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Editorial Reviews
Trouble . . .
Chelsea Ross's acting career has been a total bust. The closest she ever came to stardom was her brilliant performance as "Pretty Dead Girl #1." But leaving Hollywood to become the personal assistant to a famous hockey player could be her stupidest career move ever.
More trouble . . .
Injured superstar Mark Bressler's glory days are over. The bad-boy ex-jock could at least be civil to the pint-sized, pink-haired bombshell who the Seattle Chinooks hired to be his P.A. If Chelsea didn't need the money, she'd be running from the world's biggest jerk as fast as her feet could carry her.
Big trouble!
Chelsea can deal with Mark's rotten attitude and dark moods. The problem is those biceps and that red-hot bod! And when the bad boy starts to put the moves on her, Chelsea knows it's time she banished him to the penalty box . . . if only she could resist the kind of trouble he has in mind!
Related Reviews
I marked the publication date on my calendar and, happily, it coincided with dental surgery. Reading this delightful book helped the pain go away and I recommend it to any Gibson fans out there.
Rachel has come up with another unlikely heroine, and she's dealing with a crabby former hockey player. Both leads are fully drawn people, with quirks, humor and intelligence. The plot is good, and enhanced by the themes of the "different" twins and the hero's concerns about life without hockey. As a reader of all RG's other hockey-player books, I enjoyed the scene [a Stanley Cup dinner, naturally] where husbands and wives from other books show up to interact with the hero (Mark Bressler) and even do some trash talking. [For those who are curious to learn more about Rob Sutter, try THE TROUBLE WITH VALENTINE'S DAY] The steamy scenes are, well, steamy and a pure delight.
Highly recommended for a delicious afternoon's reading.
Rachel has come up with another unlikely heroine, and she's dealing with a crabby former hockey player. Both leads are fully drawn people, with quirks, humor and intelligence. The plot is good, and enhanced by the themes of the "different" twins and the hero's concerns about life without hockey. As a reader of all RG's other hockey-player books, I enjoyed the scene [a Stanley Cup dinner, naturally] where husbands and wives from other books show up to interact with the hero (Mark Bressler) and even do some trash talking. [For those who are curious to learn more about Rob Sutter, try THE TROUBLE WITH VALENTINE'S DAY] The steamy scenes are, well, steamy and a pure delight.
Highly recommended for a delicious afternoon's reading.
Sassy & Classy Hits Her Stride
Alot of the so called "professional reviewers" really panned this book but I really liked it. Alot of the complaints stemmed from the fact that the female lead Chelsea strayed from her long term goal of returning to Hollywood and resuming her acting career to give it all up for the dude. In fact I think Ms. Gibson did a good job of drawing parallels between the real world the Chelsea inhabited (broke, crashing at her sister's apartment, taking an assistant job to a head case, injured hockey star) and the world that a younger (ok maybe sillier) Chelsea inhabited as a D flick scream queen. But seriously, haven't most of us had those same experiences where we had those halcyon jobs that we felt we'd "make our mark in" and now find ourselves settled down as Accountants, Electricians, Moms and we long for the day when we were paid to dance at club openings...(Ahem, I won't continue down my memory lane path).
Mark Bressler is the Captain of the Chinooks Hockey team and as a result of a car accident was severely injured and unable to complete his trek to Lord Stanley's Trophy. As a result of his horrific injuries his team was forced to move on without him and do the unthinkable. Win it all - without their Captain. Mark is bitter, mean, healing slowing and shut off until the breeze that is Chelsea Ross saunters in to his life in a mish-mash of colors, prints and a rack that won't quit. At first Mark insists (to himself that he can run her off like he has the rest of the therapists his hockey team has sent over) but Chelsea takes a different tack due to her desperate circumstances. She comes through as his assistant and meets him head to head. The first two chapters and the "Pucci" to "Pus-y" translation are hilarious and just like that Ms. Gibson has me hooked.
Now for me, Ms. Gibson stumbled a little in some of her recent books but in Nothing but Trouble I find that she is back to writing about what she does best in a humorous way that suits her style. And while the end was a bit rushed and I sorta wished she had epilogued us on how certain threads tied themselves off (Jules deserved his OWN BOOK). I feel safe in saying that other readers and fans of Ms. Gibson will enjoy this book very much.
Mark Bressler is the Captain of the Chinooks Hockey team and as a result of a car accident was severely injured and unable to complete his trek to Lord Stanley's Trophy. As a result of his horrific injuries his team was forced to move on without him and do the unthinkable. Win it all - without their Captain. Mark is bitter, mean, healing slowing and shut off until the breeze that is Chelsea Ross saunters in to his life in a mish-mash of colors, prints and a rack that won't quit. At first Mark insists (to himself that he can run her off like he has the rest of the therapists his hockey team has sent over) but Chelsea takes a different tack due to her desperate circumstances. She comes through as his assistant and meets him head to head. The first two chapters and the "Pucci" to "Pus-y" translation are hilarious and just like that Ms. Gibson has me hooked.
Now for me, Ms. Gibson stumbled a little in some of her recent books but in Nothing but Trouble I find that she is back to writing about what she does best in a humorous way that suits her style. And while the end was a bit rushed and I sorta wished she had epilogued us on how certain threads tied themselves off (Jules deserved his OWN BOOK). I feel safe in saying that other readers and fans of Ms. Gibson will enjoy this book very much.
I very much enjoyed this book up until the end, which seemed rushed. I felt the main character, Chelsea, lost a lot of her strength in the end. Throughout the story, Chelsea never backed down from Mark. However, in the last few chapters, she seemed to crumble. There was also an disagreement between Chelsea and her twin sister that went unresolved.
Rachel wrote another fabulous hockey love story!
Rachel Gibson is one of my two favorite authors in this genre. She's like a breath of fresh air amid all the crap out there on the romance book shelves. She's absolutely hilarious and all of her book have great laughable parts! They also have heart.... and substance. Nothing But Trouble did not disappoint.
One thing I love and hate about Rachel is that she's not turning out books just for the sake of making money. It feels like forever since she released a new book- but oh she makes it worth it. I never roll my eyes or try to breeze through any stupid sections like with other authors.
I fist got sucked into the fictional Chinooks hockey team with See Jane Score. It's still my all time RG favorite. And I'm so glad she's decided to write more books about the team and give us tiny peeks into how other couples are doing in these new releases.
Although- I'm sure you read from other reviews what the book is about- I'll quickly say- Hockey player Mark Bressler has been in a horrid car accident that cuts his hockey career shorter than he planed, and left him a very bitter man. Wanna-be actress Chelsea Ross is sent in to help take care of him. He fights off the help, but she's desperate for the work so she stays no matter what... and a love story is in the making.
I absolutely loved it!
One thing I love and hate about Rachel is that she's not turning out books just for the sake of making money. It feels like forever since she released a new book- but oh she makes it worth it. I never roll my eyes or try to breeze through any stupid sections like with other authors.
I fist got sucked into the fictional Chinooks hockey team with See Jane Score. It's still my all time RG favorite. And I'm so glad she's decided to write more books about the team and give us tiny peeks into how other couples are doing in these new releases.
Although- I'm sure you read from other reviews what the book is about- I'll quickly say- Hockey player Mark Bressler has been in a horrid car accident that cuts his hockey career shorter than he planed, and left him a very bitter man. Wanna-be actress Chelsea Ross is sent in to help take care of him. He fights off the help, but she's desperate for the work so she stays no matter what... and a love story is in the making.
I absolutely loved it!
I have read all of Rachel Gibson's books to date and thought this was a pretty good one. I don't feel that she developed the characters as much as some of the other stories (for instance, the nagging issue for the lead female character didn't seem like a big deal and was kind of fake). However, I had some laugh out loud moments and really enjoyed the female character's type of chatty never ending nonsense and the lead male characters reaction as exasperation.
I also agree with other reviewers that the ending seemed a bit abrupt - there is usually longer time between the "big fight" and the reunions.
Overall, it was a good light read for a Saturday afternoon and I really liked the characters.
I also agree with other reviewers that the ending seemed a bit abrupt - there is usually longer time between the "big fight" and the reunions.
Overall, it was a good light read for a Saturday afternoon and I really liked the characters.
I was bored. Lacked the humor and heart of her earlier books.
Mark Bressler is recovering from a terrible auto accident and lucky to be alive. He was the captain of a Seattle hockey team before his accident, and his team even went on to win the Stanley Cup without him. Chelsea is a struggling scream-queen horror movie actress and a Hollywood personal assistant who comes to Seattle to see her sister (the PR agent for the hockey team) and takes a 3-month job helping Mark recover. If she can manage 3-months, she will get a $10K bonus check and a chance to change her life for the better.
