
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is the first book by Sloane St. James, and for her debut novel it wasn’t too bad. After I read the blurb I was intrigued, but didn’t realise what the direction was going to be. It was interesting, but I wasn’t fully convinced on Birdie’s early years. When she and Lonan crossed paths, I was excited by these turn of events, and couldn’t get enough of them together. They were soul mates but they both had struggled.
Seeing Lonan and Birdie together was fantastic, they had amazing chemistry. Birdie tried to take things slower, but Lonan knew what he wanted. I felt they both probably should have taken their time as they both had suffered trauma as children. I liked how strong Lonan was and his change in life was good for him. I wished they communicated a little better though. I liked Birdies family, they suffered so much.
I would’ve preferred to experience more through this read. There was a lot of inner dialogue and at times I skimmed that as it was a bit repetitive and I just wanted to see the characters together. I liked how it wrapped up and for her debut book, I thought it was a good start!
Title: Before We Came
Author: Sloane St. James
Series: Lakes Hockey #1
Genre: Sports Contemporary Romance
Published: March 27, 2023
Birdie
My mother's funeral unraveled decades of secrets hidden from me—horrible secrets. I’ve learned my past is more sinister than I could have ever imagined. Everything has been a lie, right down to the name on my driver’s license. Now there’s only one direction for me to turn: to the people who have been searching for me all these years.
One of those people is my new-found brother’s best friend: Lonan Burke, star defenseman for the Minnesota Lakes. The physical attraction we share offers an easy distraction as I discover who I am. The more we give in to each other, the more he wants to keep me. But I’ve already spent my life in captivity—I want to be free.
Lonan
She’s back. We were kids the last time I saw her, but my innocent crush from childhood is full-grown now. And it’s not so innocent anymore. She’s a breath of fresh air from the series of one-night stands since being drafted into the NHL. I’ve got one shot with her, and I’m not taking it for granted.
When her story hits the media, I offer her a place to hide. For the first time, my frigid condo feels like a home, and she’s made me believe the future I’ve always wanted is within reach. Birdie is it for me, we've always been inevitable, and I'll spend the rest of my life proving it if it means I can spend it with her.
Note: This 18+ spicy hockey romance features dirty-talking, praise, a brother's best friend, suspense, forced proximity, second-chance love, angst, and of course, a happily ever after.
CW: Kidnapping, fatal car accident details, manipulation, suicide mentioned. Off-page childhood emotional and physical abuse. Off page child death.
My mother's funeral unraveled decades of secrets hidden from me—horrible secrets. I’ve learned my past is more sinister than I could have ever imagined. Everything has been a lie, right down to the name on my driver’s license. Now there’s only one direction for me to turn: to the people who have been searching for me all these years.
One of those people is my new-found brother’s best friend: Lonan Burke, star defenseman for the Minnesota Lakes. The physical attraction we share offers an easy distraction as I discover who I am. The more we give in to each other, the more he wants to keep me. But I’ve already spent my life in captivity—I want to be free.
Lonan
She’s back. We were kids the last time I saw her, but my innocent crush from childhood is full-grown now. And it’s not so innocent anymore. She’s a breath of fresh air from the series of one-night stands since being drafted into the NHL. I’ve got one shot with her, and I’m not taking it for granted.
When her story hits the media, I offer her a place to hide. For the first time, my frigid condo feels like a home, and she’s made me believe the future I’ve always wanted is within reach. Birdie is it for me, we've always been inevitable, and I'll spend the rest of my life proving it if it means I can spend it with her.
Note: This 18+ spicy hockey romance features dirty-talking, praise, a brother's best friend, suspense, forced proximity, second-chance love, angst, and of course, a happily ever after.
CW: Kidnapping, fatal car accident details, manipulation, suicide mentioned. Off-page childhood emotional and physical abuse. Off page child death.