"Pro-hockey was never so much fun as in this author's remarkable debut novel."

Journey into the work of professional hockey, as we meet Janna McNeil. A publicist specializing in retooling client's images, as well as damage control, Janna has been hired by Kidco Corporation to help transform the reputation of the New York Blades, NHL's Manhattan-based hockey franchise. The guys on the team play hard, both on and off the ice. After winning the Stanley Cup for the first time in 20 years, their reputation needs a definite make-over. The team is a PR nightmare, but Janna is being paid big bucks to change all that.

As Janna ventures into the locker room filled with naked, sweaty bodies, she asks for help from all of the players, especially Ty Gallagher, team captain and New York's next best thing to Wayne Gretsky. Each player must give back to the community in the form of charity events, be it visiting kids in the hospital, charity dinners, golf tournaments, etc. Ty states, unequivocally, "No! Tell Kidco to take their involvement in the community and shove it." He gives them everything he has each time he takes the ice, and that's enough. End of First Period.

Janna tells Ty, "I'll be the annoying song lyric you can't get out of your head." As Ty digs in his heels, he sees a woman with brains, spirit and courage, and that turns him on. That's the same stuff it takes to make it out on the ice. Janna sees a strong man, one who cares and whose convictions run as deep as his emotions. He just doesn't wear them on his sleeve. But, what would a man like Ty ever see in her? This casual relationship, which starts as a slow burn, rages into a blazing inferno with each of them unwilling to realize its magnitude. Ty lives for hockey, his only mistress. Janna can't compete. End of Second Period.

As we skate toward the end of the third period, how will this all play out? Friends are involved, principles are tested, love is on the line. Take this fast-paced, thrilling trip on and off the ice. You'll cheer for Ty and Janna every step of the way and hope, in the end, the Stanley Cup will be theirs. Ms. Martin's story is sparkling in creativity and spunky dialog. It melts our hearts, not the ice, and uncovers the true meaning of the word "winner." What a delight. Don't miss Body Check, a remarkable debut. Third Period Buzzer Blew - Game's Over.

Reviewed by Suzanne Tucker
Courtesy Old Book Barn Gazette
Posted February 13, 2003

Read an Excerpt

Not many women can boast bossing around a locker room full of buff, naked jocks as part of their job description, but then again, there aren't many women with a job like Janna MacNeil's.

Summary

Janna MacNeil is a publicist specializing in re-tooling clients' images and damage control. She's just been hired to transform the reputation of the New York Blades, a hockey team known for playing hard both on and off the ice.

Last year, after winning the Stanley Cup, they celebrated at strip joints and made headlines. Kidco—the team's new corporate owner—wants the Cup again, but not the scandal. And that's where Janna comes in. They are paying her big bucks to make the Blades seem "family friendly".

Her new boss, Lou "The Bull" Capesi, guzzles Mylanta like spring water, and admits the team is a PR nightmare. The way he sees it, the only way to get the guys to co-operate is to win the respect of their Captain, three-time Stanley Cup winner Ty Gallagher. No problem, thinks Janna. Getting the players to toe the corporate line will be a piece of cake—they make their living chasing a little rubber biscuit around an ice rink.

How smart can they be? All she has to do is get the captain to see Kidco's point of view.

Easier said than done, because Ty Gallagher is plenty smart, distractingly good-looking and sees things from his own point of view. And he has better things to do with his time than deal with a publicist, no matter how often she gets in his face...