The premise of this story was shaky to start, but I was willing to buy Chelsea being hired by the team as a personal assistant (when he needed a nurse assistant but he ran all of the ones in Seattle off with his a-hole personality), if only the humor and romance made up for it. Most of the story takes place at Mark's house or showing the two of them running errands and her doing his personal secretarial work. Boring. I did not find much of this interesting or humorous, as Mark was just a jerk trying to get rid of her. We mostly see his bad side, and therefore must believe Chelsea falls for that kind of guy. There are some scenes with him coaching a young kid, but Chelsea is not around for many of those so she really does not get to see the brief glimpses of his good side.
Chelsea was a likable and different heroine, and she was great at letting his many insults roll off of her. However, I would have liked to see her spit back a few insults at times as he really had it coming. She was too passive at times and wishy-washy. They liked each other's physical look and had some sexual dream fantasies about each other, but I never got the feeling of a budding romance. The need to scratch an itch? Yes. A romance? No. The sexual tension was mostly missing, so when they finally do come together it seemed a bit sudden. His declaration that he is only good at hockey and sex was his odd way of wooing her. In his mind his reasoning is since he can't play hockey, let's have sex and see if that part of him still works after the accident. Ugh. Not romantic.
As with all romances, there is the conflict and resolution. Without spoiling it, let's just say I didn't buy it at all. The conflict was a minor issue that is blown out of proportion. The resolution was too quick, too easy, and too who-gives-a-hoot.
In the end, I never cared for Mark, Chelsea was OK, and the relationship just did not feel like one that would work past six months. There was a secondary storyline with her sister, but it was glossed over. It was not a strong secondary romance story. There were a few cameos from past players and their wives, but we see very little of them.
Overall, I thought it lacked all the normal Rachel Gibson magic. It had little humor, boring characters, no honest sexual tension, a boring storyline, and a lackluster romance that didn't convince me at all. I long for her more layered, heart-felt, sizzling romantic stories from her earlier writing days, but that may just be a thing of the past.
The premise of this story was shaky to start, but I was willing to buy Chelsea being hired by the team as a personal assistant (when he needed a nurse assistant but he ran all of the ones in Seattle off with his a-hole personality), if only the humor and romance made up for it. Most of the story takes place at Mark's house or showing the two of them running errands and her doing his personal secretarial work. Boring. I did not find much of this interesting or humorous, as Mark was just a jerk trying to get rid of her. We mostly see his bad side, and therefore must believe Chelsea falls for that kind of guy. There are some scenes with him coaching a young kid, but Chelsea is not around for many of those so she really does not get to see the brief glimpses of his good side.
Chelsea was a likable and different heroine, and she was great at letting his many insults roll off of her. However, I would have liked to see her spit back a few insults at times as he really had it coming. She was too passive at times and wishy-washy. They liked each other's physical look and had some sexual dream fantasies about each other, but I never got the feeling of a budding romance. The need to scratch an itch? Yes. A romance? No. The sexual tension was mostly missing, so when they finally do come together it seemed a bit sudden. His declaration that he is only good at hockey and sex was his odd way of wooing her. In his mind his reasoning is since he can't play hockey, let's have sex and see if that part of him still works after the accident. Ugh. Not romantic.
As with all romances, there is the conflict and resolution. Without spoiling it, let's just say I didn't buy it at all. The conflict was a minor issue that is blown out of proportion. The resolution was too quick, too easy, and too who-gives-a-hoot.
In the end, I never cared for Mark, Chelsea was OK, and the relationship just did not feel like one that would work past six months. There was a secondary storyline with her sister, but it was glossed over. It was not a strong secondary romance story. There were a few cameos from past players and their wives, but we see very little of them.
Overall, I thought it lacked all the normal Rachel Gibson magic. It had little humor, boring characters, no honest sexual tension, a boring storyline, and a lackluster romance that didn't convince me at all. I long for her more layered, heart-felt, sizzling romantic stories from her earlier writing days, but that may just be a thing of the past.
I love all of Rachel Gibsons books, but this one was just wonderful!! I loved every minute of it and wish it was twice as long. I love Chelseas character, she's real, flawed, and lovely. Mark is hilariously cranky and just mean. He's hot, too. :) I love the turmoil and the friction. I just loved the whole thing all together. It was also very real. The pain Mark was feeling, and his growth, and also the problems Chelsea was having. Ahh LOVED it all. I read it twice in one week. Another wonderful Gibson book!
I absolutely love Rachel Gibson novels and this one was just as wonderful as all the others I have read. It has great characters, a great plot, light hearted and keeps your attention. If you like Rachel Gibson or want a fun, fast, contemporary romance than this is the book for you!
You can't go wrong with Rachel Gibson. While this may not be my #1 favorite Rachel Gibson book like "See Jane Score", this one stays pretty high on my list. And actually, I think this book is better than the last couple she's come out with. Once I got started, I couldn't put the book down. I loved the two characters and their quirky banter and steamy romance. They were very well matched. I'm glad Rachel is staying with the hockey theme cause I can't get enough. My only complaint is that she isn't writing fast enough! Can't wait for the next one!
Rachel Gibson is an automatic buy for me. I loved this book. Yes, there were some unresolved questions at the end but I'm sure they will be discussed in the next book which is coming out next year. She writes with a lot of humor and I found myself laughing out loud a few times. Mark is my favorite type of hero...cranky and broken. Chelsea was my favorite type of heroine, spunky with a sense of humor. Together they were terrific. I didn't want it to end. I also especially love when the hero is a professional sports star...yummy! Chelsea has two toned hair, loud clothes and big boobs. She is not your typical romance heroine and that is what I love about this book. I also liked that they didn't fall in love at first sight. It happened over time. I wish these books would come out faster.
"Nothing But Trouble" repeats a common theme in Gibson's novels -- a hero with a chip on his shoulder who dismisses the heroine as a brainless ditz, and a heroine with an agenda that requires her to put up with the hero's bad attitude. Once you accept that there really isn't anything to this plot that you haven't already read a dozen times before, you can sit back and enjoy a funny, well-written character piece. Just like Susan Elizabeth Phillips' Dallas Stars series, the Seattle Chinooks stories have just enough sports terminology and plot devices to provide authenticity, without making you feel like you are listening to your old Uncle Jimmy drone on and on about "icing penalties."
A brief plot recap:
Hockey star and Chinooks Captain Mike Bressler has been severely injured during his team's Stanley Cup run and as a result, is forced to end his playing days without attaining the one goal he's wanted since he was a boy.
B-rated actress Chelsea Ross is fed up with being cast in "scream queen" roles due to her *amazing* physical attibutes, so she heads to Seattle for an extended visit with her twin sister, the Chinook's PR head. Flat broke, and saving up for breast reduction surgery, Chelsea agrees to serve as Mike's Girl Friday; if she can last three months of his bad attitude, she'll earn a $10K bonus.
Along the way, the two attempt to annoy and out-game each other, with plenty of laughs and visits from secondary characters. I particularly enjoyed the series of increasingly ridiculous phone calls Chelsea makes to Mike to annoy him.
I agree with other reviewers that the story did drag a bit in the middle; perhaps that section could have been edited a bit more ruthlessly and the final resolutions fleshed out a bit more. But these are minor complaints for an otherwise engaging and entertaining story.
A brief plot recap:
Hockey star and Chinooks Captain Mike Bressler has been severely injured during his team's Stanley Cup run and as a result, is forced to end his playing days without attaining the one goal he's wanted since he was a boy.
B-rated actress Chelsea Ross is fed up with being cast in "scream queen" roles due to her *amazing* physical attibutes, so she heads to Seattle for an extended visit with her twin sister, the Chinook's PR head. Flat broke, and saving up for breast reduction surgery, Chelsea agrees to serve as Mike's Girl Friday; if she can last three months of his bad attitude, she'll earn a $10K bonus.
Along the way, the two attempt to annoy and out-game each other, with plenty of laughs and visits from secondary characters. I particularly enjoyed the series of increasingly ridiculous phone calls Chelsea makes to Mike to annoy him.
I agree with other reviewers that the story did drag a bit in the middle; perhaps that section could have been edited a bit more ruthlessly and the final resolutions fleshed out a bit more. But these are minor complaints for an otherwise engaging and entertaining story.
I bought this book before there were even any reviews out, which I almost never do! But, I'm glad I did. I really enjoyed the book. There were a few times that I actually laughed out loud at some of the conversations between Chelsea and Mark. And the chemistry was very well written, with a good amount of sexual frustration, so that by the time they finally got together, you were ready for it.
I will have to agree with the rest of the reviewers that the ending was very rushed. There was a lot that just didn't get resolved, especially with Chelsea. There were things she referenced throughout the entire book and you never actually get an answer on what she ends up doing. I was sort of left wondering what the heck happened there, like maybe they chopped off about 10 pages or so.
Even with the rushed ending, however, I enjoyed reading the rest of the book so much, I would still recommend it. Maybe we'll hear more about Chelsea's decisions in another hockey book...
