Deflected Hearts by Cali Melle

 

Release Date: September 2

Poppy

August Whitley was just a fling–someone fun to spend my time with no strings attached.

We broke things off before our feelings grew, but it was already too late.

After leaving town, I swore to myself that I would never look back.

And when I get surprising news, I’m completely committed to doing it alone.

Until one night when he walks back into my life…

August

Poppy Williams. She was an enigma and a mystery that I wanted to unravel.

Neither of us were ready for a commitment and after a misunderstanding, she left town without a single word.

I tried to find her, but it was as if she fell off the grid. It was messing with my head and becoming a threat to my hockey career.

Until one night, one date with another girl… I find Poppy working at the restaurant and she’s pregnant.

With my child.

My rating: 4 out of 5 stars

My review:

 Deflected Hearts is the second book in the Wyncote Wolves series.  While the college sports trope isn’t a trope I would normally read, I am glad I got the chance to read it.  I was pleasantly surprised by the depth and how real-life the characters and storyline were.  

August Whitley was committed to playing hockey so stayed away from relationships until he met Poppy.  He ended their fling when his feelings became involved, but he never could completely get her out of his mind.  After she disappears, he tries to find her but has no luck.  Until he goes on a date at the restaurant she is working at and finds her pregnant.  His fears made him push her away but now he isn’t going to let her go.

Poppy Williams discovers she is pregnant after her no-strings-attached fling with August.  She knew how important August’s hockey career was to him and didn’t want to hold him back.  So, she moves back home to complete her degree program before the baby is born.  She had resolved to raise the baby by herself until August finds out.  To protect her heart from being hurt again she wants to keep their relationship to friendship only.  Can August convince her to give them another chance?

August was very committed to his hockey career, and I was frustrated with him for pushing Poppy away once his feelings became involved.  Especially when he finally decides he wants a relationship and starts dating.  I can understand Poppy’s fear of letting him back into her life as anything except a friend.  She was trying to protect her heart from being hurt again.  I enjoyed reading the book, but I feel like the ending was abrupt.  Throughout the book, August worries about having a relationship once he is drafted as a professional hockey player.  He struggled to balance hockey and life while in college so I would have liked to have a peek further into their life once he went professional.  That was the biggest issue in their relationship, but it was never addressed in the end.  Overall, I would recommend the book.  

I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving a review.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I let her leave me once before, but this time I won’t let her get away.

Grab Your Copy Here!

Free in KU

Meet Cali Melle

Cali Melle is a contemporary romance author who loves writing stories that will pull at your heartstrings. You can always expect her stories to come fully equipped with heartthrobs and a happy ending, along with some steamy scenes and some sports action. In her free time, Cali can usually be found spending time with her family or with her nose in a book.

As a hockey mom herself, Cali Melle will be bringing a brand new hockey series this fall that will definitely have you in your feels!

To learn more about Cali and her books, visit here! 

Hosted By: