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Moo U #7
Halftime
There’s no halftime in hockey, but maybe there’s one in love…
Drunk dialing your girlfriend to tell her that you didn’t really cheat is a bad idea--a lesson Seb Hunter learned the hard way. It was no surprise when she cut him completely out of her life. Now he’s finally moved on, and he’s looking forward to sophomore year at Moo U. Until his ex arrives on campus.
For goalie Faith Devereaux, cheating is a hard pass. She grew up knowing all too well how destructive infidelity can be. She’s gotten over Seb and picked the college of her dreams. The fact that he’s a student there will not be a problem. Hockey is her priority. Not guys, not dating, definitely not exes.
But when an exhibition game forces them into close proximity, it isn’t long before their old attraction flares. Regaining trust is hard, though, when the heart plays a good defensive game.
But when the goal is love, one more shot might be all they need.
Drunk dialing your girlfriend to tell her that you didn’t really cheat is a bad idea--a lesson Seb Hunter learned the hard way. It was no surprise when she cut him completely out of her life. Now he’s finally moved on, and he’s looking forward to sophomore year at Moo U. Until his ex arrives on campus.
For goalie Faith Devereaux, cheating is a hard pass. She grew up knowing all too well how destructive infidelity can be. She’s gotten over Seb and picked the college of her dreams. The fact that he’s a student there will not be a problem. Hockey is her priority. Not guys, not dating, definitely not exes.
But when an exhibition game forces them into close proximity, it isn’t long before their old attraction flares. Regaining trust is hard, though, when the heart plays a good defensive game.
But when the goal is love, one more shot might be all they need.
228 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 22, 2021
About the author
Kim Findlay
31 books464 followersKim Findlay currently lives on a sailboat in the Caribbean with her husband and the world's cutest dog. She spends her time writing romance novels, reading romance novels, and enjoying blue water and warm weather. Bucket list accomplished!
Currently working on a three book rock romance series for Scarsdale Publishing, and a hockey series to follow up Halftime.
Currently working on a three book rock romance series for Scarsdale Publishing, and a hockey series to follow up Halftime.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 118 reviews
April 26, 2021
Book #6 in the Moo U series.
Faith + Seb.
A year ago - after he drunk-dialed her one night confessing to having cheated - she ended their long distance realtionship. He was already in college, she had another year of highschool left. They thought they could do it - after having been together for two years. But nope.
Now Faith is at college too.
What will happen when she finds out what really happened?
LET THE FUN TIMES BEGIN! ☺
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This second-chance love story was really adorable.
I'm not really the super hugest hockey fan and here they both play hockey - but it was cute!
You hope all along that they'll get back together.
But it won't be easy. She's too scared or rather scarred from her parents' weird cheating marriage and he just wants someone to pick him for once - not like his idiot parents.
I swear I will stop reading books if authors don't start writing amazing parents for once. I hate all these horrible idiots. Especially in this series! WHY?!
Anyway. This book was cute, hockey-y, collegey and a bit emotional.
I loved reading it. It was a bit too much back and forth and a good therapist wouldn't have hurt. But still. It was okay. And I loved that we got a nice epilogue for a change. ☺
Can't wait to get more Vermont soon!
HALFTIME was a cute and sparky second-chance college hockey romance! Run to your nearest amazon for your own Seb - he'll be sold out in no time!
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April 28, 2021
Sebastien Hunter is a hockey player at the Moo U, he didn't expect to see his ex girlfriend on the same ice during the freshmen workout. Faith Devereaux is a goalie for the Moo U women team, she’s just arrived and she really wished to not meet her cheating ex boyfriend but that was inevitable because they share the same facility.
Will this be the begin of an awful year or will they try to be mature and to talk things out?
I liked this second chance at love story, even if I was skeptic the hero could redeem himself after cheating on his girlfriend but in the end I was glad I have given him a chance.
Faith and Seb share this deep connection that allows them to understand each other really well, they go way back, they feel at ease talking about their families’ problems, that’s why I can’t believe it took so long to find out what doesn’t work in their relationship. At times the lack of communication between them is unnerving but I forget they are still so young.
I was invested in their journey since the shocking beginning, I hoped they could overcome their issues and find some happiness together.
I liked to see them growing up as a couple and as individual because only knowing ourself better we can build up a stable and healthy relationship.
Halftime was a good story and a quick read I recommend it.
Copy kindly provided by the Publisher/Author.
November 12, 2023
Did not like Faith at all. Seb deserved better but for whatever reason he was fine with her behaviour...
The plot kept going in circles and the paranoia and obsession with cheating just made for a miserable and boring read.
The couple just did not work together and had zero chemistry. I was more interested in finding out about Cooper than the outcome of this story.
The plot kept going in circles and the paranoia and obsession with cheating just made for a miserable and boring read.
The couple just did not work together and had zero chemistry. I was more interested in finding out about Cooper than the outcome of this story.
May 11, 2021
2.5 Stars
I wanted to really like this book, but I just couldn't.
I didn't like Faith very much, and I felt like Faith and Sebastian were maybe better as friends. EEK.
I understand that Faith was rightfully hurt when she thought Sebastian had cheated, but to completely shut him out for years and never once give him the chance to explain anything? Trust is one of the most important thing in a relationship, and Faith didn't have that with Sebastian. Not even after she learns the truth. And sure, she can turn it around and change her ways, but I couldn't help but feel Sebastian deserved better.
I wanted to really like this book, but I just couldn't.
I didn't like Faith very much, and I felt like Faith and Sebastian were maybe better as friends. EEK.
I understand that Faith was rightfully hurt when she thought Sebastian had cheated, but to completely shut him out for years and never once give him the chance to explain anything? Trust is one of the most important thing in a relationship, and Faith didn't have that with Sebastian. Not even after she learns the truth. And sure, she can turn it around and change her ways, but I couldn't help but feel Sebastian deserved better.
April 15, 2021
Faith and Seb's story was cute, but so, so, sooo incredibly frustrating.
Firstly, I liked that we had both male and female hockey players in this one - yay for the women finally getting a look in.
I could understand Faith blocking Seb out of her life for the most part, but sheesh, she was so harsh. And not letting him tell her what really happened. And then finding out what really happened and then treating him like she does - yeah, she got herself on my sh*t list for that.
I love a good second chance story, but to me, Seb was way to good for her for the most part, and she didn't deserve her 3rd chances.
This pair needs to talk it out I tell ya!
Also, what is with with crappy parents in every. single. book. Especially the past few in this series. It is like they all got together and pulled every a-hole parent story they could get -but this is probably just my issues, so ignore it!
I did like where the epilogue showed us in this one though.
April 29, 2021
The epilogue saved a lot for me. I thought that Faith was annoying. Not my favourite moou
April 27, 2021
My TBR list is not thanking me for finding all these awesome new to me authors through the True North world. And since some of my favourite themes are college sport, I really feel like I've hit the jackpot with Moo U.
Faith and Sebastien was a slightly harder story for me to read. Not because of the writing but because it had all the factors I tend to avoid in books. It was a second chance story, and their main issue was their failure to communicate. Which tends to have me screaming at my kindle calling them all kinds of names.
