I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.
Locke by Sawyer Bennett Series: Portland Wildfire #2
Published by Big Dog Books on August 11, 2026
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He’s the league’s most dangerous enforcer. She’s the specialist sent to determine whether he’s too broken to save. Neither of them is prepared for what happens when the truth hits back.
Locke Donovan has a reputation carved in blood and penalty minutes. The league’s most dangerous enforcer, he’s an angry, unapproachable loner who fights harder and refuses to let anyone in. The Portland Wildfire only took him because no one else would, and Locke seems determined to prove every rumor true. He doesn’t do teammates. He doesn’t do relationships. He barely does conversation.
Dr. Livia Cross is quiet, brilliant and controlled. Officially, she’s the Wildfire’s new high-performance consultant. Unofficially, she’s been embedded by the league to evaluate one player.
One risk.
Locke.Her job is simple: observe him, test him, and determine whether he’s safe to stay on the ice, or too volatile to keep playing. But the man she finds beneath the scowl and silence isn’t what she expected. He’s sharp. Watching. Walled off for a reason. And when sparks ignite where there should only be professionalism, Livia’s carefully built boundaries start to crack.
Locke doesn’t trust easily yet he lets Livia closer than he ever intended, long before he learns she isn’t who he thinks she is. And when the truth comes out, it won’t just shatter their fragile connection… it might end his career.
Sure to please angst and addictive characters! Sawyer Bennett once again is delivering all the feels we need with her latest hockey series, Portland Wildfire. Locke is withdrawn from life and lives with simmering rage at the drop of a hat. He’s a top notch player, but his steadfast anger gets the best of him more often than not. Livia crosses the lines quickly when attraction between the two of them leads to a connection he was never expecting. Both characters are easy to like and I really enjoyed getting to the bottom of his past. I felt like there was not a resolution there that could have added even more angst to the plot, but I enjoyed the storyline none the less. Her past also catches up to her during their story and again was left hanging a smidge by not learning the outcome of how it all played out. I am enjoying this series quite a lot and really enjoyed the owner too. I can’t wait to see how more of the team finds their happily ever after as the series continues.
Highly recommend this book as well as the entire series to anyone who enjoys a hockey romance instilled with emotional depth and real life problems playing out as the spotlight characters finds his one and only and struggles to make the changes he needs to in order to keep her.
LOCKE
Sawyer Bennett
Release Date: August 11
Meet Sawyer Bennett:
New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestselling author Sawyer Bennett uses real life
experience to create relatable stories that appeal to a wide array of readers. From contemporary
romance, fantasy romance, and both women’s and general fiction, Sawyer writes something for just
about everyone.
A former trial lawyer from North Carolina, when she is not bringing fiction to life, Sawyer is a chauffeur,
stylist, chef, maid, and personal assistant to her very adorable daughter, as well as full-time servant to
her wonderfully naughty dogs.
If you’d like to receive a notification when Sawyer releases a new book, sign up for her newsletter
(sawyerbennett.com/signup).
Connect with Sawyer Bennett:
https://geni.us/SawyerBennett
Blurb:
He’s the league’s most dangerous defenseman. She’s the specialist sent to determine whether
he’s too broken to save. Neither of them is prepared for what happens when the truth hits
back.
Locke Donovan has a reputation carved in blood and penalty minutes. The league’s most
dangerous defenseman, he’s an angry, unapproachable loner who fights harder and refuses
to let anyone in. The Portland Wildfire only took him because no one else would, and Locke
seems determined to prove every rumor true. He doesn’t do teammates. He doesn’t do
relationships. He barely does conversation.
Dr. Livia Cross is quiet, brilliant and controlled. Officially, she’s the Wildfire’s new high-
performance consultant. Unofficially, she’s been embedded by the league to evaluate one
player.
One risk.
Locke.
Her job is simple: observe him, test him, and determine whether he’s safe to stay on the ice, or
too volatile to keep playing. But the man she finds beneath the scowl and silence isn’t what
she expected. He’s sharp. Watching. Walled off for a reason. And when sparks ignite where
there should only be professionalism, Livia’s carefully built boundaries start to crack.
Locke doesn’t trust easily yet he lets Livia closer than he ever intended, long before he learns
she isn’t who he thinks she is. And when the truth comes out, it won’t just shatter their fragile
connection… it might end his career.
Dark, emotional, and electric with slow-burn chemistry, LOCKE delivers a gripping workplace
romance between a guarded enforcer and the woman sent to evaluate him—until desire
becomes danger, and the lines between loyalty and love blur beyond recognition.
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