Review: “The Trouble With #9” by Piper Rayne

Series: Hockey Hotties, #2

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Steam: 🔥🔥🔥

Release Date: August 10th, 2021

Trouble.

One word that comes to mind when someone talks about me. I like to think of it as protection, watching out for the ones I love. But now I’m spending more time in the penalty box than on the ice and the team owner isn’t happy.

Finding myself across the room from the hot therapist I kissed on New Year’s Eve only makes me push my problems down further. I want couch time with her but not the kind she’s used to.

I decide to lie to her just to finish off my therapy so I can do what I really want—date her—even if she says she doesn’t date hockey players. Just when my therapy sessions are up and I’ve made some headway with Paisley, it’s my parents who throw another wrench in my plans.

If I abide by my parent’s wishes to marry the one they’ve chosen, I’ll lose Paisley forever. But if I go against my parents, I’m failing my deceased best friend all over again.

Oh man, these hockey hotties are wild. The first book, My Lucky #13 followed Aiden Drake, the captain of the Florida Fury hockey team. And now we get some insight into the wild and crazy mind of Maksim Petrov.

When we first met Maksim, he came off as a playboy but someone with his head on his shoulders. He knows what is at stake and he’s aware that his role is sometimes a little dangerous on the ice. But Maksim is good at what he does and he’s not going to let anyone tell him otherwise. Maksim has a lot of tragedy in his past and it’s made him the way he is and for good reason, but he’s also aggressive and sometimes difficult, which only makes everyone think he’s not a good guy. Everyone except his teammates. Paisley Pearce is brought on board with the Florida Fury as the team therapist to meet with each of the players and make sure that they’re not falling apart while getting beaten up on the ice. She’s a tough woman and she’s not going to make it simple for everyone to just get away with fake sessions. Even if that person is Maksim and they almost shared a kiss on New Year’s Eve.

I really enjoyed reading about these characters, diving into their lives and their minds. As individuals, I adored what they brought to the table because there was so much to unpack, love and enjoy about them. I just wasn’t the biggest fan of their relationship. No doubt, the chemistry is there and they sizzle together on the page, but there was just something that didn’t sit well with me. I absolutely adored Aiden and Saige together and I hoped to love Paisley and Maksim the same way. Their connection and friendship was special, I loved how Paisley was patient in helping Maksim open up to her, I enjoyed watching Maksim drop his guard unknowingly around Paisley and how being with her really got him fired up.

As always, the friendship between the main trio – Aiden, Maksim and Ford – was absolutely great. I love that each of them has a role to play in their friends circle and how they fit into that part so well. It also excited me to see Aiden and Saige again, because they were so glorious in their own book. And I am eagerly waiting to see what happens with Ford and Lena!

Thanks to Piper Rayne and Wildfire Marketing Solutions for providing me with an advance copy. I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.