This time wasn't so bad and I'm glad going in that I haven't even thought about looking at the blurbs for these books. Because both Faith and Sebastien were completely awesome, and I enjoyed their story. Yes, they made stupid mistakes, but I got where they were coming from. And neither of them acted like idiots or aceholes. They just dealt and learnt and matured and that is what I want from my NA characters.
And omg I have to mention that I loved that epilogue, it was the perfect cherry on top.
So I've added a new author to the stalk list and I can't wait to have the time to read her backlist. But for now I'm jumping straight into Darkroom. Kisses.
Faith and Sebastien was a slightly harder story for me to read. Not because of the writing but because it had all the factors I tend to avoid in books. It was a second chance story, and their main issue was their failure to communicate. Which tends to have me screaming at my kindle calling them all kinds of names.
This time wasn't so bad and I'm glad going in that I haven't even thought about looking at the blurbs for these books. Because both Faith and Sebastien were completely awesome, and I enjoyed their story. Yes, they made stupid mistakes, but I got where they were coming from. And neither of them acted like idiots or aceholes. They just dealt and learnt and matured and that is what I want from my NA characters.
And omg I have to mention that I loved that epilogue, it was the perfect cherry on top.
So I've added a new author to the stalk list and I can't wait to have the time to read her backlist. But for now I'm jumping straight into Darkroom. Kisses.
April 29, 2021
Halftime by Kim Findlay is the sixth book in the Moo U series. This second chance new adult romance can be read as a standalone.
Faith has always dreamed of going pro in hockey and maybe even one day playing on the same ice as the men. Now that she’s at Moo U, she can see all of her dreams coming true. Well, all of her dreams aside from he who shall not be named. The very man who shattered her heart with one phone call, the man who also happens to be going to the same college and playing on the men’s hockey team. It shouldn’t be that hard to avoid Sebastian… right?!
He knew who she was by first glance, as his friends fawned over her goalie skills, Seb was trying not to pass the hell out. The woman who owned his heart was at HIS college, playing for the women’s hockey team is the very same woman who broke his heart when she ghosted him. So many wrongs need to be righted, but will Faith give him the time of day to finally explain himself… only time will tell.
My Thoughts:
One thing I love about the Moo U series is it’s ability to introduce new authors to readers. Kim Findlay is one of my newest new-to-me authors. After reading Halftime, I have to admit, there were some moments I loved and some moments that had me scratching my head and wondering why the hell that happened. Believe me when I say, I wanted to love this one so damn much, but I needed more chemistry.
I went into Halftime with high hopes. I loved the premise of a woman hockey player wanting to be the best and the only way to gain that title was to prove to everyone around her that she could block any shot, even shots made by the Moo U men’s hockey team. I loved seeing Faith grow to be comfortable in her own skin, and I loved the slight vulnerability she showed throughout this novel….
What I didn’t like was the relationship between Faith and Sebastian…. I was rooting for these two at the start, but somewhere towards the middle of their story, I had an irrational thought, that thought being these two were better off as friends. My theory goes as follows, In order to have a successful relationship there is one key factor that needs to be initiated from the start. Trust. You have to trust the one you're with before you can start to love them. Love without trust is lust. That’s what I felt from Faith and Seb’s relationship. I felt more of a best friend’s with slight benefits coming from them than I did a happily ever after relationship.
What this whole review and the novel itself comes down to is reader preference. I love good banter and the angst that comes along with an on and off relationship, but for me to really enjoy those angsty moments, they usually come towards the seventy percent mark, I have to feel an intense connection towards the couple. I need to feel that these two are in it for the long haul before the rug is ripped out from under my feet. Sadly, I didn’t feel that overwhelmingly intense chemistry I needed to feel.
Overall, I liked Faith and her goals, I liked her vulnerability. I didn’t like her insecurities and the fact that she didn’t wait for a simple conversation with Seb before jumping straight to the ‘he’s a cheater mentality’. What saved this from being a two star rating was Seb’s moment of clarity. The moment he realized he wouldn’t always have the proof to show Faith he wasn’t cheating. I may have gotten a little teary eyed during this moment. The man stood up for himself and his character, that deserves kudos and a standing ovation. After this moment, I saw him in a different light. I was able to feel a connection with his character.
If you’re a fan of second chance romances with a hockey twist, try this one out. Even if it was just a like for me, it may be a love for you. It had definite potential but missed the love mark for me.
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Faith has always dreamed of going pro in hockey and maybe even one day playing on the same ice as the men. Now that she’s at Moo U, she can see all of her dreams coming true. Well, all of her dreams aside from he who shall not be named. The very man who shattered her heart with one phone call, the man who also happens to be going to the same college and playing on the men’s hockey team. It shouldn’t be that hard to avoid Sebastian… right?!
He knew who she was by first glance, as his friends fawned over her goalie skills, Seb was trying not to pass the hell out. The woman who owned his heart was at HIS college, playing for the women’s hockey team is the very same woman who broke his heart when she ghosted him. So many wrongs need to be righted, but will Faith give him the time of day to finally explain himself… only time will tell.
My Thoughts:
One thing I love about the Moo U series is it’s ability to introduce new authors to readers. Kim Findlay is one of my newest new-to-me authors. After reading Halftime, I have to admit, there were some moments I loved and some moments that had me scratching my head and wondering why the hell that happened. Believe me when I say, I wanted to love this one so damn much, but I needed more chemistry.
I went into Halftime with high hopes. I loved the premise of a woman hockey player wanting to be the best and the only way to gain that title was to prove to everyone around her that she could block any shot, even shots made by the Moo U men’s hockey team. I loved seeing Faith grow to be comfortable in her own skin, and I loved the slight vulnerability she showed throughout this novel….
What I didn’t like was the relationship between Faith and Sebastian…. I was rooting for these two at the start, but somewhere towards the middle of their story, I had an irrational thought, that thought being these two were better off as friends. My theory goes as follows, In order to have a successful relationship there is one key factor that needs to be initiated from the start. Trust. You have to trust the one you're with before you can start to love them. Love without trust is lust. That’s what I felt from Faith and Seb’s relationship. I felt more of a best friend’s with slight benefits coming from them than I did a happily ever after relationship.
What this whole review and the novel itself comes down to is reader preference. I love good banter and the angst that comes along with an on and off relationship, but for me to really enjoy those angsty moments, they usually come towards the seventy percent mark, I have to feel an intense connection towards the couple. I need to feel that these two are in it for the long haul before the rug is ripped out from under my feet. Sadly, I didn’t feel that overwhelmingly intense chemistry I needed to feel.
Overall, I liked Faith and her goals, I liked her vulnerability. I didn’t like her insecurities and the fact that she didn’t wait for a simple conversation with Seb before jumping straight to the ‘he’s a cheater mentality’. What saved this from being a two star rating was Seb’s moment of clarity. The moment he realized he wouldn’t always have the proof to show Faith he wasn’t cheating. I may have gotten a little teary eyed during this moment. The man stood up for himself and his character, that deserves kudos and a standing ovation. After this moment, I saw him in a different light. I was able to feel a connection with his character.
