Taking Shots by Toni Aleo

I just finished reading this fantastic Sports Themed (Hockey), Romance called TAKING SHOTS by Toni Aleo. In reading the author's notes after finishing this amazing book, she stated that reviewers have said that when reading Taking Shots they felt as though they were a part of the story. Apart of Shea and Elli's life, as though you were living every moment with them. That couldn't be more accurate. I do believe that is a great testament of the caliber of writing. Especially by a first time published writer, and what a first book! Toni really started out of the gates with a bang!
From the beginning of the first chapter I was honestly ensnared into the world of Shea and Elli, I thought that they were so real, everyday people. Baggage and all, ugly scars, both emotional and physical, you can't help but feel as though you are apart of the story. I almost felt as though I was a voyeur, eavesdropping in on them, with my nose pressed against the window that was their life. But found I was too engrossed to remove myself and too emotionally invested to back away. I couldn't read fast enough.

Elli's historic love life or lack their off and the relationship she has with her family is out of control insane. Besides her father and her uncle, she has no familial support and what her mother, sister and brother's would claim is support for Elli, is simply a cruel joke. Thank goodness for her friends. Especially her best friend Harper. Who BTW is one hell of a dynamic character! Harper's relationship with Jakob is hilarious, they both add such strength and depth to whole story. Elli is terribly insecure and through love and encouragement she sees the light at the end of the tunnel, or so she thinks.

Through the years Shea has had many women, but who cared. His heart was never involved and he never wasted more than one date with them. Why? He had no intention of giving his heart. That was until he met Elli. She blew him away with her beauty, her humor and her love for all things Assassins. As a franchise player for the Assassins, Shea loved that she wore his # and jersey for so long before they met, let alone as his official girlfriend. But this being new territory for him to even have a girlfriend and Elli's own dramatic insecurities they two run into a lot of problems. Most brought on by her overpowering and evil family.

Though triumph doesn't seem in the books for them, through their impossible journey, you will find yourself crying right alongside both of them.

There are some serious dramatic ups and downs that they both go through. But with every step they make I felt more anxiety and excitement for their final reconciliation. I knew that they both were going to have to make the grand gesture if they wanted to plow through all the BS they struggled through to even get to this point.
 
If you are any kind of romance fan, this is a can’t miss book. You won’t be disappointed, there is drama, oh baby is there ever! There is passion, sexy love scenes that will put a blush to your face and a tried and true beautiful romance between two characters who are destined and deserving of their own happily ever after. So, kudos to author Toni Aleo, one of my new fav’s as I am huge fan now. I am truly bowing down on the floor in awe! Thank you for creating such endearingly powerful characters and a truly dynamic love story!    

You can buy it here in @ Amazon .

 

Elli Fisher has never thought she was good enough, let it be her job, her weight, her love life, nothing. That is until she meets Shea Adler. After doing a promotional shoot for the NHL team, the Assassins, she meets the hunky hockey player who shoots a puck, shattering her world. Shea Adler was tired of the life he was living outside of the rink. The girls, the money blowing, the drinking, everything had to stop and it all did when he met Eleanor Fisher. He had never met anyone like her. She was feisty, witty, shy, and simply gorgeous. When he laid eyes on her, it was as if he was taking the hardest hit of his life into the boards, and he had to have her. Elli is a little skeptical of Shea, but he knows that they were meant to be together, and he needed her in his life. Can Elli throw her insecurities out the window and love Shea with everything inside of her, or will she let a past relationship, and her family ruin any chance of her being happy.