DIRTY DEAL: A sexy, single dad Slayers Hockey Novel

This is the fifth book in this phenomenal series and is Axel and Nora’s story. These two are neighbours, and Axel certainly knows how to push Nora’s buttons just to get a reaction from her, as she hates him, so they continually butt heads. Axel is an NHL player who has a reputation as a playboy, but his life changes forever when he finds out that he is a single dad to a baby boy, which he was in no way prepared for, and he desperately needs help caring for the baby. Nora brought up all her siblings, so she is the ideal person to look after the baby, which she does as if he was her own. This is a beautifully written story which is a slow burn, with humor, witty banter, family, emotions, romance, and love, which leads to an addictive page turner. I look forward to reading more from this talented author whose work I highly recommend.

I'm not really a fan of the surprise baby trope but this one was a little different than I have seen before. I liked it. A lot. Axel tries to make the moves on the new neighbor, Nora, but being a player is hard to shake and he manages to fluff it up. Then they become enemies. Then Axel has his world thrown upside down by an unexpected overwhelming new commitment. Nora has her world collapse and she's about to give up and move back home. Turns out that they can help each other so, they strike a bargain. Axel is fun, honest to a fault, hard working, and totally committed to fatherhood. Nora, she's a feisty one who just wants a life of her own. It's something she's never had and being a nanny is not part of the dream. They may be enemies but boy do they have definite love vibes! They make things work and no matter what, there is no doubt that they both love Baby Otto. There's a lot of learning and growing that goes on with these three but it doesn't end the way the grown ups were expecting. It's better. Well written with lots of laughs that kept me reading until the end. The guys from the Slayers, mainly the hilarious Boomer and Bowie, make several fun appearances. Nora's sister adds yet another perspective. And everyone loves O, and there's no shortage of babysitters. The plot is believable, flows smoothly with witty dialogue and low angst. This was a sweet little romance that made me smile, laugh, and shake my head. Dirty Deal is a keeper and there's not one thing that I would change. I'm recommending it and giving it four shiny stars. Read it! Peace!

Mira Lyn Kelly scored another goal with Dirty Deal, book five in her Slayers Hockey series. I seriously did not want to put this book down once I started reading it was that fantastic. I loved Nora and Axel from the moment Nora was complaining about Axel being an awful neighbor while Axel would do something to annoy Nora, just to get a reaction out of her. Basically Axel was smitten with Nora from the moment she moved in. Nora feels less favorable toward Axel and his manwhore ways turned her off. Opening the door to a one-night stand showing up at your door in labor, is not something Axel expected, but he quickly jumps into action. After his son, Otto, is born, the baby mama takes off, leaving Axel to be a single father. The fierceness and love Axel had for this baby and his need to keep him safe says much about his character. I was moved by the helplessness you see in Axel, as he negotiates the path of fatherhood to a newborn baby he had no idea was going to come into his life. Nora is uniquely qualified to help out, and happens to be in-between jobs and needing a place to stay. Never one to let others down, Nora agrees to be Otto’s nanny, temporarily, as she has already ridden down that road. After moving in to help Axel with baby Otto Nora sees the real Axel, not the “player” she thought he was. Nora and Axel become real friends and despite wanting more, they both know that Nora is leaving. I loved watching these two grow as friends and attempt to fight the attraction and chemistry that is evident from their first interaction, continuing after Nora moves in with Axel and Otto; it was only a matter of time before they have to give in. With Nora’s help, Axel grew up, learned to take responsibility, and opened his heart while Axel encouraged Nora to follow her dreams and to never settle for less; even if that wasn’t with him and Otto. These two are amazing together and it was so powerful to see how much Axel loved Nora. Ms. Kelly wrote an emotional, amazing, steamy, insta-dad, sports romance that should not be missed. She provided a tale I quickly became invested in, that was rich with emotions, sizzling chemistry, magnetic attraction, humor, and charming characters giving Axel and Nora a chance at love and a future together with baby Otto. I highly recommend Dirty Deal to other readers and look forward to the next book in this series. I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.