If you’re a fan of second chance romances with a hockey twist, try this one out. Even if it was just a like for me, it may be a love for you. It had definite potential but missed the love mark for me.
________________
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The Staircase Reader
Twitterv
April 28, 2021
LISTEN, some books need to come with a warning that goes like this … ALERT, adult people possibly behaving ridiculously (and not in a cute way) ahead! *blink* Let me get this one thing out of the way. For me, like in my world, if you’re in a rocky situation with another human being and you shut them out completely from explaining their side, you forfeit your right to being a assjack about any of it once you find out. Especially if you grow even more rocky because you found out from maybe a third party or way after the fact. If you’re reading this Faith, life is short chic, get your life in order *shakes head*
As you can see, Faith and I are not besties. If I tell you the why of it, then I’m telling you too much of the stories, but I will say this … I really wish less stories would be so stereotypical when it comes to young adults. That’s all I’m going to say on any and all actions and reactions happening in this book.
Now, what I really liked. I enjoyed the heck out of the growth in this story. I enjoyed the writing of said growth. I enjoyed the camaraderie amongst the secondary characters and their added layer to the story. And even tho me and Faith will probably never be *friends* (lol) I like where her life is going with Seb and wish her well ;)
As you can see, Faith and I are not besties. If I tell you the why of it, then I’m telling you too much of the stories, but I will say this … I really wish less stories would be so stereotypical when it comes to young adults. That’s all I’m going to say on any and all actions and reactions happening in this book.
Now, what I really liked. I enjoyed the heck out of the growth in this story. I enjoyed the writing of said growth. I enjoyed the camaraderie amongst the secondary characters and their added layer to the story. And even tho me and Faith will probably never be *friends* (lol) I like where her life is going with Seb and wish her well ;)
The puck dropped. My wife deflected the first shot on goal. My daughter and I cheered.
May 4, 2021
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Read more of my reviews at Whoo Gives A Hoot
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Halftime by Kim Findlay is the sixth interconnected standalone in the MOO U series (connected to Sarina Bowen's World of True North universe) and I absolutely adored both the hero, Sebastien "Seb" Hunter and the heroine, Faith Devereaux. These two were so freaking adorable and I loved that both of them were hockey players. I don't know what it is, but there is just something I love about to incredible athletes who fall in love. The author did a phenomenal job showcasing both the male and female MOO U hockey teams equally throughout the storyline so that we had the chance to experience both characters in their element. This second chance romance is full of angsty moments about learning to trust and working through unresolved issues that led to the initial end to their relationship.
Seb Hunter destroyed his long distance relationship his freshman year with a drunken late night call that led to the biggest misunderstanding and ultimately the end to his relationship. A year later, he has finally moved on and is in a new relationship, but when his ex shows up on campus as a goalie on the girl's MOO U hockey team, he is soon back to wishing things had turned out differently. When his romantic feelings for Faith resurface, he knows he needs to convince her what she thinks happened, never actually happened.
Faith Devereaux had her heart shattered a year ago when her boyfriend calls her in a drunken state, making little to no sense as a misunderstanding leads to the end of their relationship and a broken heart. Even though her ex attends MOO U, she chooses to accept a spot on the girl's hockey team. When they run into each other, sparks begin to fly again and those feelings start to come back. Faith needs to learn to trust Seb again if they are ever going to get their happily ever after.
This story was a great addition to the MOO U series and I once again get to add another new-to-me author to my list. It's amazing how many author's I have discovered through this world and I can't wait to get my hands on the next book in the series.
Halftime by Kim Findlay is the sixth interconnected standalone in the MOO U series (connected to Sarina Bowen's World of True North universe) and I absolutely adored both the hero, Sebastien "Seb" Hunter and the heroine, Faith Devereaux. These two were so freaking adorable and I loved that both of them were hockey players. I don't know what it is, but there is just something I love about to incredible athletes who fall in love. The author did a phenomenal job showcasing both the male and female MOO U hockey teams equally throughout the storyline so that we had the chance to experience both characters in their element. This second chance romance is full of angsty moments about learning to trust and working through unresolved issues that led to the initial end to their relationship.
Seb Hunter destroyed his long distance relationship his freshman year with a drunken late night call that led to the biggest misunderstanding and ultimately the end to his relationship. A year later, he has finally moved on and is in a new relationship, but when his ex shows up on campus as a goalie on the girl's MOO U hockey team, he is soon back to wishing things had turned out differently. When his romantic feelings for Faith resurface, he knows he needs to convince her what she thinks happened, never actually happened.
Faith Devereaux had her heart shattered a year ago when her boyfriend calls her in a drunken state, making little to no sense as a misunderstanding leads to the end of their relationship and a broken heart. Even though her ex attends MOO U, she chooses to accept a spot on the girl's hockey team. When they run into each other, sparks begin to fly again and those feelings start to come back. Faith needs to learn to trust Seb again if they are ever going to get their happily ever after.
This story was a great addition to the MOO U series and I once again get to add another new-to-me author to my list. It's amazing how many author's I have discovered through this world and I can't wait to get my hands on the next book in the series.
June 7, 2021
Halftime by Kim Findlay is the sixth book in the Moo U Series, it is a sweet second chance/college romance. I enjoyed the story but found myself frustrated with the heroine at times. Sebastien deserved better. Faith had some big trust issues and I felt that he never really deserved her lack of trust in him after his intial explanation. There is some growth in these characters by the end but I cannot say this one was my favourite. I did enjoy the female hockey team being introduced and hope to see them more in future books in the series.
November 18, 2021
Ok at least the parents weren’t all up in these characters faces.
I wasn’t a fan of Faith I get it cheating is a no go but she knew right away something wasn’t right he wasn’t in his right mind and didn’t fully even say what happen.
ASSUMPTIONS!! I hate it and the drama drives me bonkers.
Then the whole coach bull and I was kinda over this book but I like Seb so I kept listening.
Really he was the only reason I kept listening.
The narration was great.
On to the next.
I wasn’t a fan of Faith I get it cheating is a no go but she knew right away something wasn’t right he wasn’t in his right mind and didn’t fully even say what happen.
ASSUMPTIONS!! I hate it and the drama drives me bonkers.
Then the whole coach bull and I was kinda over this book but I like Seb so I kept listening.
Really he was the only reason I kept listening.
The narration was great.
On to the next.
September 6, 2023
okay um i raved about how seamless the transition between the books were but this was different - the writing style is slightly different and the separation between povs is also more frequent and often during a same chapter.
that being said - still a fun read, it was nice to see this second chance romance play out and how the fmc had to learn to trust him and yk just it was cute.
that being said - still a fun read, it was nice to see this second chance romance play out and how the fmc had to learn to trust him and yk just it was cute.
April 26, 2021
I feel like I've mentioned this in previous hockey romance reviews but it is freaking hilarious to me that I have become to entangled in these books and I know NOTHING about hockey. Seriously. Like the fact that Faith also played hockey in this one made it 10x better to me for whatever reason and again, it's not because I am a rea life hockey fan lolol. Really though, this book, along with Sarina Bowen's, Bombshells has me so excited for future books featuring players from the women's league. I really love that dynamic and learning more about how much of an unfair advantage those ladies are at compared to their male counterparts.
