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Pedestrianism: When Watching People Walk Was America's Favorite Spectator Sport
by Matthew AlgeoStrange as it sounds, during the 1870s and 1880s, America's most popular spectator sport wasn't baseball, football, or horseracing--it was competitive walking. Inside sold-out arenas, competitors walked around dirt tracks almost nonstop for six straight days (never on Sunday), risking their health and sanity to see who could walk the farthest--more than 500 miles. These walking matches were as talked about as the weather, the details reported in newspapers and telegraphed to fans from coast to coast. This long-forgotten sport, known as pedestrianism, spawned America's first celebrity athletes and opened doors for immigrants, African Americans, and women. But along with the excitement came the inevitable scandals, charges of doping and insider gambling, and even a riot in 1879. Pedestrianism chronicles competitive walking's peculiar appeal and popularity, its rapid demise, and its enduring influence.
Sport Consumer Behaviour: Marketing Strategies
by Kostas Alexandris Heath McDonald Daniel C FunkNow in a fully revised and updated second edition, this textbook offers a complete introduction to consumer behaviour in sport and recreation. Combining theory and cutting-edge research with practical guidance and advice, it helps students and industry professionals become more effective practitioners. Written by three of the world’s leading sports marketing academics, the book covers all the key topics in consumer behaviour, including: • user experience and service design • segmenting consumer markets, building profiles, and branding • decision-making and psychological consequences • consumer motivation, constraints, and personalities • service quality and customer satisfaction • sociocultural and technological advancements influencing consumption This updated edition includes expanded coverage of key emerging topics such as technology (from streaming apps to wearables), e-sports and gamification, consumer research, brand architecture, consumer decision making, and fan attitudes. Including international examples throughout, it helps the reader to understand customer motivation and how that drives consumption and how design-relevant factors influence user experiences and can be used to develop more effective marketing solutions. This book is an invaluable resource for anyone involved in the sport, recreation, and events industries, from students and academics to professional managers. An accompanying eResource provides quizzes exclusively for instructors to assist student learning.
Performance Measurement and Leisure Management
by Konstantinos AlexandrisThe issue of performance measurement in the leisure industry is increasingly important, from both theoretical (academic) and applied (practitioner) perspectives. Managers need accurate indications of how their organisations are performing, to inform their decisions. Policymakers need an evidence base for their decisions regarding public leisure services. Students and researchers in leisure management are increasingly turning their attention to the principles and evidence of performance measurement, as an aid to management decision-making.The chapters in this text each present a different case study of performance measurement. They cover a wide range of sectors in the leisure industry including public recreation centres, theme parks, play facilities, sport organisations, hospitality, and the Olympic Games. The evidence from these cases covers examples from three different continents and five different countries.All the chapters report empirical research and all the cases explore managerial implications. However, results are presented with clearly explained statistical analysis, which can be easily understood by a non-academic audience. The book will be useful for leisure management students, researchers and practitioners. The chapters provide both reviews of the relevant literature and propose new measurement models based on original data.This book was previously published as a special issue of Managing Leisure.
Play, Physical Activity and Public Health: The Reframing of Children's Leisure Lives (Routledge Studies in Physical Education and Youth Sport)
by Stephanie A. Alexander Katherine L. Frohlich Caroline FuscoAre children playing less than they used to? Are rising obesity rates linked to a decline in children’s time to play freely? These and other related questions have filled the pages of newspapers, magazines and scholarly journals for the past decade. Researchers and journalists have attributed these issues to societal changes around children’s lives and leisure, the growth of structured and organised activities and increasing perceptions of risk in children’s play. Play, Physical Activity and Public Health presents a discussion of the way modern notions of play are rendering children’s leisure activities less free and less engaged in simply for fun. Based on original qualitative research, and analysis of contemporary media from Canada and elsewhere, this book argues that the growing health concerns around childhood play entail a paradox: by advocating, promoting, discussing, and re-directing children’s play, a new form of children’s leisure is emerging - one that is purpose-driven, instrumentalised for health, and ultimately, less free. We explore how play has become goal-oriented, a means to health ends, and how the management of pleasure in play as well as diverse risk discourses around play continue to limit and constrain possibilities for children and families to play and engage in leisure freely. Incorporating past critiques of this trend in play, we argue for research and practice to create new possibilities and ways of thinking about children's play, leisure, fun and childhood, that are less constrained and managed, and importantly less geared towards health goals. This is a valuable resource for students of the sociology of sport, kinesiology, sports and health psychology, education, public health, and childhood studies. It is also an important read for school teachers, public health practitioners, psychologists, physical education teachers, academics and parents interested in how children’s leisure lives are being shaped by the growing and diverse discussions around play.