I will have to agree with the rest of the reviewers that the ending was very rushed. There was a lot that just didn't get resolved, especially with Chelsea. There were things she referenced throughout the entire book and you never actually get an answer on what she ends up doing. I was sort of left wondering what the heck happened there, like maybe they chopped off about 10 pages or so.
Even with the rushed ending, however, I enjoyed reading the rest of the book so much, I would still recommend it. Maybe we'll hear more about Chelsea's decisions in another hockey book...
Funny, Romantic and Page Turning!
Enter personal assistant to former hockey player. I was absolutely captured by the first chapter of this book. I actually read it in one day. I couldn't put this book down.
It was humorous, entertaining and absolutely kept you guessing. I fell in love with the characters and didn't want the book to end. I have never read a book of Rachel Gibson's that I didn't love.
Bravo, Ms. Gibson! I applaud you on yet another best seller. Excellent read and the romance rocks.
It was humorous, entertaining and absolutely kept you guessing. I fell in love with the characters and didn't want the book to end. I have never read a book of Rachel Gibson's that I didn't love.
Bravo, Ms. Gibson! I applaud you on yet another best seller. Excellent read and the romance rocks.
Mark Bressler's Seattle Chinooks hockey career ended on a back road when he wrecked his car. Months of being in the hospital have taken its toll on Mark and he has gone through physical therapists and personal assistants like water. He wants to be left alone. His coaches and the home office of the Chinooks think differently. So once again Mark finds himself answering the door to meet and hopefully scare off yet another personal assistant. And then Chelsea Ross waltzes into his home and his life.
Chelsea knows that Mark is mad at the world. He is often pouty and usually snarly. He wants to wallow in self pity, but she refuses to let him. Doing his best to get rid of her, Mark slowly becomes more aware of Chelsea as a woman and that angers him even more. But what Mark doesn't realize is that Chelsea feels the same for him. Helping him is not just another job for Chelsea. It is a gift of her heart.
Rachel Gibson's Nothing but Trouble is golden! Her plot works, her characters click, and most of all, she makes me laugh. Romantic comedy is not something I usually choose to read - unless it is a Rachel Gibson release. Nothing but Trouble will immerse readers in a delightful, emotional, and often hilarious story. Mark Bressler's life will never be the same and that is exactly what his character needed. This one is definitely a match made in hockey heaven!
Talia Ricci
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed
Chelsea knows that Mark is mad at the world. He is often pouty and usually snarly. He wants to wallow in self pity, but she refuses to let him. Doing his best to get rid of her, Mark slowly becomes more aware of Chelsea as a woman and that angers him even more. But what Mark doesn't realize is that Chelsea feels the same for him. Helping him is not just another job for Chelsea. It is a gift of her heart.
Rachel Gibson's Nothing but Trouble is golden! Her plot works, her characters click, and most of all, she makes me laugh. Romantic comedy is not something I usually choose to read - unless it is a Rachel Gibson release. Nothing but Trouble will immerse readers in a delightful, emotional, and often hilarious story. Mark Bressler's life will never be the same and that is exactly what his character needed. This one is definitely a match made in hockey heaven!
Talia Ricci
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed
A good romantic read, but not her best
I was torn between rating this book a 3 star or a 4 star. I honestly don't think this was one of her best books, but it wasn't horrible. I read this book in one day, it was definatly a page turner, and was a touching, romantic read, but I found the plot contrived. Rachel Gibson's books almost always have two things in common: 1. hockey players (don't have a problem with that!) 2. the main characters ALWAYS have a fight at the end of the book, mainly the male character finds out something disturbing about the woman he thinks he might love and looks angry and yells and there is agony and despair! Then the male character ALWAYS figures out that "WAIT! Why the heck am I being an idiot about this little issue? I LOVE her! I MUST make it all better." He then goes to see the woman he loves and she almost immediatly accepts his apology and the wedding ring that inevitably follows. I was a bit frustrated at Chelsea for taking Mark back so quickly, I mean after the things he said she should have made him GROVEL! But I digress- this book, besides the always inevitable ending- was a pretty good book and kept me turning the pages. I like both Chelsea and Mark. Besides the ending, I didn't understand Bo's (Chelsea's twin sister) and her families idea that getting a breast reduction is "mutilating"; like Chelsea said, it's not as if she's cutting OFF her breasts. Bo never really gave a concrete reason why she thought Chelsea shouldn't get her breasts done besides the fact that the surgery looked painful. Personally, I don't see the issue with breast reduction surgery. Besides that it was a good book, it made me tear up at the end, there were also a couple scenes that made me laugh, and it made me happy that Mark and Chelsea ended up together, they were well suited for each other. :)
No Trouble finishing Gibson's latest!
In typical Rachel Gibson fashion she delivers another sweet novel that makes you smile. The chemistry between the lead characters was enjoyable and the story flowed without a lot of fluff. My only advice would be ... Write faster, Ms. Gibson, I'm ready for your next installment! Hockey rocks!
I've read all of Rachel's books. Most have been excellent. There's been an occasional, "what?" I guess I didn't care that much until she started the hockey related books. Those I have devoured in one sitting, and eagerly awaited this book. This is not her best book. However, even a book that is not her best is still far and above other contemporary writers. She has a way with a pen. The writing is smooth as silk and flows throughout the book. The characters were fully developed, and her humor is always great. I felt, as always, that I was right there with both leads...I understood who they were as people and rooted for their eventual union. Here's the part I didn't like, and it's my PET PEEVE with writers. TMI = too much information, as in unnecessarily wordy about nothing. Cut out 2/3 of this information that does not pertain to direct action or direct conversation between the two leads and you have the start of a good book. I felt like the book just started when it ended. I wanted more, more, more between the two leads! She can do better. Having said that, Rachel I still adore you and can't wait for the next book!
Same Gibson formula, another dud
I keep hoping that Rachel Gibson's books will return to their former glory, but I am again disappointed by this one. This book has an unlikable male lead character, little emotion (unless you call his constant surliness "emotion") and boring dialog. So Chelsea was a good assistant and thought he was handsome -- how in the world did this translate into love? Other than the fact that he wanted to have sex with her, the development of Mark's deepening feelings for Chelsea was non-existent. I was totally unconvinced that there was true love between these two or that they would have a real, lasting relationship.
"Nothing but Trouble" follows the Gibson formula you've read many times before: couple meets, instantly can't stand one another (but are drawn together by their irresistible lust), won't admit their growing feelings, Big Misunderstanding, then, in the very last pages, the hero decides he's in love and wants forever. Unfortunately, this one is far less engrossing than her earlier books.
Yes, I have high expectations for Gibson, but it's because I know what she's capable of. With the exception of "Tangled Up in You," the last several books have been far inferior to her earlier work. Perhaps she has given us all she has to give and has run out of ideas. Let's hope not! I'll keep my well-read copies of "True Confessions," "See Jane Score" and "It Must Be Love" to remind me of her talent.
"Nothing but Trouble" follows the Gibson formula you've read many times before: couple meets, instantly can't stand one another (but are drawn together by their irresistible lust), won't admit their growing feelings, Big Misunderstanding, then, in the very last pages, the hero decides he's in love and wants forever. Unfortunately, this one is far less engrossing than her earlier books.
Yes, I have high expectations for Gibson, but it's because I know what she's capable of. With the exception of "Tangled Up in You," the last several books have been far inferior to her earlier work. Perhaps she has given us all she has to give and has run out of ideas. Let's hope not! I'll keep my well-read copies of "True Confessions," "See Jane Score" and "It Must Be Love" to remind me of her talent.
I bought this as an ebook - only 190 pages! This book was way to short and had limited character development. The last couple chapters seemed really rushed and then the book just ended. Rachael Gipson should have put more effort into writing this book with more substance. While it was a cute story there just should have been more of it. Not on of my favorites.
Nothing But Trouble was a great addition to Gibson's Chinook hockey players collection! I laughed most of the way through it, and yet it was also poignant. Hero Mark is a broken man, unable to do what he loves to do more than anything. Chelsea just wants to make something of herself...and if that means she forces Mark to accept her help, then that's what she's going to do. The interactions between Chelsea and the hockey players is hysterical, and I really, really enjoyed this book. One of Gibson's best!
I like Gibson's books and her hockey heroes. I thought the dialogue in this one was particularly funny and even though the hero was very surly in the beginning, I found it perfectly understandable since he suffered an accident so severe, he could never play hockey again. And Chelsea, the heroine was just what the doctor ordered with her quirky style and her quick wit. I don't know a thing about ice hockey, but after reading Gibson's books it makes me want to see a professinal game live.
Others I enjoyed are: Not Another Blind Date; Tangled Up In You; I'm In No Mood For Love; and Truly Madly Yours, my all time favorite!! Very few of Gibson's books disappoint.