To get more into this story though, we start out the book about a year before the main events actually happen. Faith (who has grown up with seeing her dad cheat on her mom for YEARS) gets a drunken call from her boyfriend, Seb. He's so drunk and distraught that he's not making any kind of sense but from what she can decipher, he's cheated on her. Not wanting to deal with that shit in her own relationship and life, she completely cuts ties and blocks him on every platform imaginable.
Fast-forward to a year later and the beginning of the semester at Moo U. Seb is at the rink with a few of his teammates when he catches sight of a goalie. A female goalie. One whose very movements on the ice were as familiar to him as his own. He did NOT know she'd be attending and high tails it out of there. The two ~of course~ end up bumping into each other and eventually wind up back in each other's lives.
Let me first start out by saying, THANK YOU Cooper. He's Seb's best friend, teammate, and roommate and helps play matchmaker throughout the entire damn book LOLLL. At one point he says, "The two of you are worse than Romeo and Juliet. If there was any poison around here, you'd both be dead." Wiser words were never spoken. Even though these two have always had explosive chemistry, obviously the cheating thing is problematic. Just as I had expected/hoped. Seb didn't cheat on Faith. He was drunk and missing her, a girl crawled into his bed, and when he realized it wasn't her, he FLIPPED out. Of course, the fact that Faith THOUGHT he had for an entire freaking year isn't just going to go away.
I am glad that they did talk about that and that she came to terms with how that could affect their relationship down the road. Seb really was an all around great guy, possibly even one of my top favorites of this series so far. He was kind, loving, honest, and I just wanted to wrap him up in a tight squeeze considering how he felt forgotten within his own family. I really thought these two were great together and the quote that I added below that is from the epilogue 10000% solidified how much I loved this book. It seriously gives me goosebumps every time I read it.
The puck dropped. My wife deflected the first shot on goal. My daughter and I cheered.
It was perfect.
Huge thanks to Heart Eyes Press for allowing me to read a copy of this eARC in exchange for my honest opinion!♥
For more of my reviews, please visit:
To get more into this story though, we start out the book about a year before the main events actually happen. Faith (who has grown up with seeing her dad cheat on her mom for YEARS) gets a drunken call from her boyfriend, Seb. He's so drunk and distraught that he's not making any kind of sense but from what she can decipher, he's cheated on her. Not wanting to deal with that shit in her own relationship and life, she completely cuts ties and blocks him on every platform imaginable.
Fast-forward to a year later and the beginning of the semester at Moo U. Seb is at the rink with a few of his teammates when he catches sight of a goalie. A female goalie. One whose very movements on the ice were as familiar to him as his own. He did NOT know she'd be attending and high tails it out of there. The two ~of course~ end up bumping into each other and eventually wind up back in each other's lives.
Let me first start out by saying, THANK YOU Cooper. He's Seb's best friend, teammate, and roommate and helps play matchmaker throughout the entire damn book LOLLL. At one point he says, "The two of you are worse than Romeo and Juliet. If there was any poison around here, you'd both be dead." Wiser words were never spoken. Even though these two have always had explosive chemistry, obviously the cheating thing is problematic. Just as I had expected/hoped. Seb didn't cheat on Faith. He was drunk and missing her, a girl crawled into his bed, and when he realized it wasn't her, he FLIPPED out. Of course, the fact that Faith THOUGHT he had for an entire freaking year isn't just going to go away.
I am glad that they did talk about that and that she came to terms with how that could affect their relationship down the road. Seb really was an all around great guy, possibly even one of my top favorites of this series so far. He was kind, loving, honest, and I just wanted to wrap him up in a tight squeeze considering how he felt forgotten within his own family. I really thought these two were great together and the quote that I added below that is from the epilogue 10000% solidified how much I loved this book. It seriously gives me goosebumps every time I read it.
The puck dropped. My wife deflected the first shot on goal. My daughter and I cheered.
It was perfect.
Huge thanks to Heart Eyes Press for allowing me to read a copy of this eARC in exchange for my honest opinion!♥
For more of my reviews, please visit:
April 28, 2021
Books, Coffee & Passion
I was so hyped for this book because it was an all hockey romance! Faith, just as Seb, was a hockey player and I really wanted to read about her perspective, her struggles and experiences in hockey and of course their romance. Their story had a tricky premise and I was a little worried about that.
Seb was a great guy. Sweet, caring and still hung up on his ex: Faith. They had a major blow up soon after Seb started college but, even though Seb thought he had moved on, it was pretty clear that he still had feelings for her. I went into this thinking I would struggle with Seb, but the author did an amazing job with the circumstances surrounding their break up and with his character. I loved him so much! I need to stop loving characters this much from the beginning, because that usually means it's harder to meet my high expectations regarding their love interest. Spoiler alert: It happened with this book. Cooper, Seb's hockey teammate and friend, was a great character too. I'm very curious about him, I want to understand why he was so invested in Seb and Faith's relationship. I hope we get his story!
Faith was a complex character. I loved Faith, the goalie - hockey player aspects, in the story. I loved the way the author showed the double standards for male and female athletes, this is such an important topic and I enjoyed it being exposed. I adored Faith's passion for hockey and how hard she fought for her dream. She was also a great team player and her story was very empowering. Unfortunately, she did annoy me, at times, mostly because of the way she handled Seb. I understood that she had major trust issues and she had her reasons for it. Her parents relationship was very dysfunctional, her mom and her dad were awful together, and Seb drunk dialing her, leading to their breakup (before the book started), didn't really help her with trusting. Honestly, I wasn't convinced Faith would trust Seb completely, no matter what he did. And I hated that for him. In spite of that, I really wanted them to be together and I rooted for them. I just doubted that Faith was ready to completely trust him (or any other love interest) at this point.
Then... the epilogue... I LOVED it. I cried when I read it. I can't put into words how much I truly loved it. It was PERFECT! Frankly, I was thinking about rating it 3 or 3.5 stars until the epilogue, but I ended up boosting it up to 4 stars. That epilogue... 😍😍😍
Overall, Halftime was a sweet, entertaining, empowering, interesting, well written story. I hope we get more books featuring Faith's teammates! I would love that!
I was so hyped for this book because it was an all hockey romance! Faith, just as Seb, was a hockey player and I really wanted to read about her perspective, her struggles and experiences in hockey and of course their romance. Their story had a tricky premise and I was a little worried about that.
Seb was a great guy. Sweet, caring and still hung up on his ex: Faith. They had a major blow up soon after Seb started college but, even though Seb thought he had moved on, it was pretty clear that he still had feelings for her. I went into this thinking I would struggle with Seb, but the author did an amazing job with the circumstances surrounding their break up and with his character. I loved him so much! I need to stop loving characters this much from the beginning, because that usually means it's harder to meet my high expectations regarding their love interest. Spoiler alert: It happened with this book. Cooper, Seb's hockey teammate and friend, was a great character too. I'm very curious about him, I want to understand why he was so invested in Seb and Faith's relationship. I hope we get his story!