Fiona in the Sandbox (Hippo Park Pals #2)
by Rilla AlexanderFiona digs, builds, and pretends in her favorite spot—the sandbox—in this second of four irresistible full-length miniature picture books, where the littlest readers are introduced to new friends and the charming world of the Hippo Park playground.This second book in the Hippo Park Friends series—introduces Fiona the Hippo in her beloved sandbox. Fiona is a builder and a digger, and has a big imagination. She's digging for dinosaurs when she hits an imaginary bone and poof--she and her brother Herbert and face to face with a dino. So naturally, they bake cakes and pies and enjoy! The Hippo Park Pals mini picture books are all set in the playground, where the animals play, imagine, and have lots of fun and feelings--just like preschoolers do.
A Sporting Chance: How Ludwig Guttmann Created the Paralympic Games
by Lori AlexanderTelling the inspiring human story behind the creation of the Paralympics, this young readers biography artfully combines archival photos, full-color illustrations, and a riveting narrative to honor the life of Ludwig Guttmann, whose work profoundly changed so many lives. <P><P>Dedicating his life to helping patients labeled “incurables,” Ludwig Guttmann fought for the rights of paraplegics to live a full life. The young doctor believed—and eventually proved—that physical movement is key to healing, a discovery that led him to create the first Paralympic Games. <P><P>Told with moving text and lively illustrations, and featuring the life stories of athletes from the Paralympic Games Ludwig helped create, this story of the man who saved lives through sports will inspire readers of all backgrounds.
The Playbook: 52 Rules to Aim, Shoot, and Score in This Game Called Life
by Kwame Alexander Mr Thai Neave<P>You gotta know the rules to play the game. <br> Ball is life. <br>Take it to the hoop. <br>Soar. <P>What can we imagine for our lives?<br> What if we were the star players, moving and grooving through the game of life? <br>What if we had our own rules of the game to help us get what we want, what we aspire to, what will enrich our lives? <P>Illustrated with photographs by Thai Neave, The Playbook is intended to provide inspiration on the court of life. Each rule contains wisdom from inspiring athletes and role models such as Nelson Mandela, Serena Williams, LeBron James, Carli Lloyd, Steph Curry and Michelle Obama. <P>Kwame Alexander also provides his own poetic and uplifting words, as he shares stories of overcoming obstacles and winning games in this motivational and inspirational book just right for graduates of any age and anyone needing a little encouragement. <P><b>A New York Times Bestseller</b>
Booked: Mystery Books For Kids (The Crossover Series #2)
by Kwame Alexander<P>Like lightning <br>you strike <br>fast and free <br>legs zoom <br>down field <br>eyes fixed <br>on the checkered ball <br>on the goal <br>ten yards to go <br>can't nobody stop you <br>can't nobody cop you... <P>In this follow-up to the Newbery-winning novel THE CROSSOVER, soccer, family, love, and friendship, take center stage as twelve-year-old Nick learns the power of words as he wrestles with problems at home, stands up to a bully, and tries to impress the girl of his dreams. Helping him along are his best friend and sometimes teammate Coby, and The Mac, a rapping librarian who gives Nick inspiring books to read. <P>This electric and heartfelt novel-in-verse by poet Kwame Alexander bends and breaks as it captures all the thrills and setbacks, action and emotion of a World Cup match!
