Professional hockey player Rob D'Amico is confused when he's chosen to take part in a reading program for inner-city students. While athletes are role models, he tends toward the gregarious and playful side, rather than a studious bent.

Despite the lack of funding plaguing her inner-city district, every day kindergarten teacher Alaina Rossa ensures her students learn something to prepare them for life. At first she's unsure how a hockey player will help her achieve that goal.

When Rob visits Alaina's class for the first time, they welcome him with open arms, despite the lack of even the basic supplies for their education. He takes it upon himself to get the students what they need, sweeping Alaina up in the excitement.

As time goes by and she learns more about Rob, Alaina finds her heart opening to him. Is it possible her soul mate could be found in a world so different from her own? And for Rob, the last person he thought he'd find forever love with was an elementary school teacher wearing clothes permanently stained with finger paint. But when you're playing for keeps, sometimes you have to get a little dirty.

Alaina grinned then and his breath caught. His other hand joined the one already caressing her face and he leaned down to brush his lips to hers even as his brain screamed at him. What if Alaina only allowed his advances because she was grateful for his money? Man, he’d hate that. Despite his reservations, even an angry two-hundred-sixty-pound enforcer barreling his way toward him wouldn’t stop him, and Rob kissed her again, harder. After a moment of hesitation, she stepped closer and wrapped her arms around his neck.

If he’d had his way, no matter what his brain said, he would’ve had her horizontal in about two seconds, his tongue exploring her as his hands discovered if the curves more in evidence today were as soft as they appeared. Thankfully some part of him was still paying attention and he pulled away before he embarrassed them both. Her face and neck were flushed bright red and he’d bet she looked exactly like that in the throes of passion.

Dammit. Shouldn’t have worn jeans. And he could hardly adjust himself in the middle of this store to relieve the pressure. Rob ground his teeth.

“Probably not a good idea,” Alaina said.

His brain was completely fried. “What?”

“You and me. This can’t be.”

Irrational anger clawed at him. Here he was, horny as hell and wanting to get to know her better, and Alaina seemed completely against the idea. That pissed him right the hell off. Crossing his arms over his chest, he said, “Give me one good reason why.”

She huffed then said, “We live in two totally different worlds. You drive a brand-new Escalade, I drive a beat-up Corolla. I teach kindergarten to inner-city kids for a pittance. You play professional hockey for a boatload of money.”

Rob slashed the air with his hand. “All that’s surface stuff. Give me a real reason.”

Review Companies

Cocktails and Books

UNDERNEATH IT ALL is an enjoyable story about a hockey player and kindergarten teacher. Rob D’Amico plays for the Buffalo Storm, an NHL hockey team. Rob is asked to volunteer his time for a reading program at a Buffalo inner city school. He is assigned to read to Alaina Ross' kindergarten class. Rob is shocked when he looks around the classroom, because there are few books, art supplies or anything else a child needs to learn. Rob and Alaina are attracted to each other and a relationship slowly develops between them. Rob is ready for a relationship and falls hard for Alaina. However, Alaina doesn’t trust Rob because he a successful athlete and she can’t understand why he is attracted to her. She doesn’t feel comfortable with Rob’s celebrity or when he spends money on her. At times her insecurities get in the way of their budding romance. Rob is a nice guy and is always kind and patient. (full review)

MR Review
Rating:
Reviewer: RobinT

Rob D’Amico is a professional hockey player and public relations have assigned him to the inner-city school reading program. He definitely feels like a fish out of water when he goes to the school for his first appointment and Alaina Rossa, the kindergarten teacher, has no plans to ease Rob’s discomfort. Much to his surprise, Rob enjoys his time with the children but his response to their teacher is unnerving. Alaina is not Rob’s type and she is barely civil to him, which is not the reaction he normally gets from women. Despite her prickliness, there is something about Alaina Rob cannot ignore. He is also surprised at the lack of supplies available to the kids and decides he wants to do more to help Alaina’s students to have what they need to learn, just like the kids who attend schools in the suburbs that are better funded. Alaina is skeptical about Rob’s intentions but she quickly learns he does not fit her impression of a “professional jock” with a lot of money; Rob is true to his word and genuinely wants to help her students. Additionally, Alaina cannot understand why a rich hunky guy like Rob who can have any woman would be interested in a frumpy schoolteacher. Can Alaina overcome her biases about the rich and her own lack of self-esteem to embrace true “happily ever after” love with Rob?

Underneath It All is the second book in the Storm Hockey series. Part of the reason why I really enjoyed this book is because it diverges from the “cookie cutter” model of a romantic novel to provide the reader with a plot that is intriguing and characters that are very believable. I also enjoyed the amount of detail the author includes about ice hockey. I found it informative and a good embellishment to the romantic plotline. The author includes ties to her previous book by including Sebastian and Sarah, but this installment in the series is thoroughly enjoyable without having read the first book. Underneath It All is an outstanding sexy romance I thoroughly enjoyed, so much so I plan to read the first book because I don’t want to miss anything as I follow the series.

 

* Disclosure: Reviewers are compensated for book reviews.

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