Faith was a complex character. I loved Faith, the goalie - hockey player aspects, in the story. I loved the way the author showed the double standards for male and female athletes, this is such an important topic and I enjoyed it being exposed. I adored Faith's passion for hockey and how hard she fought for her dream. She was also a great team player and her story was very empowering. Unfortunately, she did annoy me, at times, mostly because of the way she handled Seb. I understood that she had major trust issues and she had her reasons for it. Her parents relationship was very dysfunctional, her mom and her dad were awful together, and Seb drunk dialing her, leading to their breakup (before the book started), didn't really help her with trusting. Honestly, I wasn't convinced Faith would trust Seb completely, no matter what he did. And I hated that for him. In spite of that, I really wanted them to be together and I rooted for them. I just doubted that Faith was ready to completely trust him (or any other love interest) at this point.
Then... the epilogue... I LOVED it. I cried when I read it. I can't put into words how much I truly loved it. It was PERFECT! Frankly, I was thinking about rating it 3 or 3.5 stars until the epilogue, but I ended up boosting it up to 4 stars. That epilogue... 😍😍😍
Overall, Halftime was a sweet, entertaining, empowering, interesting, well written story. I hope we get more books featuring Faith's teammates! I would love that!
May 20, 2021
Not gonna lie, this book so frustrating! Faith was so frustrating, to be so young and already so jaded about relationships was no good. Sebastien Hunter plays for the Moo U hockey team and being a hockey god on campus cost him a relationship. Faith Devereaux is the new goalie for the women's team at Moo U and she's now attending the same school as her ex. Faith and Seb broke up because she believes that he cheated on her and cut him off for an entire year. But now with both of them in Vermont, they are bound to run into each other. I liked Seb, he was a good guy who so happened to have had a girl kiss him while drunk and tried to explain things to Faith but she wouldn't hear him out. Seeing each other again brought a lot of old feelings to the surface for the both of them, especially for Seb who didn't cheat. Cooper, one of Seb's best friends on the team was a freaking matchmaker, he wanted to see his friend be with the girl he loved. I really liked Cooper, he didn't do relationships himself but he understood that his friend wanted one and always tried to help. Faith was so frustrating, she equated Seb to her father who was always cheating on her mother. Faith was having trouble with the women's coach, her parents and the Seb situation, she always jumped to conclusions that weren't true. Since they've known each other for so long, Faith and Seb were good together because they were friends before they even started going out years prior, they had hockey in common and just had fun together. A lot happened where both Faith and Sebastien had to take time to figure out what they wanted in general. In the end they realized that they made each other happy and that they could make things work and that they loved each other. The two epilogues were so amazing, we got to see the immediate future and some years from now and both Faith and Sebastien had their dreams come true. I loved that Cooper was still part of their lives and being an amazing friend to the both of them.
May 7, 2021
4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Halftime by Kim Findlay is book 6 in the Moo U series, set at Burlington University and a part of Sarina Bowen’s The World of True North series.
Sebastien Hunter is a student and hockey player at college and is a guy who is not over his ex-girlfriend, though he may seem to be.
Faith Deveraux is said ex-girlfriend, who is a new student at Moo U, also a hockey player, a goalie for the women’s team. I really love all this hockey!
These two were together, and had a pretty good relationship until a drunken night broke them apart. Now they’re back at the same University, both playing hockey, something Seb was totally not expecting, especially as he thought he was over Faith.
Kim Findlay is a new-to-me author and I enjoyed reading her story. This is a New Adult series, so the college environment and antics are to be expected, especially the conflicts and trust issues that may be frustrating to the reader as you just want Seb and Faith to communicate!
I liked reading how these two slowly reestablished their friendship, and the chemistry was there, I was definitely cheering for a second chance at romance for these two, despite some obstacles in the way. And the epilogue is just amazing!
I recommend Halftime to readers who enjoy New Adult romance, college hockey and second-chance romance. Halftime gets 4 stars from me!
Thankyou for the early copy I received, this is an honest review.
Halftime by Kim Findlay is book 6 in the Moo U series, set at Burlington University and a part of Sarina Bowen’s The World of True North series.
Sebastien Hunter is a student and hockey player at college and is a guy who is not over his ex-girlfriend, though he may seem to be.
Faith Deveraux is said ex-girlfriend, who is a new student at Moo U, also a hockey player, a goalie for the women’s team. I really love all this hockey!
These two were together, and had a pretty good relationship until a drunken night broke them apart. Now they’re back at the same University, both playing hockey, something Seb was totally not expecting, especially as he thought he was over Faith.
Kim Findlay is a new-to-me author and I enjoyed reading her story. This is a New Adult series, so the college environment and antics are to be expected, especially the conflicts and trust issues that may be frustrating to the reader as you just want Seb and Faith to communicate!
I liked reading how these two slowly reestablished their friendship, and the chemistry was there, I was definitely cheering for a second chance at romance for these two, despite some obstacles in the way. And the epilogue is just amazing!
I recommend Halftime to readers who enjoy New Adult romance, college hockey and second-chance romance. Halftime gets 4 stars from me!
Thankyou for the early copy I received, this is an honest review.
April 23, 2021
4.5 Stars for Halftime (Moo U #6)
Kim Findlay is a fairly new author to me but that’s going to change because I really enjoyed Seb Hunter and Faith Devereaux’s second chance at love. I love my visits catching up with the hockey team from Moo U but Halftime is different to others in the Moo U world because this time we get to meet the woman’s hockey team and this is a great addition to this Hockey World Series.
Seb and Faith have a history, they were together for 2 years until a drunken phone call led to a massive misunderstanding which then led to the biggest mistake of his life. Seb can’t believe a year later he has come face to face with Faith when she enrols in Moo U. Faith knows she is likely to bump into her ex but she won’t let that stop her moving forward with her hockey career but how will she really feel when she faces the man she believes cheated on her, the man who haunts her dreams...
This is a great addition to the Moo U Series, it has a interesting and captivating story, it has characters you will fall in love with and it’s entertaining, witty and throughly enjoyable.
Kim Findlay is a fairly new author to me but that’s going to change because I really enjoyed Seb Hunter and Faith Devereaux’s second chance at love. I love my visits catching up with the hockey team from Moo U but Halftime is different to others in the Moo U world because this time we get to meet the woman’s hockey team and this is a great addition to this Hockey World Series.
Seb and Faith have a history, they were together for 2 years until a drunken phone call led to a massive misunderstanding which then led to the biggest mistake of his life. Seb can’t believe a year later he has come face to face with Faith when she enrols in Moo U. Faith knows she is likely to bump into her ex but she won’t let that stop her moving forward with her hockey career but how will she really feel when she faces the man she believes cheated on her, the man who haunts her dreams...
This is a great addition to the Moo U Series, it has a interesting and captivating story, it has characters you will fall in love with and it’s entertaining, witty and throughly enjoyable.
March 7, 2023
Oh man. Faith and Seb were kind of a mess for a while. And what I really mean is they were a HOT MESS. Seb had never really gotten over Faith and Faith had spent a year believing the person she trusted most had cheated on her at the first opportunity. Being on the same campus and (nominally) sharing space had both of them on edge from the start.