Others I enjoyed are: Not Another Blind Date; Tangled Up In You; I'm In No Mood For Love; and Truly Madly Yours, my all time favorite!! Very few of Gibson's books disappoint.
This is the first book I've read in this particular series, and I enjoyed it. It had good pacing, great steam scenes, some truly wonderful LOL moments, and realistic characterization. The only negative that I found was a couple side stories didn't seem to really enhance the plot (Bo and Jules, Derek). They didn't slow the pacing that much, so it wasn't enough to deduct a star, but they didn't add that much to the story, either. Overall, however, I enjoyed the read, and the great LOL parts. Looking forward to reading more in the series.
I thought the book was well written. You never want to put the book down. I could defiantly see myself rereading the book.
Great addition to the hockey series!
I first discovered Rachel Gibson about a year and a half ago. I enjoyed her so much that I quickly read all her books, and I eagerly await each new one. I definitely enjoyed Mark and Chelsea's story. It was fun, the sexual chemistry was real, and the Big Fight that broke them up (albeit briefly) was realistic and believable. I definitely recommend this book, and look forward to more books about the Chinook players.
Nothing but Trouble was nothing but FUN!
I really liked this book; I was hooked from the first page. I love Chelsea; she was spunky, funny, and cute! Mark on the other hand was a "tool" as Chelsea so eloquently called him! :) Chelsea Ross is an out of work actress who was hired to be Mark Bressler's home care worker in Nothing but Trouble. There were a lot of LOL moments for me in this book, the feeling for both was slow in coming and then when it started it was kind of rushed and the end was too quick for me! But as I wrote on someone's review I would recommend it to be read by others.
Chelsea was very enjoyable to read her and Bo who works in the PR Dept for the Chinooks are twins. Chelsea had issues and did not let them dictate how she lived her life (most of the times)...she stood for what she believed in and went for it. Chelsea had no training being a home care worker, so she decided to become Mark's PA instead which she had more than enough experience since she worked as a PA to A, B, C and D list actors in Hollywood...I assume Bo being her sister made this job possible for Chelsea. Mark had issues galore, with the accident and almost losing his life, the ex-wife who left him and married someone else, his injuries, and not being able to play the game that was his life...lucky to be him! Mark came across as rude, crude, and a total jerk or my favorite term now is "tool"...he had good reason for his attitude what with nearly dying and all, but there was still a redeeming quality to him which is what Chelsea saw and made him likeable despite his surliness.
Chelsea had to put up with a lot from Mark he did not make her job easy, but due to a $10,000 dollar bonus coming with the job if Chelsea can stick it out for 3 months she sunk her teeth in and hung on for dear life! Chelsea wanted the money for a breast reduction and so nothing Mark could do or say would make her leave...but along the way they grew on each other.
I will state again that the end was rushed because most of the book was about them working together and getting to know each other so a foundation would be built and the relationship would be believable, but in MHO I think that Rachel took too much time and pages on this and not enough on the romance which was great once it started...that is my only pet peeve.
Chelsea was very enjoyable to read her and Bo who works in the PR Dept for the Chinooks are twins. Chelsea had issues and did not let them dictate how she lived her life (most of the times)...she stood for what she believed in and went for it. Chelsea had no training being a home care worker, so she decided to become Mark's PA instead which she had more than enough experience since she worked as a PA to A, B, C and D list actors in Hollywood...I assume Bo being her sister made this job possible for Chelsea. Mark had issues galore, with the accident and almost losing his life, the ex-wife who left him and married someone else, his injuries, and not being able to play the game that was his life...lucky to be him! Mark came across as rude, crude, and a total jerk or my favorite term now is "tool"...he had good reason for his attitude what with nearly dying and all, but there was still a redeeming quality to him which is what Chelsea saw and made him likeable despite his surliness.
Chelsea had to put up with a lot from Mark he did not make her job easy, but due to a $10,000 dollar bonus coming with the job if Chelsea can stick it out for 3 months she sunk her teeth in and hung on for dear life! Chelsea wanted the money for a breast reduction and so nothing Mark could do or say would make her leave...but along the way they grew on each other.
I will state again that the end was rushed because most of the book was about them working together and getting to know each other so a foundation would be built and the relationship would be believable, but in MHO I think that Rachel took too much time and pages on this and not enough on the romance which was great once it started...that is my only pet peeve.
This story seems a little slow at first and then when he decides he wants to try something with her...it's really fast. I would have enjoyed a bit lead up to...But overall a very good story...Enjoyed it very much.
Humor + romance + sports metaphors = great story
Mark Bressler's pissed. As the former captain of the Chinooks, a horrific car accident resulted in career ending injuries which cost him the Stanley Cup; though his beloved team went on to win without him. Now he stays medicated and runs off anyone hired to help him. Until a fiery pink haired lady shows up on his doorstep to act as his personal assistant. Figuring he will shoo her away like he does everyone else, he soon discovers that Chelsea has staying power. As a former screen queen and d-actress, Chelsea is used to dealing with hotheads like Mark. Plus, the bonus if she sticks with him for three months will allow her to start over. When attraction between the two suddenly develops, both are caught by surprise.
I love Rachel Gibson's hockey books - she mixes equal parts humor, romance and chemistry, and then adds a dash of sports metaphors to keep readers entertained and glued to the pages. I like how she adds characters from previous novels and incorporates them into the story without detracting from the plot - a rarity with many writers who feel the need to overpopulate their novels and provide a storyline for all of them. I did think that the ending was a bit rushed - almost as if she said "wow, I am on page 350 and need to end this thing...), but overall, I really liked the premise and the execution of this story and can't wait until the next one is released... I have to wait a year???
I love Rachel Gibson's hockey books - she mixes equal parts humor, romance and chemistry, and then adds a dash of sports metaphors to keep readers entertained and glued to the pages. I like how she adds characters from previous novels and incorporates them into the story without detracting from the plot - a rarity with many writers who feel the need to overpopulate their novels and provide a storyline for all of them. I did think that the ending was a bit rushed - almost as if she said "wow, I am on page 350 and need to end this thing...), but overall, I really liked the premise and the execution of this story and can't wait until the next one is released... I have to wait a year???
"All hockey players are bilingual. They know English and profanity" - Gordie Howe
Mark Bressler may have survived a near fatal car accident but his professional hockey career did not. Six months after the accident his body is still healing but he's struggling to find a purpose to his life now that returning to the rink is out of the question
Chelsea Ross has spent the last 10 years kicking around Hollywood hoping for her big break. The closest she's come is a few small roles in B grade horror flicks. In order to make a few bucks she temporarily returns to Seattle and takes a job as Mark's assistant. The wannabe actress soon plays a starring role in Mark's x-rated dream life. But is Chelsea willing to put her own dreams aside to fulfill Mark's fantasies?
This was a lot of fun! I particularly enjoyed the banter between Mark and Chelsea; it was amusing to see Chelsea effortlessly deflect Mark's not so subtle put-downs. Chelsea really carried the book for me - a nice change of pace from the usual cookie-cutter heroine.
As for Mark...He's conceited, arrogant, and obscenely self-centered. In fact, I don't believe that his accident was caused by a patch of black ice. No, it's far more likely that his ostentatious SUV collided with his super-sized ego! The author does manage to create some sympathy for the character by showing us how empty Mark's life is without the sport that's defined who he is for so many years. And the scenes with Mark and his former teammates are quite humorous.
I have to agree with the other reviewers who felt that the ending was rushed. The source of conflict was quite a stretch and I don't think that Mark even has to utter an apology before Chelsea shelves her own plans for the chance at another ride on Mark's Zambonie!
Despite some of the silliness I did enjoy this. It was a fast read with some steamy sex scenes - an all round entertaining distraction. If you're new to Rachel Gibson - lucky you! She has many great books, some of them loosely connected. I'd recommend starting with `Simply Irresistible' which is her introduction to the Chinooks.
Chelsea Ross has spent the last 10 years kicking around Hollywood hoping for her big break. The closest she's come is a few small roles in B grade horror flicks. In order to make a few bucks she temporarily returns to Seattle and takes a job as Mark's assistant. The wannabe actress soon plays a starring role in Mark's x-rated dream life. But is Chelsea willing to put her own dreams aside to fulfill Mark's fantasies?
This was a lot of fun! I particularly enjoyed the banter between Mark and Chelsea; it was amusing to see Chelsea effortlessly deflect Mark's not so subtle put-downs. Chelsea really carried the book for me - a nice change of pace from the usual cookie-cutter heroine.
As for Mark...He's conceited, arrogant, and obscenely self-centered. In fact, I don't believe that his accident was caused by a patch of black ice. No, it's far more likely that his ostentatious SUV collided with his super-sized ego! The author does manage to create some sympathy for the character by showing us how empty Mark's life is without the sport that's defined who he is for so many years. And the scenes with Mark and his former teammates are quite humorous.
