Breakaway Hearts - Crista McHugh
Nine years ago at age nineteen, Ben Kelly, had a one-night stand with the woman of his dreams. Ever since he regretted not getting her phone number and last name. Now an NHL Goalie, he goes to the ski town of Cascade, BC, to recuperate from a potential career ending knee injury. While there he is reunited with the woman, he let get away.

Hailey Eriksson was left pregnant after a one-night stand. After her son, Zack became terminally ill, she needed to put off her dream at a chance to make the Canadian Women’s Olympian Hockey Team. Before his death, Hailey promised Zack she would make the 2014 Olympic Team in Sochi.

Breakaway Hearts is a fantastic story. It is extremely realistic and well developed. Crista McHugh did a fabulous job making you understand what Hailey and Ben were feeling. There are so many things that happen in the story that the characters face.

I love that fate gave Hailey and Ben a second chance after a number of obstacles and miscommunications got in the way. The characters are both lovable, and you want to see things work out for them.

Around the end of the novel, the discussion about Zack brought tears to my eyes. Being a parent, I cannot imagine the pain from a loss of a child. You sympathize with Hailey for having to endure the loss without Ben. My heart went out to poor Ben to discover he had a child he was never able to meet.

McHugh also does a great job describing the hockey scenes; Hailey helping Ben recoup and Ben helping Hailey make the team.

This was one of those books for me that you just cannot stop thinking about. Breakaway Hearts is a wonderful book that I highly recommend.

ARC provided by publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.