Good thing for both of them they had Seb's teammate willing (and able) to play matchmaker. Without Coop, they'd probably still be scowling their way around campus, desperately hoping they don't cross paths. Well, maybe Seb would have been okay with crossing paths, but Faith was all in on the avoidance.
As it turns out, Seb did not cheat. Faith had to work her head around that (which caused a little friction at times) and then she had to face down some baggage (courtesy of her mom and dad's weird relationship) that had unconsciously shaped her.
Hockey, family issues, trust, and two people who had to relearn how to be with one another. GOOD STUFF.
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
Good thing for both of them they had Seb's teammate willing (and able) to play matchmaker. Without Coop, they'd probably still be scowling their way around campus, desperately hoping they don't cross paths. Well, maybe Seb would have been okay with crossing paths, but Faith was all in on the avoidance.
As it turns out, Seb did not cheat. Faith had to work her head around that (which caused a little friction at times) and then she had to face down some baggage (courtesy of her mom and dad's weird relationship) that had unconsciously shaped her.
Hockey, family issues, trust, and two people who had to relearn how to be with one another. GOOD STUFF.
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
April 27, 2021
Halftime is the sixth book in the Moo U series, but it’s a complete standalone so it works perfectly on its own. There’s absolutely no need to read any other book before.
I’m a real football fan, what you call soccer in the US, and as such I think Halftime is a pretty cool title. There are no halftimes in hockey, but there are two sides to this story given it’s a second chance between two hockey players. Things between Seb and Faith went sideways during the first half of their story, so it’s up to them to correct the course and make it right during the second half. I thought it was really appropriate.
And I love the fact that Faith is a hockey player. She’s a goalie determined to become a professional hockey player. It’s her dream. And having considered all her options, Burlington U is where she has to go to college to have the best chance for success. And that’s despite the fact that her cheating ex-boyfriend Seb is a sophomore defenseman for the men’s hockey team.
Sebastien was heartbroken when Faith ghosted him in lieu of a breakup a year ago. A drunken phone call lead to a misunderstanding of epic proportions and the relationship was over. But when Faith shows up at Moo U things change. He’s conflicted about his feelings for her and isn’t sure how to move on. But being friends is tough when there are feelings involved, so it’s up to them to work on their differences and see if they are willing to risk their hearts and give their feelings for each other a second chance.
I enjoyed reading this story. I loved Cooper, Seb’s teammate and friend. He’s refreshingly outspoken and funny, and his meddling ways make the story so much fun. Seb is sweet and considered, he’s a truly great guy. But as determined as Faith is, she’s not as secure off the ice as she’s on it, and she’ll have to work on her trust issues if she wants to have a healthy relationship with Seb. And Seb has his own issues, with a family life that has left him feeling alone and unwanted but at the same time pressures him. I found Faith’s way of thinking a bit annoying at first but when she realizes why she’s acting the way she is, her attitude changes. And I find it understandable.
Halftime is a good college hockey romance between two hockey players. It’s intense and sweet and emotional. I love the emphasis on women’s sports and how much more difficult it is for women to succeed in the college and professional levels, but it’s done in a very organic way. It’s a great addition to the Moo U series.
I’m a real football fan, what you call soccer in the US, and as such I think Halftime is a pretty cool title. There are no halftimes in hockey, but there are two sides to this story given it’s a second chance between two hockey players. Things between Seb and Faith went sideways during the first half of their story, so it’s up to them to correct the course and make it right during the second half. I thought it was really appropriate.
And I love the fact that Faith is a hockey player. She’s a goalie determined to become a professional hockey player. It’s her dream. And having considered all her options, Burlington U is where she has to go to college to have the best chance for success. And that’s despite the fact that her cheating ex-boyfriend Seb is a sophomore defenseman for the men’s hockey team.
Sebastien was heartbroken when Faith ghosted him in lieu of a breakup a year ago. A drunken phone call lead to a misunderstanding of epic proportions and the relationship was over. But when Faith shows up at Moo U things change. He’s conflicted about his feelings for her and isn’t sure how to move on. But being friends is tough when there are feelings involved, so it’s up to them to work on their differences and see if they are willing to risk their hearts and give their feelings for each other a second chance.
I enjoyed reading this story. I loved Cooper, Seb’s teammate and friend. He’s refreshingly outspoken and funny, and his meddling ways make the story so much fun. Seb is sweet and considered, he’s a truly great guy. But as determined as Faith is, she’s not as secure off the ice as she’s on it, and she’ll have to work on her trust issues if she wants to have a healthy relationship with Seb. And Seb has his own issues, with a family life that has left him feeling alone and unwanted but at the same time pressures him. I found Faith’s way of thinking a bit annoying at first but when she realizes why she’s acting the way she is, her attitude changes. And I find it understandable.
Halftime is a good college hockey romance between two hockey players. It’s intense and sweet and emotional. I love the emphasis on women’s sports and how much more difficult it is for women to succeed in the college and professional levels, but it’s done in a very organic way. It’s a great addition to the Moo U series.
April 20, 2024
This was the first book of the series where I skipped read a few chapters. I get it, they both have shitty families but when you have them finally confront said families and we don’t get a huge scene just a throw away 2/3 sentences that made me mad. Might need to take a break some the series for a bit just so I don’t have burnout. This series has been very fun to read but I fear burnout is real
May 1, 2021
The first three books of this series are so much better 🤔😬
I wasted my time to Halftime because the heroine refused to listen...immaturity at it's finest..
#NoFaithInSeb
#YoungLove
#SecondChanceLove
#PleaseHaveFaith
I wasted my time to Halftime because the heroine refused to listen...immaturity at it's finest..
#NoFaithInSeb
#YoungLove
#SecondChanceLove
#PleaseHaveFaith
October 28, 2021
It's really nice that the story about Seb's cheating is revealed early on.
I hated going back in time after each chapter but I appreciated the info en perspective of the other character. And also seb and faith being friends was boring to read. It took too long.
I think I was hoping on reading more fights between Seb an Faith. They could have been friends turn lovers, turn enemies, turn friends to lovers. That would have been fun to read about.
Reading about cooper made me hope the next book was about him and his lost love. But no such luck. Missed oppertunity. And reading faith's thougts where becoming longwinded. The writing is juvenile. I wonder how old Kim Findlay is. It had potential but it's not there yet. If I have to read about Fsith's dad cheating one more time I will combust. Just like the fact that the mens team will play a out of town when the girls play from home. Kim, I got that. No need for repeating. All the repeating of things, Penny and Seb coming to the same realisation of how pictures can seem to tell something it is not, was just dissapointing.
I hated going back in time after each chapter but I appreciated the info en perspective of the other character. And also seb and faith being friends was boring to read. It took too long.
I think I was hoping on reading more fights between Seb an Faith. They could have been friends turn lovers, turn enemies, turn friends to lovers. That would have been fun to read about.
Reading about cooper made me hope the next book was about him and his lost love. But no such luck. Missed oppertunity. And reading faith's thougts where becoming longwinded. The writing is juvenile. I wonder how old Kim Findlay is. It had potential but it's not there yet. If I have to read about Fsith's dad cheating one more time I will combust. Just like the fact that the mens team will play a out of town when the girls play from home. Kim, I got that. No need for repeating. All the repeating of things, Penny and Seb coming to the same realisation of how pictures can seem to tell something it is not, was just dissapointing.