I have to agree with the other reviewers who felt that the ending was rushed. The source of conflict was quite a stretch and I don't think that Mark even has to utter an apology before Chelsea shelves her own plans for the chance at another ride on Mark's Zambonie!
Despite some of the silliness I did enjoy this. It was a fast read with some steamy sex scenes - an all round entertaining distraction. If you're new to Rachel Gibson - lucky you! She has many great books, some of them loosely connected. I'd recommend starting with `Simply Irresistible' which is her introduction to the Chinooks.
Good Addition to Gibson's Hockey Series
Rachel Gibson writes romances about hockey stars. I don't like team sports so you would think this would turn me off a romance with this basis. However, I find it easier to suspend disbelief in a world about which I know nothing. So I do enjoy these books. This is not her best book in the series, mainly because of a rushed ending, but, as usual, I enjoyed it and finished it in a day. Her best book was her first, SIMPLY IRRESISTIBLE. If you've never read Gibson, start there.
The hockey star in this book is now recovering from a horrendous car accident. He is lucky he can still walk but he will never be playing hockey professionally again. So his attitude in recovery stinks until team management sends him a personal assistant who is used to babysitting celebs out in Hollywood. This is Chelsea and she becomes his romance woman. She is the identical twin of the PR woman for the team. There is a secondary romance in the book with her twin and Jules, the owner's chief assistant. This romance has been budding in several of Gibson's earlier books.
The hockey star in this book is now recovering from a horrendous car accident. He is lucky he can still walk but he will never be playing hockey professionally again. So his attitude in recovery stinks until team management sends him a personal assistant who is used to babysitting celebs out in Hollywood. This is Chelsea and she becomes his romance woman. She is the identical twin of the PR woman for the team. There is a secondary romance in the book with her twin and Jules, the owner's chief assistant. This romance has been budding in several of Gibson's earlier books.
I read this one too fast! Now I have to wait another year for Rachel Gibson's next novel. How will I survive?
I wasn't crazy about her last, I'll admit, so as I stayed awake all night, turning the pages, resisting the urge to "make it last", I couldn't help but think of Gibson, the author of "Simply Irresistable" and "See Jane Score" and others.
I initially discovered Ms. Gibson as a substitute for Susan Phillips. Now I'll have to look for a substitute while I'm waiting for Rachel Gibson.
Again the plot is conflict vs. romance. Chelsea is an undiscovered actress between engagements. Mark is a hockey player who has seen his glorious career go down the tubes due to a near fatal car accident. She is his new home healthcare worker. He's in mourning for his "lost love" (his career). She is hoping to stick the job out long enough to qualify for a $10,000 bonus. See, every home health worker sent by the team office has quit in hours due to Mark's abrasive personality. Chelsea has big plans for that bonus and she's determined to stick it out.
Ms. Gibson once again creates a hero you love to hate who, when faced with an intelligent, determined heroine, becomes a softy. I love this stuff! Write faster, Ms. Gibson, please!
I wasn't crazy about her last, I'll admit, so as I stayed awake all night, turning the pages, resisting the urge to "make it last", I couldn't help but think of Gibson, the author of "Simply Irresistable" and "See Jane Score" and others.
I initially discovered Ms. Gibson as a substitute for Susan Phillips. Now I'll have to look for a substitute while I'm waiting for Rachel Gibson.
Again the plot is conflict vs. romance. Chelsea is an undiscovered actress between engagements. Mark is a hockey player who has seen his glorious career go down the tubes due to a near fatal car accident. She is his new home healthcare worker. He's in mourning for his "lost love" (his career). She is hoping to stick the job out long enough to qualify for a $10,000 bonus. See, every home health worker sent by the team office has quit in hours due to Mark's abrasive personality. Chelsea has big plans for that bonus and she's determined to stick it out.
Ms. Gibson once again creates a hero you love to hate who, when faced with an intelligent, determined heroine, becomes a softy. I love this stuff! Write faster, Ms. Gibson, please!
Colorful wanna-be actress bears her work as personal assistant of insulting & injured ex-captain of winning pro-hockey team b/c of the $10K bonus the hockey team will pay her if she stays at her job for 3 months. She's planning to use the money to pay for her much-needed breast reduction surgery. As they get to know each other more, she & hero end up liking each other enough to have an affair but she can't find the right time to tell him about the $10K bonus.
I usually rate Gibson's book higher but the romance was not that exciting. The romance was more physical/sexual than it was emotional & lasting. Hero & heroine spent most of the book not liking each other & fighting. Their interest in each other was more a curiousity for being so different in lifestyle & personality. Add physical attraction to the mix & you get...a temporary kind of love. The Hero, in particular, seemed to not really like or be interested in the heroine's personality. In fact, after they separated, his primary motivation to finally go after her was from lusting after her curvy body when he was watched one of her films. Gibson writes well & the dialogue was snappy as usual. I just wasn't convinced that Hero & heroine were in love with each other & could have a HEA(happily ever after).
Recommended with some caution.
I usually rate Gibson's book higher but the romance was not that exciting. The romance was more physical/sexual than it was emotional & lasting. Hero & heroine spent most of the book not liking each other & fighting. Their interest in each other was more a curiousity for being so different in lifestyle & personality. Add physical attraction to the mix & you get...a temporary kind of love. The Hero, in particular, seemed to not really like or be interested in the heroine's personality. In fact, after they separated, his primary motivation to finally go after her was from lusting after her curvy body when he was watched one of her films. Gibson writes well & the dialogue was snappy as usual. I just wasn't convinced that Hero & heroine were in love with each other & could have a HEA(happily ever after).
Recommended with some caution.
I love Rachel Gibson, and will buy her books as soon as they come out. I liked the story of Mark & Chelsea as well, but it seemed so rushed and full of dropped story lines. So many unresolved issues. Chelsea's ta-tas were mentioned so many times through the book, and in the end they were no longer an issue. I can only hope we will see more of Mark & Chelsea in the next book... Figure out what their HEA is like.
I'm not sure why it's received so many positive reviews, but to each their own! The first half went quickly enough, although the almost immediate lust right off the bat had me a little wary. Chelsea was an interesting heroine and kept me hooked at the beginning; Mark is the tortured type of hero, which I always have a soft spot for. All I felt they had between them though was lust, and it was hard for me to sense anything else. Definitely doesn't compare to my Gibson favorites: See Jane Score, It Must Be Love, and Truly Madly Yours.
CHINOOKS HOCKEY TEAM SERIES:
(1) Simply Irresistible
(2) SEE JANE SCORE
(3) The Trouble With Valentine's Day
(4) True Love and Other Disasters
(5) NOTHING BUT TROUBLE
RECOMMENDATIONS:
For wonderful sports-related contemporary romances, check out these books:
(1) Heaven, Texas (Chicago Stars, Book 2) by Susan Elizabeth Phillips - 5 stars
(2) Match Me If You Can (Chicago Stars, Book 6) by Susan Elizabeth Phillips - 4.5 stars
(3) SEE JANE SCORE (Chinooks Hockey Team, Book 2) by Rachel Gibson
(4) Body Check (New York Blades, Book 1) by Deirdre Martin - 4 stars
CHINOOKS HOCKEY TEAM SERIES:
(1) Simply Irresistible
(2) SEE JANE SCORE
(3) The Trouble With Valentine's Day
(4) True Love and Other Disasters
(5) NOTHING BUT TROUBLE
RECOMMENDATIONS:
For wonderful sports-related contemporary romances, check out these books:
(1) Heaven, Texas (Chicago Stars, Book 2) by Susan Elizabeth Phillips - 5 stars
(2) Match Me If You Can (Chicago Stars, Book 6) by Susan Elizabeth Phillips - 4.5 stars
(3) SEE JANE SCORE (Chinooks Hockey Team, Book 2) by Rachel Gibson
(4) Body Check (New York Blades, Book 1) by Deirdre Martin - 4 stars
Don't get me wrong, I adore Rachel Gibson, but this one just left me disappointed. I'm a hockey fan and while she has most of the details right, I am confused by her constantly referring to periods of the game (there are three) to "frames." Frames? I've been watching hockey most of my 48 years and have NEVER heard anyone refer to a period as a frame. Bowling, yes, hockey, no. I was confused by a few details in the book, such as Mark and Derek skating outside on his driveway (in ice skates? Roller blades? It was quite vague.) And if she uses the term "she folded her arms beneath her breasts" in one more book, I'm going to scream. She uses that term in literally every book she writes. Yeah, where else is she supposed to "fold" them? And most people just CROSS their arms.
And the ending (where Mark shows up to where she's catering and begs her to come back) was just trite and deflating, like Ms. Gibson couldn't think of anything else to write and was tired of the story.
Sorry, but this wasn't one of her best.
