.Brienne Norcross picked up running the Titans after the plane crash which killed not only all the team, but her brother who was its CEO. She has not had time to grieve his loss, as she has been restoring the team and also running the Norcross businesses. Having a relationship has not been an option either, so when she and Drake recognise the chemistry between them, it is easy to ignore it... or is it?Drake finally agrees to come and play for the Titans after his choices are severely limited due to the lies of his drug addicted ex-wife. He has to relocate his sons and his sister, who helps him care f0r them. He really doesn't want to ever get involved with a woman again - his boys are enough. So Brienne is unexpected and increasingly important to him.I loved that Brienne got to have some good for herself after being pretty selfless at getting the Titans back on the ice. And as we learn of Drake's values and care for his boys, as well as his dedication on the ice, he too deserves all the good things.Lovely happy read, thank you!~~Wicked Reads Review Team~~

Ooh, this is a good one. I can’t remember reading a book where the player crosses the line with the team owner. Drake and Brienne not only cross the line, they blow it to smithereens in this red hot, enemies to lovers forbidden hockey romance. They are combustible. Drake McGinn doesn’t trust easily, and with good reason, his ex wife did a number on him, big time. Now it’s just him, his adorable three young boys, and his sister, all moving to Pittsburg for a fresh start with the Titans. A no strings attached ‘non’ relationship with the team owner was not on the cards, but it would appear they can’t keep their hands to themselves. I absolutely loved this story, both Brienne and Drake are dealing with so many personal issues (not very well I might add), but it was a fun time when they were together. Opposites most definitely attract. The sexy confident billionaire, who I have to say does women proud, and the hockey player who doesn’t give two hoots about anything but his family. They were fantastic together. I was addicted from the get-go. A firm favourite for me this year. I received an advanced copy of this book. This is my honest review.

Loved this intensely sexy story!"She's a woman who would make you want to get burned."Between running her family's business empire and the Pittsburgh Titans hockey team, Brienne Norcross barely has time to eat, let alone a relationship. Drake McGinn is busy raising three young boys and hating anyone in authority in the hockey league. However, when he adds returning to hockey to play for the Titans, time is even more precious. Both Brienne and Drake have plenty of reasons to stay away from each other, but the fire that burns between them is blazing hot and irresistible."For the first time in my life, I feel not just wanted but...revered. No man has ever made me feel that way."Wowzers! These two made me pretty darn hot under the collar. I loved that Drake didn't give a fig about whether or not pursuing Brienne was forbidden. His attraction to her was incredibly powerful. I loved that Brienne was willing to let go of the reins for Drake - someone who was completely opposite to her in every way. It was so freeing for her to not think of all the burdens on her shoulders and just be in the moment with him. I adored this story so much!

Drake McGinn abandoned hockey after feeling deceived by the league, following his ex-wife launching a smear campaign against him. He requested a divorce, and she informed anyone who would listen that he was gambling on hockey and tossing games. Drake decided to turn away from the bright lights and concentrate on bringing up his three young boys.Then one day, Brienne Norcross, owner of the Pittsburgh Titans, comes to Drake's house with a job offer, and she wouldn’t take no for an answer. Intrigued by her no-nonsense air, he’s happy to accept and more than happy to see a little more of Brienne.Brienne had thrown herself into the management of the hockey team, since losing her brother, and was happy to hit the ground running. She was running so much she barely had time to sit down, and finding herself in Drake’s company far too much, encouraged her to sit down right next to him.I thoroughly enjoyed watching these two characters negotiate each others atmosphere. Drake was dead set on prioritising his boys, without any need of a relationship. Whilst Brienne felt she had to have more of a handle on the Titans’ business, given it was her brothers arena previously. The other elements of the Norcross empire had to take a backstep whilst she broadened her horizons.Complimentary copy received with glee from the author

I know they're all standalone but I am loving this Pittsburgh Titans series and this new book did not let me down. Loved it!

Drake walked away from the league after being betrayed by his team amid a media firestorm, and the Titans' first attempt at recruiting him failed miserably after a rare misstep by Brienne as she tried to acclimate herself to running the team. He has built his life around being the best dad possible to his 3 boys and still harbors resentment towards the league to say the least. Brienne knows she has her work cut out for her if she is going to be successful in bringing this man into the locker room. The fact that she finds Drake physically attractive is a bit of a surprise for her but she cannot deny the chemistry that sparks between them.After a bit of negotiating and some soul searching, Drake agrees to come to Pittsburgh, but he is not a man who trusts easily anymore. Brienne has some very high walls built around her heart as well, so an intense battle of wills is guaranteed between these two strong individuals. They are each exactly what the other needs in so many ways, and the push and pull that ensues is key to getting past Drake trying to "stick it to the league" to open his heart again. He also makes her think about a future she never considered, but it is going to be a long and occasionally painful process to get there thanks to the damage done to his psyche over the past few years. He painfully acts like a jerk at times here to put it mildly, but I still couldn't help but fall in love with him as we gain understanding of his mindset and seeing him interact with his rambunctious boys.When he messes up, he does it big- as expected- and his groveling has to be next level if he wants to stand a chance of a future with Brienne. He certainly follows through and creates a whole new media storm but in a good way! I loved seeing Brienne let her hair down to allow the ladies pull her into their friend group too. All in all, Drake is a great read that I will revisit in the future as I wait to see what is in store next for the team and their new coach.ARC provided by author

