Slammed

Fans of sports romances will enjoy Denault’s second San Francisco Thunder hockey contemporary (after Score). Dixie Wynn is proud that she earned her job doing PR for her star brother’s hockey team on her own merits. Getting stuck in an elevator at the rink with hot young goaltender Eli Casco is a fun distraction from work and her father’s illness, and soon she is involved Eli. He has physically recovered from an on-ice accident in which a skate to his jugular vein nearly killed him, but he’s lost some of the edge that made him successful. His suggestive banter charms Dixie, and her practical attitude is a good influence on him. She tells herself that their relationship doesn’t violate team rules because he is still in the minor leagues. But when Eli gets called up to the Thunder, the lovers realize they have to end the relationship before Dixie’s jealous coworker or Eli’s gossipy teammates find out. The sizzle in this relationship propels the romance forward as the characters cope realistically with the stresses of work and family. Readers will appreciate that Denault knows her hockey and delivers a satisfying story. Agent: Kimberly Brower, Brower Literary and Management. (Dec.)