And the ending (where Mark shows up to where she's catering and begs her to come back) was just trite and deflating, like Ms. Gibson couldn't think of anything else to write and was tired of the story.
Sorry, but this wasn't one of her best.
Good book, but I wish there were a bit more to it. The ending seems pretty abrupt, and I'd like to have a bit more depth to the characters.
Overall, it was enjoyable.
Overall, it was enjoyable.
As soon as my copy hit the doorstep today, I cleared my schedule and crawled into bed with Rachel's latest offering. (Thankfully, I was off work). I was not disappointed. I found myself smiling while I was reading and I resented every interruption until I finished the last page. As usual, Rachel delivers a fun, steamy romp and I loved it that two of my favorite characters from an earlier novel, John and Georgeanne Kowalsky ("Simply Irresistible") were mentioned briefly near the end of the book.
This is the story of Mark Bressler, a broken bitter hockey player permanently side-lined by a near fatal car accident. Mark is taking too much pain medication and relying on sleeping pills just to get through the rest of his life. When his new personal assistant, Chelsea Ross, shows up, he does everything he can to get rid of her. Before he knows it, Chelsea has renewed his interest in life as well as love and sex.
I love Rachel Gibson's style of writing and I will always purchase her books. That being said, I thought this one dragged just a little in the middle. But, it is still better than most of the junk that I've read lately. No one writes humorous, steamy love stories like Rachel Gibson.
This is the story of Mark Bressler, a broken bitter hockey player permanently side-lined by a near fatal car accident. Mark is taking too much pain medication and relying on sleeping pills just to get through the rest of his life. When his new personal assistant, Chelsea Ross, shows up, he does everything he can to get rid of her. Before he knows it, Chelsea has renewed his interest in life as well as love and sex.
I love Rachel Gibson's style of writing and I will always purchase her books. That being said, I thought this one dragged just a little in the middle. But, it is still better than most of the junk that I've read lately. No one writes humorous, steamy love stories like Rachel Gibson.
I loved this book! I was a great storyline and the characters were awesome. Rachel Gibson is one of my favorite authors. Keep them coming.
I really enjoyed this book. Mark was sexy and Chelsea was sweet. I love how they helped each other out emotionally and how they developed together over time. Mark was down and Chelsea came in and shook things up. I wish there was more to the ending. It felt rushed and abrupt but I figured we would see a little of them in the next book. Still enjoyable and will be a keeper for me.
I think my love of Rachel Gibson's hockey romance stories has been well-documented here. I don't know why exactly; I've never seen a hockey game and wouldn't recognize a famous hockey player if one bumped into me while wearing a name tag. Anyhoo, on to the review:
Chelsea Ross is an out of work actress, a "scream queen" of sorts. She's done bit parts in horror flicks and commercials. She spends most of her time working as an assistant to D-list actors while waiting for her big break. Her twin sister, who works for the Chinooks as in PR, has convinced her come home to Seattle to be a personal assistant to Mark Bressler, former hockey star.
Mark was the captain of the Chinooks until a car accident almost took his life. He's recuperating, slowly, but he knows he'll never play hockey again and is depressed and angry. His team won the Stanley cup but he doesn't feel he deserves to be a part of it since he was injured before the playoffs. He's gone through home nurses like toilet paper, so the Chinooks have offered a $10,000 bonus to anyone who can stay with him.
Chelsea wants that money. She's got big plans for it: Chelsea is a tiny wisp of a thing with a natural pair of Double D's. And she hates them. She hates the way they hurt her back. She hates the way men talk to her boobs and not her face. And she thinks they're keeping her from getting "real" roles in the movies, which is what she really wants.
Chelsea was a fun heroine. She was a good assistant and I enjoyed her comparisons between working for Mark versus working for Hollywood stars. She very subtly inserted herself into Mark's life and it was fun to watch. I felt like she kind of bitched about her boobs too much, but I understood where she was coming from as part of the storyline. It was just that at one point, I kind of felt like "Okay. I got it - she's got giant boobs and she hates them."
Mark is so bitter, he's angry at the world and a step away from becoming addicted to pills. He doesn't want Chelsea around, but she manages to work her way into his life, and more and more he starts to like her, despite his intent not to. I really enjoyed watching him go from a surly grump to a likable guy. His pain was real (physical and emotional) and Chelsea was adorable while she was trying to put up with him. Once he had Chelsea in his sights, lawd have mercy! He was set on simmering and ready to boil over. And once they got going, whew, somebody pass me a glass of ice water! Of course, he doesn't know about the bonus, and when he did find out, my heart broke for him.
I really enjoyed this book. I would have liked a bit more hockey action but we did get to check in with some of the other players on the team to see how they were doing. Ms. Gibson writes a great story with likable characters; I love her hockey world!
Chelsea Ross is an out of work actress, a "scream queen" of sorts. She's done bit parts in horror flicks and commercials. She spends most of her time working as an assistant to D-list actors while waiting for her big break. Her twin sister, who works for the Chinooks as in PR, has convinced her come home to Seattle to be a personal assistant to Mark Bressler, former hockey star.
Mark was the captain of the Chinooks until a car accident almost took his life. He's recuperating, slowly, but he knows he'll never play hockey again and is depressed and angry. His team won the Stanley cup but he doesn't feel he deserves to be a part of it since he was injured before the playoffs. He's gone through home nurses like toilet paper, so the Chinooks have offered a $10,000 bonus to anyone who can stay with him.
Chelsea wants that money. She's got big plans for it: Chelsea is a tiny wisp of a thing with a natural pair of Double D's. And she hates them. She hates the way they hurt her back. She hates the way men talk to her boobs and not her face. And she thinks they're keeping her from getting "real" roles in the movies, which is what she really wants.
Chelsea was a fun heroine. She was a good assistant and I enjoyed her comparisons between working for Mark versus working for Hollywood stars. She very subtly inserted herself into Mark's life and it was fun to watch. I felt like she kind of bitched about her boobs too much, but I understood where she was coming from as part of the storyline. It was just that at one point, I kind of felt like "Okay. I got it - she's got giant boobs and she hates them."
Mark is so bitter, he's angry at the world and a step away from becoming addicted to pills. He doesn't want Chelsea around, but she manages to work her way into his life, and more and more he starts to like her, despite his intent not to. I really enjoyed watching him go from a surly grump to a likable guy. His pain was real (physical and emotional) and Chelsea was adorable while she was trying to put up with him. Once he had Chelsea in his sights, lawd have mercy! He was set on simmering and ready to boil over. And once they got going, whew, somebody pass me a glass of ice water! Of course, he doesn't know about the bonus, and when he did find out, my heart broke for him.
I really enjoyed this book. I would have liked a bit more hockey action but we did get to check in with some of the other players on the team to see how they were doing. Ms. Gibson writes a great story with likable characters; I love her hockey world!
Hit the Sin Bin Just Before the Buzzer
When he woke up in the hospital after a car accident that almost cost him his life, Mark Bressler knew his hockey career was over. Months later, the slow and incredibly painful rehabilitation process is no more crippling that the dark morass of self pity into which he's slid. Morose and beaten, he's lost everything that ever meant anything to him, and when his team wins the coveted Stanley Cup without him, it almost kills him. All he wants to do is sit in his huge house and be left alone with his Vicodan. The last thing he wants is another team-hired home health worker shoved in his face, doing everything but wiping his butt.
Chelsea Ross isn't in health care. In fact, she's an actress...sort of. Her short, busty appearance has landed her a few rolls as screaming victims in B-grade horror movies, and she's had a few other walk-on rolls in soaps and commercials. After hockey player Mark Bressler had fired, scared off, or offended all six of the health care professionals the team sent to him to help him recover at his home, Chelsea's twin sister Bo got her a shot at going in another direction. For a meager salary but a much-needed ten thousand dollar bonus if she can put up with the surly, rude bastard for three months, Chelsea is determined to use a combination of her acting skills and experience as an assistant to LA's near-elite to put up with him. Even if he is a total Tool.
Broken and wounded, Mark's bitter self pity lashes out at Chelsea again and again. Chelsea grits her teeth and takes it. Neither like each other very much. Or...you know...at all. But the sparks can't help but fly when the unstoppable Chelsea clashes with the immovable Mark, and the longer the friction, the hotter the fire.
Despite the fact that every sports-themed romance series I've read has at least one book centered around the player that can no longer play and the spunky, irrepressible woman who pulls him out of his funk, I didn't mind the plot of Nothing But Trouble. While it lacked originality, it was cute and entertaining, and had a slick, quickly-paced narrative with plenty of sharp back-and-forth dialogue that appealed.
I wasn't always thrilled with Mark, whose self pity wore on me as it progressed long into the book. A portion of his personality is understandable. He lost his career, almost lost his life, and spent months in constant, chronic pain. I can sympathize with that...to a point. Because in the end, its still a light sports romance and should be entertaining. For my tastes, Mark's attitude needed adjustment sooner than it happened here. Chelsea, on the other hand, was at turns enchanting and adorable, with a nice blend of quirky individuality and steady control. I liked her, and frankly, I liked Mark the best when he was interacting with her, though I suppose that's rather the point.