I loved Drake’s story. Drake is surly and stubborn and cares very little for his attitude towards the people and industry who turned against him under misguided information. His focus is taking care of his family as best he can.Encounters with the newly appointed owner of the Pittsburgh Titans lead to a decidedly interesting mating dance - power play, sexual tension, high emotions and something more perhaps. A fabulous read.

I’ve made no secret of my love for Sawyer Bennett’s hockey gods. Three books from this series made it to my Top Books of 2022 post. On one hand, I expect a lot from this author. On the other hand, since I’ve read all of her hockey romance books and know all the backstory (which is not necessary to read each book, but it gives a different depth) I may sometimes overlook certain things I wouldn’t in an author that was new to me. I’m not saying I didn’t love this book, because I did. But I have to be honest in my review and say it sometimes fell flat.Readers of this series have all been waiting for this match. Things between Drake and Brienne did not start on the right foot when they first met in the series starter, Baden. We haven’t seen Drake since that time although he’s been mentioned. Brienne and Drake sizzle, there was no denying it back then and there still is no denying that chemistry. Their relationship starts as a non-relationship. They are both meeting a need they have, specifically for each other. It’s made clear that Brienne already has an understanding with another guy and that Drake can get a one-night stand whenever he wants. These two want each other and it doesn’t take long before any arrangement they had with anyone else is out the window and they are going at each other whenever possible.Y’all, Drake has got a dirty mouth and it is exquisite. The things that man says! So sexy. He’s gruff and raw and bossy, just what Brienne needs. Brienne is up for anything and needs the escape from always being on and in charge that Drake gives her with his dominating nature. Seriously, these two are fire between the sheets. My problem came in when they weren’t banging.While I believe wholeheartedly that Brienne and Drake would work well together as a couple, I didn’t feel there was enough of them together on the page (other than when they are copulating). We’re told they had discussions, but most of those discussions we are not privy to. And, truth be told, when we are privy to their talks they are delightful. I wanted more of that so I didn’t feel so much like I was being told instead of shown.Something I did find wonderful about this story is the “scratch an itch/just sex” trope was shown a bit differently here. Usually one or both of the characters know they have true feelings but don’t want a relationship or think they’ll be happy taking what they can get. I honestly believe neither Drake nor Brienne realized they needed or wanted a real relationship. I also think they both deep down thought it was going to remain just sex. So instead of watching one character fall hard, they both had falling to do.This book is not bad at all. I loved getting to know Drake and his family, whom I’m sure we’ll be seeing more of in the future. This author just has set a very high bar for herself with me.

***5 Stars***I was waiting for Drake’s book the moment he appeared in Baden’s story to the moment he stormed away, so to find out that it was Brienne who would take on this man and his heart (and vice versa) well, I was all in and enjoyed every moment of their intense journey to their HEA.I adored Brienne and Drake. They are in situations where the spotlight is on them due to circumstances out of their own control, Brienne with the devastating loss of almost the entire Titan’s team and her beloved brother, she is working through it all with grace and determination, but to the point where she is close to burn out. Drake has a chip on his shoulder, one which no one can blame him for having, and doesn’t trust the powers that be in the league, even as he returns to the sport he loves.With Brienne representing practically everything Drake has come to distrust, their journey to their HEA was going to be a rocky one, but they are strong, stubborn and direct and soon find that the possibility of catching feelings is high. I thoroughly enjoyed how they kept each other on their toes and found that they not only liked who the other person was, but respected the heck out of each other and how, in the end, they figured out that they fit together.Broken record time: I’m a huge fan girl of the series and just love getting to hang out with the Titans in general and get to know everyone better, whether they have found their HEA or not. I love Jenna that much more and loved that we got to spend some time with the significant others in this one. As for the players themselves, I thoroughly enjoyed watching as the players became a team and even friends on and off the field and cannot wait to see who will be the one to snag Cannon’s heart.~ Copy provided by the author & voluntarily reviewed ~