When your brother’s best friend needs you(r help)

Synopsis

Rule #1 Do not cross the line with best friend’s sister

Ben

On the ice I’m formidable, relentless and I lead by example. Now my coach wants me to step up as Captain – and lead the team off the ice too. But this is my worst nightmare; I’d rather play hockey naked than do any kind of public speaking! To make matters worse, my best friend’s sister has shown up out of the blue to live with us temporarily. We have a history… it’s awkward, she’s starting to invade my fantasies and I can’t seem to escape her. But maybe she could be the answer to my problems…

Mabel

Moving in with my brother was not part of my life plan, but I have no choice at the moment. I need to get away and start my life over. I just wish I didn’t have to share the condo with Ben. I thought I’d buried my teenage crush, but seeing him all the time has me fascinated with him all over again! But now he’s asking for my help to be more outgoing and confident, and basically fake it until he makes it. Sure I can help, but that would mean a lot of time alone. I need to stay strong and resist the obvious temptation…

My review

After breaking up with her boyfriend, Mabel has no other choice to escape her ex and move in with her brother. Even if she loved her job, she needs to start a new life from scratch. What Mabel didn’t expect though, is that her brother’s best friend Ben is temporarily staying with her brother too. And that may complicate things, as Mabel used to have a huge crush on Ben. But Ben himself isn’t comfortable with Mabel staying in the same condo, as there may be some history between them. And that is not the only thing that worries Ben, as he may be finally become the Captain of his hockey team. And being the Captain also means not only leading the team but also do some public speaking. Being an introvert, it’s not as easy as that may seem, so help is needed. With Mabel being such an open and easy – to – talk – to persona, Ben asks her help to be more outgoing.
The more time they are spending together, the more difficult it becomes to maintain their distance. Can they both resist the temptation as they not only have both inner struggles to overcome, but also Mabel has been labeled off – limits by her own brother.

I am always intrigued by stories where one character is declared off – limits for one reason or another. And when there is some history between the characters, yet to be discovered by the readers, it only adds to the intrigue. Oh, and when it involves hockey, I just *have* to read it!

Yet rather quickly I discovered that this story has much more depth in it than I initially expected.

First of all, there is Mabel. You would think that her life couldn’t be any better, but it’s crystal – clear that her relationship isn’t a healthy one. And I would expect that her partner and with his position, he would have a total different character.
Yet we see that we never know what happens behind closed doors, and how a toxic person can affect your own character.

As an outsider it’s always easier to say what to do, but when you are in that kind of situation, how can you easily get out? The fact that Mabel is even ashamed to talk to her family about, shows the depth of the gaslighting that took place…

Yet I liked Mabel as she never truly loses her spark. Once out of her situation, she is the bubbly person she always used to be. She isn’t afraid to be herself anymore, even if there are moments where she doubts everything and everyone (and can you blame her?).

Her character couldn’t differ more than with Ben’s. And for once, I could relate more with the male main character than with the female. Because no matter how hard I fake it, I am also an introvert. I am the loud presence in a group of people that I know very well, but put me in front of people that I don’t know, and I would rather disappear.

At the same time I was a bit surprised that he wants to become Captain. Not because I doubt his abilities, because it’s clear that he can play hockey. But because even for people that know nothing about the game, the status of Captain brings several responsibilities with the ‘upgrade’. Responsibilities that don’t all match with Ben’s character.

I could perfectly understand why Ben needs Mabel’s help, especially seeing some awkward situations that take place. And I know that no matter how difficult it may seem, sometimes you have to fake it until you make it. Yet, it is also about finding a common ground, making the faking a little bit easier 😊.

I found it both hilarious and endearing seeing how Mabel and Ben are spending more and more time together. It was absolutely heart – warming to read how Ben truly sees Mabel and also saw the changes in her. Changes that her own family didn’t see taking place…

With the underlying attraction and that history that they have, I was eagerly waiting to see their relationship develop. Although I have to admit that, even if I am not a prude, I found myself a few times blushing as things suddenly went rather quickly in a perhaps graphic way?

And while perhaps I could comprehend the desire to keep things hidden, everyone knows that especially such things will come out, and that it won’t be well – accepted… so just maybe it wasn’t the most adult thing to do?

I enjoyed reading this story, that has – like I already said – has a lot more depth than I expected it to have. Both Mabel and Ben are on a journey, to not only find themselves (again), but also step outside their comfort zone. They learn to put their trust in someone, making them grow also personally. I found myself reading this rather quickly, as despite the heavier tones sometimes, it was very easy to devour the pages!