Booked Graphic Novel (The Crossover Series)
by Kwame AlexanderIn this electrifying follow-up to Kwame Alexander's Newbery winner The Crossover, soccer, family, love, and friendship take center stage. A New York Times bestseller and National Book Award Longlist nominee, now in a graphic novel edition featuring art from Dawud Anyabwile.Twelve-year-old Nick learns the power of words as he wrestles with problems at home, stands up to a bully, and tries to impress the girl of his dreams. Helping him along are his best friend and sometimes teammate Coby, and The Mac, a rapping librarian who gives Nick inspiring books to read. This electric and heartfelt novel-in-verse bends and breaks as it captures all the thrills and setbacks, action and emotion of a World Cup match."A novel about a soccer-obsessed tween boy written entirely in verse? In a word, yes. Kwame Alexander has the magic to pull off this unlikely feat, both as a poet and as a storyteller. " —The Chicago TribuneCan’t nobody stop youCan’t nobody cop you…
The Crossover (The Crossover Series)
by Kwame AlexanderNIMAC-sourced textbook <P><P>"With a bolt of lightning on my kicks . . .The court is SIZZLING. My sweat is DRIZZLING. Stop all that quivering. Cuz tonight I’m delivering," announces dread-locked, 12-year old Josh Bell. He and his twin brother Jordan are awesome on the court. But Josh has more than basketball in his blood, he's got mad beats, too, that tell his family's story in verse, in this fast and furious middle grade novel of family and brotherhood from Kwame Alexander. <P><P>Josh and Jordan must come to grips with growing up on and off the court to realize breaking the rules comes at a terrible price, as their story's heart-stopping climax proves a game-changer for the entire family.
El crossover (The Crossover Series)
by Kwame AlexanderGanador de la Medalla Newbery ∙ Ganador del Premio Coretta Scott King ∙ New York Times bestseller ∙ 2015 YALSA 2015 Top Ten Best Fiction for Young Adults∙ 2015 YALSA Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers ∙Publishers Weekly Best Book ∙ School Library Journal Best Book∙ Kirkus Best Book“Una hermosa novela medida entre la vida y sus líneas.”—New York Times Book Review Un rayo relámpagueando en mis kicks … La cancha está QUEMANDO. Mi sudorLLOVIZNANDO. Ya basta de estar temblando.Porque esta noche la voyentregando. El fenómeno del básquetbol, Josh Bell, y su hermano gemelo, Jordan, son los reyes de la cancha, con esos crossovers inesperados que hacen llorar a los jugadores más duros. Pero cuando Jordan conoce a la nueva chica del colegio, lazos entre los gemelos se empiezan a desanudar. El baloncesto y la hermandad se entrelazan para mostrarles a Josh y Jordan que la vida no viene con un manual de jugadas y que, a veces, el asunto no es ganar.Now in Spanish! Winner of the Newbery Medal and CSK Award, and a NYT bestseller. Basketball and heartache share the court in this slam-dunk novel in verse. A bolt of lightning on my kicks . . .The court is SIZZLING. My sweat is DRIZZLING.Stop all that quivering.Cuz tonight I’m delivering. Basketball phenom Josh Bell and his twin brother, Jordan, are kings on the court, with crossovers that make even the toughest ballers cry. But when Jordan meets the new girl in school, the twins’ bond unravels. Basketball and brotherhood intertwine to show Josh and Jordan that life doesn’t come with a playbook and, sometimes, it’s not about winning.
