MOONLIGHTER (The Company #1) by SARINA BOWEN

“Are you ready to go to war for her?”
“War,” I repeat slowly. “Against whom?”
“Does it matter”

Eric Bayer isn’t a man to do things by halves whether it’s on the ice with the Brooklyn Bruisers Hockey team or wooing and sweeping the independently successful Alex Engels – when he sets his mind on something, nothing will stand in his way, and we fell instantly in love with him!

Moonlighter is the first book in Sarina Bowen’s new series, The Company, an offshoot of her Brooklyn Bruisers Hockey Series and the character crossover is a great way to catch up with some old friends.

 “I’ve always liked having you around,” I say….” I like it way too much.”

This time though, we not only get the sports romance vibe, but our mystery and suspense thirst is quenched, with ‘The Company’ a mysterious super-sleuth firm owned and run by Eric’s computer nerd brother, Max as well as their Dad, and we’re itching to find out more about this secret society! So secret, that even Eric doesn’t know the legal name of the company.

Alexandra Engels is the President and CEO of Engels Media Communications, and the brains behind a new voice-controlled assistant, Bingley (we want a Bingley) that is about to sweep the market, but she has inhouse and outside competitors who either want her design or to see her downfall. Not only that, she’s pregnant by her ex-boyfriend who is a menacing presence in her life.

At the request of Max, Eric, who has a few weeks to spare in his busy hockey life, accompanies Alex to a conference in Hawaii where she is a guest speaker. Posing as her boyfriend, Eric’s job is to protect Alex and act as a buffer between her and her ex, who will also be at the conference.

Alex and Eric are childhood friends who had recently crossed paths, which caused a little resentment on Eric’s behalf, but seeing the beautiful Alex again, puts those feelings on the back burner as he’s instantly smitten and in protective mode over Alex.

‘My old friend is seriously hot. As fake boyfriends go. He’s an A Lister.’

The romance is very swoony as we witness the self-confessed bachelor whose biggest love has always been his hockey career, fall under the spell of the intelligent, driven and sweet Alex. They have more in common than they expected.

‘…his kiss is slow and convincing. It asks all the questions and then answers them at the same time.’

The meshing of sports and techy espionage worked incredibly well in Moonlighter and we’re itching to see where this goes, and especially excited to learn more about the secretive Max and the girl with all the answers, Scout! We were kept on our toes in a tale with an abundance of romance, heat, humour, secrets and duplicity. An entertaining introduction to The Company series.