Shelved as 'dnf'
July 18, 2021DNF @ 52%
I just don't care enough about either of these main characters to continue.
I just don't care enough about either of these main characters to continue.
December 17, 2021
This was a 3 until the epilogue. The epilogue got me.
June 11, 2023
1 Star.
What I Liked:
• Oof, it was okay
What Wasn't My Cup of Tea:
• Miscommunication
• Faith not trusting Seb
• Faith being snobby?
Overall Thoughts:
Okay, this book was just a no for me. I didn't like either of the main characters right from the beginning which doesn't sound promising.
Faith constantly didn't believe Seb, no matter what he did, he could not be redeemed. He "cheated" on her once & so when she sees a photo of him where he's close to another girl he's cheating again...even though he never cheated the first time? She's a mess. She's actually pretty snobby too, being benched because she's trying to 'date' one of the boys hockey players just felt stupid & having the coach instantly hate her made Faith keep thinking 'oh I could've saved those goals, they wouldn't be able to get passed ME'. She just was snobby & stuck up in that respect. It's written in a way that it's not even about skill, it's just about Faith pouting that she can't play.
Then, holy miscommunication Batman. I can take some miscommunication, it bound to happen in a romance, but to this level? It just broke the charts. She should've gave Seb a chance to explain himself both times before she jumped the conclusion that he's cheating on her or lying to her or anything.
Overall, I was not a fan of this book, definitely worth a skip.
What I Liked:
• Oof, it was okay
What Wasn't My Cup of Tea:
• Miscommunication
• Faith not trusting Seb
• Faith being snobby?
Overall Thoughts:
Okay, this book was just a no for me. I didn't like either of the main characters right from the beginning which doesn't sound promising.
Faith constantly didn't believe Seb, no matter what he did, he could not be redeemed. He "cheated" on her once & so when she sees a photo of him where he's close to another girl he's cheating again...even though he never cheated the first time? She's a mess. She's actually pretty snobby too, being benched because she's trying to 'date' one of the boys hockey players just felt stupid & having the coach instantly hate her made Faith keep thinking 'oh I could've saved those goals, they wouldn't be able to get passed ME'. She just was snobby & stuck up in that respect. It's written in a way that it's not even about skill, it's just about Faith pouting that she can't play.
Then, holy miscommunication Batman. I can take some miscommunication, it bound to happen in a romance, but to this level? It just broke the charts. She should've gave Seb a chance to explain himself both times before she jumped the conclusion that he's cheating on her or lying to her or anything.
Overall, I was not a fan of this book, definitely worth a skip.
August 18, 2021
Ugh SO MUCh internal dialogue angst! Characters both need some major counseling to get over their issues. Skimmed much of the book because it was pretty repetitive. Like 90% just them thinking and giving exposition. I actually wish the heroine had been paired up w another character in the story then the main.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 21, 2023
I loved this hockey romance and will now be bugging Kim for Cooper's story.
April 25, 2021
https://celebrityreaders.com/2021/04/...
I received a free copy through Heart Eyes Press in exchange for an honest and unbiased review/opinion.
4.5 stars — This one surprised me! While I could tell from the blurb that there wasn’t any cheating, I still wasn’t sure exactly what that meant and how it would reflect on our characters. It was definitely complicated, but I was okay with it, so phew!
I seriously fell in love with Sebastien. I mean, he was complicated for sure, but he was sweet and endearing. I truly felt for how much his childhood of neglect had affected him, and how he strove to fit wherever he was — to not make waves. And it truly explained how desperate he was to explain things to Faith, and thus why he made the boneheaded mistake of calling while drunk. I think the thing is that I really appreciate heroes who are outside the norms. I kind of loved that he wasn’t interested in playing the field, that he was pretty down to earth about his hockey playing and future (though there was a lot more to that as well). I just…I don’t know, I loved him. He is 100% the extra half star bump all on his own.
Faith, on the other hand, was hella complicated! But what’s weird is that I liked her despite all the things I *didn’t* have in common with her. I think part of that is that I 100% connected with her about how she saw herself in comparison to other girls b/c she was taller and bigger — I think it’s not something that everyone can understand…it’s sort of in the background but always there. And then for all the things that I don’t have in common, Ms. Findlay did a hell of a job of helping me to see who Faith was, and how she came to be that way, and why she held those beliefs. She was fiercely competitive and hardworking and ambitious (none of those qualities describe me). But it made sense for Faith. And then there were the effects of her own fucked up childhood and how it coloured her views on relationships. I expected to get a lot more frustrated with her than I actually did. Which is not to say I didn’t get frustrated with her, more just that I could see what was going on, even if I wanted her to wake up.
I loved them together, even as I ached watching them go through all the ups and downs. You could tell how close they were, how strong their bond was. I loved seeing them get their friendship back and seeing them supporting one another. And their steamy chemistry was pretty fantastic — it had both comfort and excitement.
And the conflict was okay for me…in fact it was necessary. I was so proud of Sebastien for his realization, and I appreciated that it took Faith a while to figure things out. I think it wouldn’t have been believable if she’d figured it out right away. I will admit that I agree with a fellow blogger that I wish they’d mentioned counselling — because it’s unrealistic for Faith to make those changes on her own, it’s just too huge.
I was surprised at the conflict that Faith ended up having with her coach. While I could understand it to a degree, I was infinitely upset on behalf of Faith that her coach was so unprofessional and dickish. I get that it sort of resolved, and I get the underlying reasons, but it never should have dragged on that long, and her coach should have apologized.
On the good surprise front was Cooper! He was like a little fairy godfather in the background. I kind of loved what he brought to both Seb and Faith in their growth. He was very astute, and it made me wonder what was in his past to explain him. I kind of want his book, and I’m not sure I’m going to get it. I also really appreciated the friendship that Faith developed with Penny. It was different, but she needed that.
So yeah. I enjoyed this way more than I was expecting. Gotta love it when that happens, you know?
I received a free copy through Heart Eyes Press in exchange for an honest and unbiased review/opinion.
4.5 stars — This one surprised me! While I could tell from the blurb that there wasn’t any cheating, I still wasn’t sure exactly what that meant and how it would reflect on our characters. It was definitely complicated, but I was okay with it, so phew!
I seriously fell in love with Sebastien. I mean, he was complicated for sure, but he was sweet and endearing. I truly felt for how much his childhood of neglect had affected him, and how he strove to fit wherever he was — to not make waves. And it truly explained how desperate he was to explain things to Faith, and thus why he made the boneheaded mistake of calling while drunk. I think the thing is that I really appreciate heroes who are outside the norms. I kind of loved that he wasn’t interested in playing the field, that he was pretty down to earth about his hockey playing and future (though there was a lot more to that as well). I just…I don’t know, I loved him. He is 100% the extra half star bump all on his own.
