Hot & Heavy by Tracy Wolff

When a daredevil football stud tries to get into your yoga pants, you know class is about to get interesting. The New York Times bestselling author of Down & Dirty returns with Hot & Heavy.

Sage

Although I come from a long line of free-spirited yoga teachers, sometimes I wish my life could be just a little more normal. More ordinary. More boring. Easier said than done, especially since it’s on me to keep my family’s studio up and running every time my mother wanders off to find herself. But that’s when my best friend sends me a sexy new student: Shawn Wilson, a slick wide receiver with a death wish and a chip on his broad, muscular, irresistible... wait, what were we talking about again?

Shawn

They say I’m an adrenaline junkie. The truth is, I only really feel alive when I’m risking my life: Snowboarding, parachuting, BASE jumping... the kind of fun team management considers breach of contract. When my coach orders me to take yoga to “center myself,” I’m pissed—until I get an eyeful of delectable, flexible Sage Kaufmann. Unfortunately, she’s determined to keep things between us strictly business. But if Sage can get me to enjoy downward dog, maybe I can convince her that scorching hot sex could be the perfect shot of adrenaline.

Book 2
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Mary Jo – ☆☆☆☆
I enjoyed this book. One yoga teacher, who knows nothing about sports, hooks up a star football player and then leaves him without a backward glance.

Sage doesn't take chances. She doesn't hook up with random guys. And she most certainly doesn't get it on with random guys in the back of club. When she does all three in one night, is it any wonder that she practically runs from the bar and back to her safe little world?

Shawn loves taking chances. The adrenaline rush takes him to places that he can't find normally. And at the height of it, he feels closer to the mom and sister he lost when he was a child. When he takes a chance and follows the woman he's been eyeing in the bar all evening to the back, he can't believe how right it feels to be with her. When she leaves him without a backward glance? He's not sure how he feels about that.

Sage's encounter with Shawn is quickly forgotten when she realizes her flighty mother has once again left her holding the bag. Everything she's done since she turned eighteen is with the goal of being safe and secure. She had enough of living like a gypsy when she was growing up and she never wants to be homeless or hungry again.

Shawn comes back into her life at the right time – she desperately needs help and he needs someone to help with his back problem. Low-key help. Reluctant to spend more time with him, she names an outrageous price and is stunned when he agrees to pay it for her to help him.

The relationship quickly turns from all business to pure pleasure. Sage can't believe she's dating a professional athlete, one that could easily date anyone he wants. Shawn thinks that Sage hung the moon.

A lack of communication between Sage and Shawn derails their fledgling relationship. Shawn has to learn to take others’ feelings into consideration and learn to talk about the demons that haunt him. Sage's childhood issues play a huge part in her reluctance to enter into a relationship and to trust people.

I wish that the author would have explored Sage's relationship with her mother more. I really think that there is a lot going on that would have helped the reader really understand Sage and her trust issues.


Mary – ☆☆☆☆☆
Sage is at a bachelorette party and would rather be anywhere else, until she sees the most beautiful man she has ever seen sitting at the bar. When they make eye contact, Sage thinks that she is out of his league and tries to stop looking in his direction. But it is hard to do. When he sends over a round of drinks for the group, Sage thinks that he is making fun of her and it really makes her sad and she runs for the bathroom but before she reaches the bathroom, a strong hand grabs her. It turns out to be the sexy guy from the bar.

Shawn is the football player that most every woman knows who he is, except for Sage. She has no idea who he is. While Shawn thinks that he has given her all the signs for her to make the next move, the sexy girl at the bar just isn't taking the hints. When she runs towards the bathroom after he sends a round of drinks, he has to find out what is wrong. They get hot and heavy in the alcove in the hall and when it is all over, Shawn wants her number so he can take her out to dinner and she refuses.

While Shawn is an adrenaline junkie, Sage is just the opposite. She doesn't think anyone should risk their lives just for the rush. But if she stops and thinks about it, her feelings are because of the way she was raised. And Shawn is chasing his demons from his past. When Shawn does something that scares Sage, will she be able to forgive him, or will she just walk away?

Can Shawn and Sage get past the fear and demons they both are running from? Will they be able to make a relationship work? Will the future be bright for them both? Can they both share their past with the other so that they will understand why they do and act the way they do?

I love this series and I think Shawn and Sage are my favorite couple so far. I can't wait to see who will be in book three. If you are looking for a new author or haven't read Tracy Wolff yet, start on this series, or any series for that matter. I love all her work and look forward to reading more from her.


Lee’Anne – ☆☆☆☆
I quite enjoyed this standalone read. Shawn and Sage are both likeable characters who are fighting off demons from their past while trying to live their day-to-day lives. Sage, after being dragged to a bar by friends, breaks her rule of only have two drinks and winds up having a quickie with Shawn outside the bathrooms at the bar. Knowing it can’t go anywhere, when Shawn asks for her number, Sage denies him and splits. Then when Shawn needs a yoga instructor to help with his football injury, his friends recommend Sage and the two wind up hot and heavy.

I loved the beginning of this book and the way that Shawn is down to earth instead of cocky like most athletes you read about. The ending felt rushed and I’d have liked more from their story, but hopefully we’ll see Shawn and Sage appearing in future Lightning books!


Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
This is the second in the series, and does include elements from the first book, but would be a strong standalone too.

Both Sage and Shawn have been deeply affected by their pasts, and the chemistry between them threatens all the coping mechanisms that they have developed over the years. Sage is thinking about taking a risk, Shawn may have found a solution to his need to take them. This opposing reaction in the face of lust and impending love is an entertaining one to observe, and ties in well when the worlds that they inhabit collide.

I enjoy a good sports romance, and the therapy is often a part of the story, but rarely yoga, so it was fun to learn a little about the possible moves and help it could offer – and was amusing when Shawn realised that Sage really didn't know anything about him or his fame.

This is a fun new addition to the series; thank you, Tracy Wolff.

Also Available in the Lightning Series

Book 1
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo

For reviews & more info, check out our Down & Dirty post.

New York Times bestselling author Tracy Wolff lives in Texas and teaches writing at her local community college. She is married and the mother of three young sons.

Connect with Tracy

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Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Hot & Heavy (Lightning #2) by Tracy Wolff to read and review.