There were plenty of good points through most of the book and I enjoyed most of it as the light, fun read it's intended to be. And then suddenly, things took a less pleasing turn in the final two chapters. The formula of the romance almost demands that moment of exploding conflict between the protagonists, in fact, my overall impression of romances often rests on that conflict and subsequent resolution. The problem for me here was the impetus of the conflict seemed contrived, the conflict itself didn't seem very conflict-worthy, and Mark's reactions seemed inflated.
The resolution compounded the problem. From a story perspective, I felt Mark didn't redeem himself quite enough and Chelsea grabbed for that HEA too quickly despite it. More troubling for me was a perplexing timeline conflict that jarred me right out of the story (details containing spoilers provided below).
I have a fondness for light, sports-themed romances, and most of this book gave me several hours of reading entertainment. A couple of changes here or there and the final two chapters could have easily matched the preceding ones. I'm disappointed they didn't.
~* WARNING ~*~ SPOILERS AHEAD ~*~ WARNING *~
The conflict in the timeline centers around this comment Mark makes to Chelsea when he goes to her new job to apologize and tell her he loves her:
"The Chinooks sent another health care worker to my door this morning."
If that's true, that means he goes to Chelsea the same day that he has done the following:
* Shut the door in the home health care worker's face
* Found out about Chelsea quitting the week before
* Contacted Jules to find out where Chelsea was and have him steal her cell phone
* Bought a CD
* Learned to program Chelsea's cell phone with a ringtone of one of the songs on that CD (which he admitted took awhile)
* Put in an offer on a new home
* Bought a very ostentatious ring
Busy day. Not to mention that it was already established that Chelsea's cell phone disappeared the day before Mark shows up to talk to her. Jules would have had to snitch it before Mark even returned from Vegas and found out about Chelsea quitting. The rest, while I suppose was theoretically possible, was still implausible. And for the record, when a man intimates you're a well paid whore, he really should apologize for more than just not believing he loves you. Just saying.
~*~*~*~
Reviewed for One Good Book Deserves Another.
Chelsea Ross isn't in health care. In fact, she's an actress...sort of. Her short, busty appearance has landed her a few rolls as screaming victims in B-grade horror movies, and she's had a few other walk-on rolls in soaps and commercials. After hockey player Mark Bressler had fired, scared off, or offended all six of the health care professionals the team sent to him to help him recover at his home, Chelsea's twin sister Bo got her a shot at going in another direction. For a meager salary but a much-needed ten thousand dollar bonus if she can put up with the surly, rude bastard for three months, Chelsea is determined to use a combination of her acting skills and experience as an assistant to LA's near-elite to put up with him. Even if he is a total Tool.
Broken and wounded, Mark's bitter self pity lashes out at Chelsea again and again. Chelsea grits her teeth and takes it. Neither like each other very much. Or...you know...at all. But the sparks can't help but fly when the unstoppable Chelsea clashes with the immovable Mark, and the longer the friction, the hotter the fire.
Despite the fact that every sports-themed romance series I've read has at least one book centered around the player that can no longer play and the spunky, irrepressible woman who pulls him out of his funk, I didn't mind the plot of Nothing But Trouble. While it lacked originality, it was cute and entertaining, and had a slick, quickly-paced narrative with plenty of sharp back-and-forth dialogue that appealed.
I wasn't always thrilled with Mark, whose self pity wore on me as it progressed long into the book. A portion of his personality is understandable. He lost his career, almost lost his life, and spent months in constant, chronic pain. I can sympathize with that...to a point. Because in the end, its still a light sports romance and should be entertaining. For my tastes, Mark's attitude needed adjustment sooner than it happened here. Chelsea, on the other hand, was at turns enchanting and adorable, with a nice blend of quirky individuality and steady control. I liked her, and frankly, I liked Mark the best when he was interacting with her, though I suppose that's rather the point.
There were plenty of good points through most of the book and I enjoyed most of it as the light, fun read it's intended to be. And then suddenly, things took a less pleasing turn in the final two chapters. The formula of the romance almost demands that moment of exploding conflict between the protagonists, in fact, my overall impression of romances often rests on that conflict and subsequent resolution. The problem for me here was the impetus of the conflict seemed contrived, the conflict itself didn't seem very conflict-worthy, and Mark's reactions seemed inflated.
The resolution compounded the problem. From a story perspective, I felt Mark didn't redeem himself quite enough and Chelsea grabbed for that HEA too quickly despite it. More troubling for me was a perplexing timeline conflict that jarred me right out of the story (details containing spoilers provided below).
I have a fondness for light, sports-themed romances, and most of this book gave me several hours of reading entertainment. A couple of changes here or there and the final two chapters could have easily matched the preceding ones. I'm disappointed they didn't.
~* WARNING ~*~ SPOILERS AHEAD ~*~ WARNING *~
The conflict in the timeline centers around this comment Mark makes to Chelsea when he goes to her new job to apologize and tell her he loves her:
"The Chinooks sent another health care worker to my door this morning."
If that's true, that means he goes to Chelsea the same day that he has done the following:
* Shut the door in the home health care worker's face
* Found out about Chelsea quitting the week before
* Contacted Jules to find out where Chelsea was and have him steal her cell phone
* Bought a CD
* Learned to program Chelsea's cell phone with a ringtone of one of the songs on that CD (which he admitted took awhile)
* Put in an offer on a new home
* Bought a very ostentatious ring
Busy day. Not to mention that it was already established that Chelsea's cell phone disappeared the day before Mark shows up to talk to her. Jules would have had to snitch it before Mark even returned from Vegas and found out about Chelsea quitting. The rest, while I suppose was theoretically possible, was still implausible. And for the record, when a man intimates you're a well paid whore, he really should apologize for more than just not believing he loves you. Just saying.
~*~*~*~
Reviewed for One Good Book Deserves Another.
Funny--Sweet--Sexy! This is the first book I've read by Rachel Gibson and plan to read more! Recommend to others.
Rachel Gibson is by far one of my favorite authors. She keeps you wanting more throughout the story. There's never a dull moment and you can't put her books down. I love the way she mixes romance with hockey and each of her books intertwine, but if you haven't read the other books you are not lost. Each story is a story of its own. Fantastic for a fun romance novel.
I have read ALL her books. Her first books were better than this one, but it was a fun read.
Rachel needs to take a break for bit
Let me just start off by saying I love the hero, Mark. Sure, he was a bit of a tool at first, but who wouldn't be after suffering a career ending injury? After he stopped being angry with the world, he turned out to be pretty sweet and adorable. I ended up liking him more than Luc from See Jane Score, which is saying a lot because I absolutely love that book. My only problem with Mark is that he gets over his anger (induced by the accident) a tad bit too quickly. It literally felt like one page he was still angry and then the next, he was over it. It especially surprised me he actually thanked Ty Savage at the Stanley Cup party considering how much Mark hated him in the beginning. It almost felt like a switch just turned off within him moving from one chapter to the next and I would have enjoyed reading about that development a bit more. But I was willing to let that slide because almost a month did go by within the storyline where Mark and Chelsea didn't really talk and since the book is being told from Chelsea's point of view, I can see how a gradual change could have occurred outside the realm of what the reader is being told.
My main problem with this book is the heroine. Chelsea, who has dubious fashion sense and dyes her hair two different colors, is convinced the reason her acting career hasn't taken off is because she has huge boobs. And because of her huge boobs, she keeps being typecast as a bimbo. So in order to get her acting career back on track, Chelsea needs money in order to get breast reduction surgery. Oh, sure, she lists a couple of other reasons for wanting the surgery (backache, how they seem to get in the way during sex) but her main issue with them seems to be the acting thing because it's all she ever talks about and the reduction surgery is central to her new life plan. Here's my problem with all this: there are many, many actresses with large breasts who land solid roles and have successful acting careers. Just off the top of my head: Salma Hayek and Halle Berry both have Oscars, Christina Hendricks is on the critical darling Mad Men, and even Lindsay Lohan had a pretty successful career (think Mean Girls era) before certain other things got in the way. My point is, a huge part of me didn't buy her motivation for working for Mark in the first place (and her primary motivation for sticking around after she realized what a jerk he was being). Maybe she should have been saving up money to buy some acting lessons instead. Or, you know, dye your hair just one color (a suggestion made by a talent agent that for some reason took Chelsea by surprise). Gibson also sort of glossed over how much her twin sister disapproved of the surgery. Chelsea was hurt by it, but this was never fleshed out or resolved, a subplot that could have added a lot of meat to the story.