Faith, on the other hand, was hella complicated! But what’s weird is that I liked her despite all the things I *didn’t* have in common with her. I think part of that is that I 100% connected with her about how she saw herself in comparison to other girls b/c she was taller and bigger — I think it’s not something that everyone can understand…it’s sort of in the background but always there. And then for all the things that I don’t have in common, Ms. Findlay did a hell of a job of helping me to see who Faith was, and how she came to be that way, and why she held those beliefs. She was fiercely competitive and hardworking and ambitious (none of those qualities describe me). But it made sense for Faith. And then there were the effects of her own fucked up childhood and how it coloured her views on relationships. I expected to get a lot more frustrated with her than I actually did. Which is not to say I didn’t get frustrated with her, more just that I could see what was going on, even if I wanted her to wake up.
I loved them together, even as I ached watching them go through all the ups and downs. You could tell how close they were, how strong their bond was. I loved seeing them get their friendship back and seeing them supporting one another. And their steamy chemistry was pretty fantastic — it had both comfort and excitement.
And the conflict was okay for me…in fact it was necessary. I was so proud of Sebastien for his realization, and I appreciated that it took Faith a while to figure things out. I think it wouldn’t have been believable if she’d figured it out right away. I will admit that I agree with a fellow blogger that I wish they’d mentioned counselling — because it’s unrealistic for Faith to make those changes on her own, it’s just too huge.
I was surprised at the conflict that Faith ended up having with her coach. While I could understand it to a degree, I was infinitely upset on behalf of Faith that her coach was so unprofessional and dickish. I get that it sort of resolved, and I get the underlying reasons, but it never should have dragged on that long, and her coach should have apologized.
On the good surprise front was Cooper! He was like a little fairy godfather in the background. I kind of loved what he brought to both Seb and Faith in their growth. He was very astute, and it made me wonder what was in his past to explain him. I kind of want his book, and I’m not sure I’m going to get it. I also really appreciated the friendship that Faith developed with Penny. It was different, but she needed that.
So yeah. I enjoyed this way more than I was expecting. Gotta love it when that happens, you know?
May 4, 2021
Overall Grade: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
So...one way to get my heart pumping and my stomach dropping in a book is cheating or the appearance of it. I know some readers love it as a mechanism in their romance to build steamy heat between a couple, but it often fills me with a little bit of dread.
Enter the prologue to Kim Findlay’s Halftime. Talk about a hook. After reading it along with the first chapter, you can’t help but feel your heart pounding.
Halftime exists in the Moo U series published through Sarina Bowen’s Heart Eyes Press, and it follows Seb, a hockey player on the Burlington U men’s hockey team, and Hailey, an incoming freshman goalie for the women’s hockey team. Seb and Hailey dated in high school, as they circled each other through hockey. Seb, a year older than Hailey, is off at college, and it seems as though he accidentally cheated on Hailey. As the story progresses, we find out there is more to the story. Even more, Seb and Hailey must work through seeing each other on campus and the reappearance of old feelings.
There is much to love about Halftime. For one, Findlay takes the space of her story to illustrate the disparity between women’s and men’s hockey, something that Sarina Bowen herself has focused on in her recent story, Bombshells. Taking the space of the story and actually focusing a portion of Hailey’s characterization on this topic adds gravity to this book which feels necessary. Hailey’s dream is to play on a professional men’s hockey team; her father has raised her with that mission in mind. However, that dream becomes complicated in the realm of women’s hockey. This particular focus shows the complexity of Hailey’s journey.
Additionally, this is a story of second chances, and Seb, while seemingly the “bad guy” at the beginning of the book, is actually a stalwart hero. He’s not a typical hockey “player” as we read Connor, one of his teammates, working hard to corrupt him. He’s a monogamist, and he is also deeply in love with Hailey even though their story is complicated. A hero drawn like Seb makes reading an emotional story easier because he instills trust in the reader.
Even more, Hailey’s story, besides focusing on the disparities of gender, takes a particular turn towards the psychology of families. We also find this in Seb’s story as well. Both Hailey and Seb are products of their upbringings, and this causes issues for their future. Kim Findlay is careful to illustrate the work that must be done to make better choices than one’s parents.
For me, however, Halftime wasn’t perfect. There were times when Seb and Hailey’s choices seemed inconsistent with the progression of their journeys. Seb’s choice to walk away from Hailey felt contrived to bring tension to their story. I think there might have been better ways to work through their troubles.
Overall, though, I thought Seb and Hailey as a couple is a perfect addition to the Moo U universe. There is a sensitivity and compassion to their characterizations that connects you to them emotionally. I am excited to see if we will get Connor’s story as he was one of the most compelling characters of this book. If you’ve loved Sarina Bowen’s World of True North, Halftime is a must-read.
So...one way to get my heart pumping and my stomach dropping in a book is cheating or the appearance of it. I know some readers love it as a mechanism in their romance to build steamy heat between a couple, but it often fills me with a little bit of dread.
Enter the prologue to Kim Findlay’s Halftime. Talk about a hook. After reading it along with the first chapter, you can’t help but feel your heart pounding.
Halftime exists in the Moo U series published through Sarina Bowen’s Heart Eyes Press, and it follows Seb, a hockey player on the Burlington U men’s hockey team, and Hailey, an incoming freshman goalie for the women’s hockey team. Seb and Hailey dated in high school, as they circled each other through hockey. Seb, a year older than Hailey, is off at college, and it seems as though he accidentally cheated on Hailey. As the story progresses, we find out there is more to the story. Even more, Seb and Hailey must work through seeing each other on campus and the reappearance of old feelings.
There is much to love about Halftime. For one, Findlay takes the space of her story to illustrate the disparity between women’s and men’s hockey, something that Sarina Bowen herself has focused on in her recent story, Bombshells. Taking the space of the story and actually focusing a portion of Hailey’s characterization on this topic adds gravity to this book which feels necessary. Hailey’s dream is to play on a professional men’s hockey team; her father has raised her with that mission in mind. However, that dream becomes complicated in the realm of women’s hockey. This particular focus shows the complexity of Hailey’s journey.
Additionally, this is a story of second chances, and Seb, while seemingly the “bad guy” at the beginning of the book, is actually a stalwart hero. He’s not a typical hockey “player” as we read Connor, one of his teammates, working hard to corrupt him. He’s a monogamist, and he is also deeply in love with Hailey even though their story is complicated. A hero drawn like Seb makes reading an emotional story easier because he instills trust in the reader.
Even more, Hailey’s story, besides focusing on the disparities of gender, takes a particular turn towards the psychology of families. We also find this in Seb’s story as well. Both Hailey and Seb are products of their upbringings, and this causes issues for their future. Kim Findlay is careful to illustrate the work that must be done to make better choices than one’s parents.
For me, however, Halftime wasn’t perfect. There were times when Seb and Hailey’s choices seemed inconsistent with the progression of their journeys. Seb’s choice to walk away from Hailey felt contrived to bring tension to their story. I think there might have been better ways to work through their troubles.
Overall, though, I thought Seb and Hailey as a couple is a perfect addition to the Moo U universe. There is a sensitivity and compassion to their characterizations that connects you to them emotionally. I am excited to see if we will get Connor’s story as he was one of the most compelling characters of this book. If you’ve loved Sarina Bowen’s World of True North, Halftime is a must-read.
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