End Game (Bellevue Bullies Series Book 4)

**I received an early copy of this title in exchange for an honest review** I absolutely adored this book! If you have read Toni Aleo's Assassins series, then you will remember Ryan Justice from when he was just a boy who loved his Unky Shea, but if not, get ready to fall in love with this amazing guy in this well written new book. And, don't worry, if you haven't read the Assassins series, you won't be missing anything by just diving into this book! The focused and charismatic Ryan is entering his senior year at Bellevue and he feels like this year things are finally going to come together and fall into place. He's going to graduate college and hopefully be drafted so he can start his NHL career. Ryan made the tough decision to pass up an opportunity to go to the EHL so he could get his degree, which is a solid plan, but now he's second guessing himself when he's not getting the calls he had hoped for prior to the draft. Sofia Castilleja is a freshman at Bellevue, is a member of the brand new women's gymnastics team and just so happens to be Amelia, Ryan's sister's roommate. Sofia has always been driven to be the best in the gym as she spent her childhood doing nothing but training in hopes of one day becoming an Olympian. When those dreams were cut short due to injury, she was determined to make something of herself by competing in college and then furthering her love of gymnastics by coaching herself following college. Neither Ryan or Sofia are looking for a relationship and when the two of them meet, the connection is instant. Ryan has to work to convince Sofia to take a chance on them, but once he does, amazing thing begins to bloom. These two have so much in common with their love of family, their drive to be the best in their sport and their current struggle to figure out what is the best next step in each of their lives. Will they be able to figure out how to be together with such differing hopes and dreams? Or will their relationship end prematurely? I adored these two together. They were sweet, hot and while they struggled with individual issues, they were always stronger together because they truly listened to one another and the bond was undeniable. Kudos to Toni Aleo for bringing us a grown up Ryan and the perfect woman to balance him out. There was so much feeling and emotion in this book, but that is what made it so worth the ride. And, it was great to experience Ryan's crazy family again! I highly recommend this book!

"𝑰 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒎𝒂𝒅𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖. 𝑫𝒐 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝑰'𝒎 𝒔𝒂𝒚𝒊𝒏𝒈? 𝑰 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖. 𝑪𝒐𝒎𝒑𝒍𝒆𝒕𝒆𝒍𝒚." "𝑰'𝒗𝒆 𝒏𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒅 𝒂 𝒕𝒓𝒖𝒆𝒓 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒊𝒏 𝒎𝒚 𝒘𝒉𝒐𝒍𝒆 𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒓𝒆 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆." "𝒀𝒆𝒂𝒉?" "𝒀𝒆𝒂𝒉, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒅𝒂𝒎𝒏 𝒊𝒕, 𝑰 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖." Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Spice: 🔥🔥🔥 Tropes: Sports romance, virgin heroine, best friend's older brother Series: Bellevue Bullies #4 Toni Aleo has completely ruined my life in the best way possible with this book. I devoured this book in 24 hours (I slept and worked somewhere in those 24 hours) and loved everything about it. I am now upset that I wasn't an elite gymnast at 18 at my undergrad with a hot and wonderful hockey player boyfriend. But then I remember I'm 5'8 and that never would've happened 😂 I still would've loved an epic romance like this in undergrad, though. Ryan Justice is unreal (if anyone knows a man like him in the real world, please send him my way) and deliciously perfect in every way. He saw Sofia and that was a wrap for him. He knew he had to get to know her and something about her drew him to her. I loved that he never wavered from how much he was into Sofia. He pursued her, but not in a creepy way. Ryan loved her drive, her goals, her passion, and the way she cared for others. He never once made her doubt how amazing, beautiful, talented, and brilliant she was and only ever encouraged her to be herself. Ryan made sure he told her all the things he loved about her all the time (real men could never). His approach to being her first for so many things was truly perfect and how every guy should be. It made me emotional to see him actually care to make her first time important and make sure she felt safe. I just love him so much. Sofia is just the best. I related to her on so so so many levels. Her fears around so many firsts and being vulnerable are beyond relatable. It's scary to open up to someone and trust them to not hurt you. But Sofia trust Ryan and took the leap. Sofia had me doing a lot of introspection throughout the novel. I loved her drive and passion. A highlight for me is that Sofia didn't change her whole life for Ryan or forget what she wanted to do. She found a way to incorporate him into her life while still working towards her goals. Watching Sofia grow throughout the book was another highlight for me. I enjoyed that Sofia provided the same support to Ryan that he gave her when he needed help making a tough decision. I'm sad this book had to end because I could read so much more about Ryan and Sofia. I desire to have a love and relationship like they do. They communicated so well and were trusting of one another with their hearts, bodies, and futures. They are a couple that will go the distance because they work every day to be the best versions of themselves individually and as a couple. I just love them so much!

Have read this series and enjoyed it. This was no exception and was a nice easy read. Ryan is in his last year of college and wants to go into the NHL. Sofia is a gymnast and rooming with Ryan's sister. They meet and sparks fly but is it good for them to start something they may not get to finish? After all, Ryan may be leaving for professional hockey and Sofia will have 3 more years of college. I liked the characters and catching up on characters from the Assassins series but I felt the storyline could have had a little more to it. There is a lot of emotions involved in developing their feelings for each other and looking to their future but I wanted more. Not sure what that would be but I thought at the end of the book I was not totally satisfied with it. However I would still recommend the book as a nice easy read.

Ryan and Sofia two people on a mission to achieve their lifetime ambitions then they meet knowing things could change or do they continue on their separate paths. Get to follow up with the Justice and Adler families which is always good. loved these two and how they are with each other

I just loved Ryan and Sofia's love story. Toni you amaze me in how you keep writing the most beautiful and strong young love stories. Those hockey players and their loves are so young but they know what they want. Can't wait for Aiden's and Shelli's love story. Again young people knowing what they want. Of course they have great adults to look up. Bring on more Assassins and Bullies.♥️♥️

Sofia and Ryan, what an amazing story. Loved how it came together. Love hard, that’s the message. Fantastic read. Love this author.

Bellevue bullies is a fantastic series highly recommend starting at the beginnings no reading them all and also the interconnecting series to go with them!

If you have been reading Toni Aleo for a few years, and have read her Assassins series, you will have met our boy Ryan Justice - though he would have been a little kid back then. Now he is all man, all grown and waiting for his call up to the NHL - and with his pedigree - he is Shea and Elli Adler's nephew - hopes are high. I like that though he has plans, Ryan is not all about the NHL. I liked that he is taking his academic studies as serious as he takes his hockey. Enter Sofia - his sister's roommate/bestie. I love her perseverance, I love her naivety, I love who she is. I adored watching the relationship between them bloom and grow as they stop fighting their feeling and just... fall. I loved seeing how the Adler's lives turned out. I loved seeing more of the Assassins. I am loving the Assassins: Next Generation. Gah, I just really enjoyed everything about this story. Full of fun, laughter and sadness, I was hooked from the first word to the last. Now I feel the need... the need to reread the Assassins series. Can't wait to see what Ms Aleo brings us next.