As critical as I am of Chelsea, I did actually enjoy her and Mark together. The sex scenes are ultra steamy and towards the end, you can see Mark genuinely loves her. I just didn't buy Chelsea's motivations and she seemed every bit as impulsive as her family is always telling her she is. Overall, I'd give this book a 4 and I'd recommend it to anyone looking for some light beach reading.
My main problem with this book is the heroine. Chelsea, who has dubious fashion sense and dyes her hair two different colors, is convinced the reason her acting career hasn't taken off is because she has huge boobs. And because of her huge boobs, she keeps being typecast as a bimbo. So in order to get her acting career back on track, Chelsea needs money in order to get breast reduction surgery. Oh, sure, she lists a couple of other reasons for wanting the surgery (backache, how they seem to get in the way during sex) but her main issue with them seems to be the acting thing because it's all she ever talks about and the reduction surgery is central to her new life plan. Here's my problem with all this: there are many, many actresses with large breasts who land solid roles and have successful acting careers. Just off the top of my head: Salma Hayek and Halle Berry both have Oscars, Christina Hendricks is on the critical darling Mad Men, and even Lindsay Lohan had a pretty successful career (think Mean Girls era) before certain other things got in the way. My point is, a huge part of me didn't buy her motivation for working for Mark in the first place (and her primary motivation for sticking around after she realized what a jerk he was being). Maybe she should have been saving up money to buy some acting lessons instead. Or, you know, dye your hair just one color (a suggestion made by a talent agent that for some reason took Chelsea by surprise). Gibson also sort of glossed over how much her twin sister disapproved of the surgery. Chelsea was hurt by it, but this was never fleshed out or resolved, a subplot that could have added a lot of meat to the story.
As critical as I am of Chelsea, I did actually enjoy her and Mark together. The sex scenes are ultra steamy and towards the end, you can see Mark genuinely loves her. I just didn't buy Chelsea's motivations and she seemed every bit as impulsive as her family is always telling her she is. Overall, I'd give this book a 4 and I'd recommend it to anyone looking for some light beach reading.
This book starts off right where True Love and Other disasters left off. I liked this book, I just didn't Love it. I'm not sure what it was, maybe it moved a little slow for me, I don't know. It took me a little longer than normal to finish it. I was able to read a few pages, put it down and do something else and pick it back up later. If I'm not hooked by a book, I'm a little dissapointed. I just don't think the characters intrgued me as much as I hoped. I still thought it was a good read, just not great
Nice balance between sex, romance and story.
Great book. I was in the mood for a contemporary romance where the heroine wasn't a complete slut who couldn't keep her legs closed with just one look from the hunky hero. But I didn't want one of those sexless books where the sex is just hinted at. This one hit a wonderful balance of hot sex and beleivable romance for me. The heroine wasn't so perky as to be irritating and the hero wasn't so whiny as to be totally unsympathetic. Loved watching them get to know each other with a few dream sequences thrown in to kept the heat up.
I am a big fan of Rachel, I have read all of her books. I remember a point when she was hesitant on writing anymore hockey themes, but the readers wanted more, clearly she took the cue from her readers. I have loved the hockey themes but for me, even though I enjoyed this book, honestly, I am hockey'd out.
All that said I do recommend her work to everyone, she is just so funny that I always crack up as I am reading her books. and yes I laughed on this one too, and I am waiting for the next book :)
oh and they have just the right amount of "steam."
All that said I do recommend her work to everyone, she is just so funny that I always crack up as I am reading her books. and yes I laughed on this one too, and I am waiting for the next book :)
oh and they have just the right amount of "steam."
I liked this book, but didnt love it. I read many of RG books, and this is not one of my favorites. I liked Chelsea and still think the character could've been better explored, but Mark is a little hard to like. Ok, he almost died and lost he loved career, but he's 38, old for hockey player standards, so its not like he didnt had a great career, won a lot a money,etc... He was entitled to a little self pity, but he just goes on and on about how he's nothing if he cant play and treats chealsea badly, kiss her, and then decides is better to ignore her. THEN suddenly, he decides he wants her after all... The conflict in this book is obvious and predictable and, quite frankly, silly (so she didnt tell him about the bonus... BIG DEAL! After all the crap she had from him, I couldnt simpatize with him even a little bit and that was before he called her a hooker just to be mean...). I usualloy can forgive a hero almost anything when there's good groveling after, but the ending was poorly made and abrupt, and there was no climax at all in this book. Anyway, its a ok read, but there are a few plot problems that spoils it.
Originally posted at: [...]
Chelsea Ross is an amazing, unique, stubborn, smart, woman with more moxie than I could dream of having. She's the heroine of Nothing But Trouble and she made this book worth every moment I spent reading it.
That's not to say our hero, Mark Bressler, wasn't worthwhile. Despite his perpetual annoyance, we understand why he is the way he is.
Rachel Gibson skillfully created a complete, realistic and very human cast in this book. The plot was thoroughly engaging as well, and I loved to read along while watching as Chelsea and Mark fumbled their way from dislike, to grudging respect to genuine friendship with a healthy dose of attraction that had me running for the fan to cool off.
While the plot itself wasn't that full of anything unusual, the characters kept me turning pages. And, not just the main ones. I loved Chelsea's twin sister, Bo. I fell a little in love with Jules. And Derek's desperate need for Mark's approval both broke my heart and made me finally see the good man Mark really was.
The hoops Mark made Chelsea jump through as his assistant made me grin, and the way Chelsea just hunkered down and took whatever he threw at her was awesome. That Mark was the only person who "got" Chelsea was the clincher, though, and I was really pulling for them to get their HEA.
This book wasn't an intellectual challenge. It wasn't exciting or nerve-wracking or thought provoking. What it was, though, was simply a really amazing, feel good, fun, sexy romance. A story with quirky characters, and some of them fell in love.
Nothing But Trouble was simply a book I completely enjoyed reading.
Chelsea Ross is an amazing, unique, stubborn, smart, woman with more moxie than I could dream of having. She's the heroine of Nothing But Trouble and she made this book worth every moment I spent reading it.
That's not to say our hero, Mark Bressler, wasn't worthwhile. Despite his perpetual annoyance, we understand why he is the way he is.
Rachel Gibson skillfully created a complete, realistic and very human cast in this book. The plot was thoroughly engaging as well, and I loved to read along while watching as Chelsea and Mark fumbled their way from dislike, to grudging respect to genuine friendship with a healthy dose of attraction that had me running for the fan to cool off.
While the plot itself wasn't that full of anything unusual, the characters kept me turning pages. And, not just the main ones. I loved Chelsea's twin sister, Bo. I fell a little in love with Jules. And Derek's desperate need for Mark's approval both broke my heart and made me finally see the good man Mark really was.
The hoops Mark made Chelsea jump through as his assistant made me grin, and the way Chelsea just hunkered down and took whatever he threw at her was awesome. That Mark was the only person who "got" Chelsea was the clincher, though, and I was really pulling for them to get their HEA.
This book wasn't an intellectual challenge. It wasn't exciting or nerve-wracking or thought provoking. What it was, though, was simply a really amazing, feel good, fun, sexy romance. A story with quirky characters, and some of them fell in love.
Nothing But Trouble was simply a book I completely enjoyed reading.
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Unsuccessful actress Chelsea Ross desperately needs money, so she agrees to work as a personal assistent for hockey superstar Mark Bressler. He was seriously hurt in a car accident months ago and had to give up playing hockey. Ever since he is in a black mood and does his best to act like a jerk. Mark doesn't want anyone to help him and especially not funky and witty Chelsea. But he can't get rid of her like he did with his other assistents because Chelsea just won't leave.
Soon Chelsea and Mark find some common ground and he even begins to like their discussions and her attempts to cheer him up. When the attraction between them grows, their relationship changes and they become lovers. What starts as something casual soon feels like so much more and Mark and Chelsea have to decide how they want to go on.
I loved reading "Nothing but trouble" and think that it's one of the best books by Rachel Gibson so far.
Chelsea is a great heroine and I liked her from the first moment. She is a funny, honest and caring person and pursues her dreams even though her family disagrees. I especially enjoyed reading about her bright personality and clothing style.
Mark is an awesome hero. At first I was a bit sceptical about him but that changed within a few pages. He may be brooding and arrogant but he is also funny and kind. You can feel his pain and just hope that his life will get better.
Mark and Chelsea are a great, sexy and lovely pair and I especially enjoyed that Mark understood one of her biggest wishes and was willing to change his life for her.
I loved to meet Kate and Rob from "The trouble with Valentine's day" again and laughed about the fly-fishing insider joke. I also enjoyed reading more about the other Chinook players and hope that many of them will get their own books.
So all in all I can absolutely recommend this funny, sexy and light-hearted book and can't wait to read more of the Seattle Chinooks. Sam's book (excerpt is in the back of "Nothing but trouble") sounds very promising and will be published spring 2011.