Moonlighter

The Swoon Factor is strong with this one!

I honestly don’t know what to say about this book because “amazing” or “really freaking awesome” don’t make it justice. It’s intense, romantic, steamy, hilarious, and so heartwarming that it literally leaves you breathless. It makes you feel so many different things at once. It’s hockey with a twist of suspense. And the swoon factor is off the charts.

Sarina Bowen has the uncanny ability to outdo herself every single time she writes a new book. In theory, it doesn’t really surprise me because she’s got some very wicked writing skills. But the truth is that it does surprise me. She just leaves me in awe of her talent. Every. Single. Time. I love how gorgeous her writing is. How she develops not only the story, but her characters. I love how real they feel, their hidden depths and flaws, and how they evolve as the story progresses. Her narrative is easy to read and it flows naturally. She makes it look so simple, and that’s her genius on display, because it can’t possibly be easy to do. I especially appreciate how witty she is, how skillfully she weaves humor into her writing without making them comedies. She’s known for making people cry and laugh at the same time, and I really love that about her.

Moonlighter is book one of The Company, a new series that is actually a spin-off of her Brooklyn Bruisers series. It is a complete standalone, so you really don’t need to read any other book to enjoy this one to the fullest. Having said that, if you haven’t read the Brooklyn Bruisers series, trust me on this, you have to. It’s phenomenal. We first met Alex Engels in Brooklynaire, and Eric Bayer has been a member of the Brooklyn Bruisers team since Rookie Move, but he’s been mostly in the background until Overnight Sensation.

Moonlighter is a perfect combination of old and new. We get to hang out with old favorites like Nate, Becca and Bingley, and at the same time we are introduced to a whole new cast of characters that will hopefully get their own stories. I’m crossing all my fingers here. We get introduced Max, Gunnar, Pieter, and Scout. Max Bayer is Eric’s older brother and the director of The Company, a security agency with no known name. The name is need-to-know only, so we’ll hopefully find out more about it soon. I found him to be the most interesting of the new guys. I honestly can’t wait to read more about him and his secret past. It’s so intriguing!

Alex and Eric were childhood friends who lost contact for over twenty-one years, and who due to an awkward reunion, find themselves at odds for a while. But her circumstances and his chivalry put them in close quarters together, sharing a bed in Hawaii and pretending to be a couple. The attraction is mutual and resisting each other turns their interactions into a sort of battle of wills. The fact is that they find themselves at a crossroads in their lives, facing changes they’re not ready for, and that makes their relationship more of a challenge. But when danger seems to keep following Alex, Eric takes the role of her protector again, willingly this time, and makes it his mission to keep her safe and convince her that they belong together.

I loved their interactions since the beginning. The witty banter, the teasing, the heat and sincere affection between them, their chemistry. Everything. I must confess that Eric Bayer caught me off guard. He is without a doubt one of the swooniest, most adorable book boyfriends I have ever come across. OMG! The guy is so smooth and sweet! I wasn’t expecting that level of awesomeness from him. For a growly and grumpy set-on-his-way athlete, he sure knows how to be charming. He’s definitely a keeper.

Moonlighter is basically the same greatness Sarina Bowen usually delivers, but with a different feel. It’s unique and outstanding, a real pleasure to read. I loved it from start to finish, but even though I didn’t want it to ever end, the ending was my favorite part of the story. It brought tear to my eyes. The happiest of tears. It is heart-meltingly beautiful. Five stars fall short with this one.