Review: In the Penalty Box by Lynn Rush & Kelly Anne Blount #NewRelease #EntangledTeen

IN THE PENALTY BOX
Lynn Rush & Kelly Anne Blount
Publication date: January 5, 2021
Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Fiction
Format: eARC
Source: Entangled Teen
4 Stars
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The Cutting Edge meets Friday Night Lights in a sizzling new hockey romance from bestselling authors Kelly Anne Blount and Lynn Rush.

Willow
Figure skating was supposed to be my whole world. But one unlucky injury and now I’m down...but I’m definitely not out. I just need to rehab—a boatload of rehab—and who’d have thought I could do it on the boys’ hockey team?

Of course, the infuriatingly hot captain of the team seems to think I’m nothing but sequins and twirls. What’s a girl to do but put him in his place? Game on.

Brodie
Hockey is my whole world. I’ve worked my tail off getting my team in a position to win the championships—hopefully in front of major college scouts, too—so what’s a guy to do when a figure skater ends up as our new goalie?

Of course, the distractingly sexy skater thinks I’m nothing but a testosterone-laced competitive streak. And surely she’s only biding her time to heal, then she’s gone. Game over.


Figure skater Willow is back at home to recover from an injury. She is determined to rehab, get back to 100%, and return to the elite training facility where she has her eye on the Olympics. But not only is her recovery taking longer that she wants, it seems like her parent’s are arguing all the time.

Brodie lives for hockey and, going into his senor year of high school, the pressure is on to take his team to the championships and become a third generation Boston College hockey player. But things at home are falling apart. Since the death of his mom, his dad is gone all the time, and he’s trying his best to be there for his little brother.


Here was this amazing guy sitting before me who was sweet, sensitive, and so very loyal. He was strong and an amazing athlete, but he had to carry so much on those broad shoulders of his. Way more than a seventeen-year-old should. - Willow

I really enjoyed my time with Willow and Brodie. It was great to read about two athletes who were so focused and dedicated. Willow’s take-no-prisoners attitude had me silently cheering her on and I was so impressed with her tenacity and determination. But it was Brodie’s story that really engaged my emotions. I have a soft spot for characters who shoulder a lot of responsibility at a young age and that certainly fit Brodie. This was a young man who was still grieving the loss of his mother, living without the emotional (or even physical) support of his father, and taking on the burden of care for his sick little brother. Rush and Blount did a great job at showing Brodie’s struggle to keep all the balls in the air as well as his inevitable breaking point.

Watching as Willow became more entrenched in the hockey team, and formed bonds with her teammates, was a real highlight for me. For the most part she was judged on her talent and what she brought to the team, and most of her new teammates welcomed her with open arms. There were a few holdout’s, however, and I appreciated how Willow handled herself when faced with opposition. The team was a tight-knit group of friends, both on and off the ice, and it was fun to be a part of their banter and ribbing and support. If I had any quibble at all it would be that the dialogue didn’t always ring true. Granted, I don’t spend a lot of time with teenage boys, but it seems unlikely they use terms like “what’s the tea” when it’s just the guys.

The intensity with which she played hockey, battled off all those slapshots from Right Hand of God, and then the crap Pax, Eric, and even some of the town had thrown at her, she’d handled it all with grace. The grace of a figure skater and the guts of a pro hockey player. - Brodie


In the Penalty Box was a sports romance that was heavy on the sports – and I loved that! As a hockey fan, I enjoyed the training scenes, the pick-up games, the trash talk, and the mental and physical strength that was required. The romance aspect was definitely on the slow-burn side and rated-PG. This was a great YA contemporary with a strong focus on friendship, loyalty, and overcoming hardship. Definitely recommended!

Disclosure: I received a a complimentary copy of this book for review. This does not impact my opinion of the book or the content of this review. I received no compensation and my review is voluntary.


YOU CAN FIND IN THE PENALTY BOX HERE:




34 comments

  1. I know you love a good romance, and it sounds like this one really delivered on that. The Hockey is just an added bonus!

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    1. I loved how much hockey was actually present in the book!

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  2. I felt the same way about Brodie. His story was heartbreaking, but how about that ending!! Loved it.

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    1. Brodie's story really got to me. But it had such a good ending! I wish the epilogue had been a bit further out that just five days (LOL) but I was still happy with it. :)

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  3. This sounds so good!! I just added it to my TBR. And I do love when a "sports" romance actually includes the sport!

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  4. This sounds good. Do you think it would be one I would enjoy? I've been seeing it around as was curious about it. Is it on the mature side of YA?

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    1. The characters are 17-18 for the most part - seniors in high school. But I wouldn't classify it on the mature side of YA. There was no explicit content at all. Very much on the "clean" side, for lack of a better word.

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    2. Okay. Good to know. I might give it a try then.

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  5. I know one of my friends who would be in heaven reading this book as she is a big hockey fan Tanya!

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    1. If she enjoys YA contemporary she'd probably love this one!

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  6. Wow, I really feel for Brodie!

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    1. He really had a hard time of it. I felt so badly for him.

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  7. I just love a solid sports romance, but especially when both characters are involved in the athletics and so devoted to it. Builds great character I love to see within the books we read. Glad you enjoyed this one, will definitely keep an eye out for this one.

    Great review.

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    1. I was really impressed with both main characters. They were good kids (young adults) and they really had good heads on their shoulders. It was easy to pull for them.

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  8. The Cutting Edge meets Friday Night Lights really does sound like a great read. I don't know much about hockey, but I loved Beartown, which was heavy on the hockey, so would definitely be game to read this one.

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    1. Beartown is one I haven't got to yet. And it's not like you have to know anything about hockey for this one. It was a really sweet story.

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  9. Loved The Cutting Edge! It's one of my favorite 90s movies so I definitely need to check this one out.

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    1. Wasn't The Cutting Edge great? This one wasn't really an enemies-to-more situation as the synopsis kind of implies, but there was plenty of fun banter.

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  10. I love the sound of this one. And I'm glad you enjoyed it so much. I don't know a lot about Hockey, but I think I'll go check this one out anyway. ;)

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    1. Thanks Maureen! This was a wonderful story whether you know anything about hockey or not. :)

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  11. Great review! I've had my eye on this one!

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    1. Thanks Kayla! I hope you enjoy it if you decide to give it a try.

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  12. I have this one on my tbr and if definitely sounds like a book I will love. And Brodie, sigh, I bet he'll easily capture my heart. I'm so happy to hear you enjoyed this book so much!
    Jen @ Star-Crossed Book Blog

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    1. I hope you'll really enjoy this one if you decide to give it a try, Jen! Brodie really was pretty swoony. :)

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  13. Yeah, I just received this one from the publisher in today's mail! I am excited to read it after seeing how much you enjoyed it!

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    1. Yay! So happy you received a copy, too! Can't wait to see what you think of it.

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  14. This one sounds so good! Great review. I just added it to my TBR. 😊

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    1. Thanks Whitney! I hope you enjoy it if you decide to pick it up.

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  15. This sounds like the sweetest story. Like you, I have a soft spot for characters who have to shoulder a lot of responsibilities too - I think it's a good way to make them across as mature - so I already love Brody! I also like how there's a lot of focus on the sports!

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    1. If you love Brody now, reading about him would really make you swoon, Nick. (Well, as much as you can swoon over a 17-18 year old fictional character. LOL)

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  16. Thank you so much for this review, Tanya!!! :)

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    1. My pleasure, Lynn! I really enjoyed Brodie and Willow's story!

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