Tacker by Sawyer Bennett Release Blitz

I am not okay.

Fifteen months ago, my life was turned upside down when the plane I was piloting went down. Injured and trapped in the wreckage, I had to watch my fiancée die a painfully slow death, which is something that can really mess with your head.

Since that day, I’ve had little desire to do much of anything. Except play hockey, that is. Because that is the one place where the bad memories are banished and I can escape my pain.

But off the ice, I’m spiraling out of control. Losing the grip on my life and putting myself and my career in danger. Now, thanks to a string of bad decisions, I’ve been ordered to complete therapy in order to stay on the team.

The problem? Nora Wayne, my beautiful and somewhat unconventional therapist. I can’t buy into the brand of happy clappy crap this woman is feeding me. What could she possibly understand about the type of loss that I’ve suffered? How does she know anything about finding happiness after losing the most important person in your life?

Turns out, I’ve got a lot to learn, and she’s just the person I need to break through those walls I’ve erected.

I am not okay.
But for the first time in a long time, I know that I will be.

The Arizona Vengeance series from New York Times bestselling author Sawyer Bennett can be read together or separately.

Book 5
Buy Links

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

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆☆
Gazillions of Oh My Goodness STARS!

This may be the fifth book in the series, and the previous four have been wonderful, but it has felt to me like they were all building to the moment that we finally got inside Tacker's post-accident head – and more importantly, that he got the chance to live (and love) again. Sawyer Bennett has to be thanked for finally giving us the story that was so absolutely essential to the series!

I have two pieces of advice before you open this jewel:
(i) Make sure that you have a clear diary and are well rested and hydrated before you start... because I cannot imagine that you will put the book down (except for reason (ii) below) until you get to the end.
(ii) Tissues... have plenty to hand, and by that I mean more than two for sure. The good news is that this is not ugly tears, this is tears which squeeze out of your eyes because it is so moving, not devastating – I hope this reassures you.

Having this hockey family well and truly resident in my reading life, it was great to catch up with old friends, see how the couples are gelling and the friendships are strong. And although Tacker never quite understood where the guys were regarding his behaviour, he finally gets to appreciate their efforts and their camaraderie in this installment. Bennett definitely delivers on carrying the whole story forward as well as giving Tacker and Nora the romance that they both need and deserve.

I refuse to say more, you need to experience all the goodness yourselves!

This series along with the Cold Fury series are absolute fixtures in my TBR list. Utter magic. (Oh, and come February we are promised that Dominik will get his story... so maybe Willow just stops running!)


Mary – ☆☆☆☆☆
I knew Tacker's story was going to be a rough one with a glimpse of his past in the other Vengeance books. I could not wait for it and loved every word.

Tacker Hall is a very good hockey player, a first-line member for the Arizona Vengeance. But his past is taking him down fast. So, when he runs his truck into a barrier outside of the arena, he is put on probation and mandatory therapy. The first therapist was not helpful, Tacker was done before the first visit was even over. When he told the team owner that, Dominik Carlson sends him to Nora Wayne.

Nora is a therapist and owns a ranch where she helps lots of people with all sorts of problems and she even gives horse riding lessons. When she meets Tacker, she doesn't think she can help him. But in order to help him, she must share her past tragedy.

Can Tacker learn to open up to Nora? Will he be able to live again? Can Nora help Tacker learn to live and move past the guilt he is feeling? Will they be able to act on the feeling between them?

This is a story that will rip your heart out and have you crying for the past pain of both characters. But Sawyer Bennett will put your heart back together and leave you smiling in the end. If you haven't read anything from this author yet, I recommend this series. But you can start with any of her books, you will not be disappointed.


Avid Reader – ☆☆☆☆☆
4.5 stars
M/F Romance
Triggers: Witnessing death of loved ones

Tacker is an amazing hockey player. He is the heart of his team, but when his grief takes hold of his mind, body, and soul, he'll have to dig deep to figure out if this is the path he truly wants to walk. While his team, the Vengeance, want to stand by Tacker and help him heal, they will have to draw some hard lines in the sand for him.

Nora is amazing. I love her outlook on life and her friendships she has developed. While Nora is somewhat hesitant to take on a new client, she knows that her therapy center can use the donation in a big way. What Nora doesn't realize that she's getting is a real, honest person willing to do the work.

I really enjoyed watching Tacker figure out how to heal himself. Tacker was able to really internalize what Nora was teaching him and when he was able to really look around him, he was also able to see how many people supported him and loved him.

This is a powerful story about grief, loss, learning to trust yourself again, and ultimately, love. It was a joy to watch Nora and Tacker learn from each other and how their relationship unfolded was beautiful.


Mary Jo – ☆☆☆☆
Sawyer Bennett has tackled a very sensitive subject in this book and did a wonderful job in the telling of Tacker's story. His grief is evident in everything he does, except when he's on the ice. Hockey is the only thing that's keeping him sane, but even hockey can't keep his demons away for long.

The Arizona Vengeance is willing to stand by Tacker, but only if he learns to cope with his grief. Unwilling to let his hockey brothers down, Tacker agrees to go to grief counseling. Unsure of how this will help him, he nonetheless makes an appointment with a therapist.

Nora Wayne is the equine therapist that the owner of the Vengeance got him in to see by making a hefty donation to her equine therapy farm. Nora has seen people like Tacker before: damaged, unwilling to move through the stages of grief and sliding further into despair.

As Tacker gets to know Nora and learns of her history, he can see that talking about his emotions not only gets easier, it lifts a weight from his soul. And he begins to see Nora as something other than his therapist.

This book allows the user into the mind and heart of a man whose heart has been broken and his soul shattered. As a reader, I could see how the therapy helped heal Tacker and I also learned a few things about dealing with grief.

Also Available in the Arizona Vengeance 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 Bishop post.

Book 2
Buy Links

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

For reviews & more info, check out our stop on the Erik Release Blitz.

Book 3
Buy Links

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

For reviews & more info, check out our stop on the Legend Release Blitz.

Book 4
Buy Links

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

For reviews & more info, check out our stop on the Dax Release Blitz.

Since the release of her debut contemporary romance novel, Off Sides, in January 2013, Sawyer Bennett has released multiple books, many of which have appeared on the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestseller lists.

A reformed trial lawyer from North Carolina, Sawyer uses real-life experience to create relatable, sexy stories that appeal to a wide array of readers. From new adult to erotic contemporary romance, Sawyer writes something for just about everyone.

Sawyer likes her Bloody Marys strong, her martinis dirty, and her heroes a combination of the two. When not bringing fictional romance to life, Sawyer is a chauffeur, stylist, chef, maid, and personal assistant to a very active daughter, as well as a full-time servant to her adorably naughty dogs. She believes in the good of others, and that a bad day can be cured with a great workout, cake, or even better, both.

Sawyer also writes general and women’s fiction under the pen name S. Bennett and sweet romance under the name Juliette Poe.

Connect with Sawyer

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Instagram  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Tacker (Arizona Vengeance #5) by Sawyer Bennett to read and review. Mary received a free copy as part of the author’s ARC team.