4.5 stars--REED is the tenth instalment in Sawyer Bennett’s contemporary, adult COLD FURY HOCKEY sport, romance series focusing on the members of the professional hockey team the Carolina Cold Fury. This is Carolina Cold Fury hockey player Reed Olson, and ER physician Josie Ives’ story line. REED can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary.

Told from dual first person points of view (Josie and Reed) REED is an opposites attract/friends to lovers story line that follows the building relationship between ER physician Josie Ives, and hockey player Reed Olson. Following their second Stanley Cup win the members of the Cold Fury hockey team are due for some R&R, and Reed Olson takes relaxation to the max with a series of one-night stands that are a little too loud for his neighbor’s enjoyment. Enter ER physician Josie Ives, and the woman with whom Reed will fall in love. What ensues is the friends to lovers relationship between Josie and Reed, and the potential fall out as Reed believes Josie can do much better than a high-school educated hockey player with too much time on his hands.

Reed Olson is a bit of a manwh*re whose late night antics are fodder for his friends and the new neighbour next door but something about Josie Ives draws Reed like a moth to a flame that he is willing to explore one way or another. A slow start to their friendship including picture puzzles, picnics, pizza and beer finds Josie falling for Reed Olson, and thinking about giving love a second chance.

The secondary and supporting characters include Reed’s fellow teammates Marek Fabritis and Tanner Craig, as well as the return of Alex and Sutton, and Garrett and Olivia. The camaraderie between teammates is humorous and fun. We are introduced fellow ER physicians Kathy Krantz, Kevin Mills and Josie’s ex boyfriend Dr. Aiden McCune.

REED is a story of friendship, romance, fun and adventure. There are no overt conflicts or over the top dramas that threaten to destroy Reed and Josie’s building relationship except Reed’s lack of confidence as it pertains to falling in love with a woman he believes to be out of his league- their differences may be too large for our hero to overcome. Josie is a strong, feisty female heroine who knows what she wants; Reed is successful hockey player who is willing to take a chance for something more. It is the off-season therefore hockey takes a backseat to the relationship. The premise is sweet and sexy; the romance is passionate and seductive; the characters are energetic and real. REED is a heart warming and uplifting story.