The Crossover: A Basketball Novel (The Crossover Series #1)
by Kwame Alexander<P>2015 Newbery Medal Winner <P>2015 Coretta Scott King Honor Award Winner <P>"With a bolt of lightning on my kicks . . .The court is SIZZLING. My sweat is DRIZZLING. Stop all that quivering. Cuz tonight I'm delivering," announces dread-locked, 12-year old Josh Bell. <P>He and his twin brother Jordan are awesome on the court. But Josh has more than basketball in his blood, he's got mad beats, too, that tell his family's story in verse, in this fast and furious middle grade novel of family and brotherhood from Kwame Alexander. <P>Josh and Jordan must come to grips with growing up on and off the court to realize breaking the rules comes at a terrible price, as their story's heart-stopping climax proves a game-changer for the entire family. <P><b>A New York Times Bestseller</b>
The Crossover Graphic Novel (The Crossover Series)
by Kwame AlexanderKwame Alexander’s New York Times bestseller and Newbery Medal–winning The Crossover is vividly brought to life as a graphic novel with stunning illustrations by star talent Dawud Anyabwile. New York Times Bestseller · Newbery Medal Winner · Coretta Scott King Honor Award · 2015 YALSA Top Ten Best Fiction for Young Adults · 2015 YALSA Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers · Publishers Weekly Best Book · School Library Journal Best Book · Kirkus Best Book“A beautifully measured novel of life and line.” —New York Times Book ReviewThe Crossover is now a graphic novel!“With a bolt of lightning on my kicks . . . The court is SIZZLING. My sweat is DRIZZLING. Stop all that quivering. ’Cuz tonight I’m delivering,” raps twelve-year-old Josh Bell. Thanks to their dad, he and his twin brother, Jordan, are kings on the court. But Josh has more than basketball in his blood—he’s got mad beats, too, which help him find his rhythm when it’s all on the line.See the Bell family in a whole new light through Dawud Anyabwile’s dynamic illustrations as the brothers’ winning season unfolds, and the world as they know it begins to change.Streaming series coming soon on Disney+, with executive producers including NBA great LeBron James!
The Crossover Series Digital Boxed Set
by Kwame AlexanderFor the first time, the Crossover series, three explosive novels in verse about sports and family, is available in one digital boxed set. From Newbery Medal winner Kwame Alexander. The Crossover series is now available as a digital boxed set! Follow Chuck Bell during a pivotal childhood summer when he discovers basketball and learns about his family's past; fly down the court with twins Josh and Jordan Bell as they discover the crossovers between basketball, love, and life; race across the field with Nick Hall as he learns the power of words, wrestles with problems at home, and navigates coming-of-age with all the action and emotion of a World Cup. Celebrate this masterful, rhythmic, and heartfelt contribution to children's literature and rediscover Kwame's electric poetry with this digital boxed set which includes Rebound, The Crossover, and Booked.
Rebound (The Crossover Series)
by Kwame AlexanderFrom the New York Times bestselling author Kwame Alexander comes Rebound, a dynamic novel in verse and companion to his Newbery Award-winner, The Crossover, illustrated with striking graphic novel panels. <P><P> Before Josh and Jordan Bell were streaking up and down the court, their father was learning his own moves. In this prequel to Newbery Medal winner The Crossover, Chuck Bell takes center stage, as readers get a glimpse of his childhood and how he became the jazz music worshiping, basketball star his sons look up to. <P>A novel in verse with all the impact and rhythm readers have come to expect from Kwame Alexander, Rebound will go back in time to visit the childhood of Chuck "Da Man" Bell during one pivotal summer when young Charlie is sent to stay with his grandparents where he discovers basketball and learns more about his family's past. <P><b>A New York Times Bestseller</b>
Dribblato
by Hilaria Alexander M. E. CarterDribblato: verbo intransitivo. Nel gioco del calcio, eseguire il dribbling. In senso figurativo e con uso transitivo significa eludere, scansare abilmente. Come ad esempio, Daniel Zavaro e Quincy Watson: Star emergente della città di Houston, Daniel ha trovato fama come capitano della sua squadra di calcio e in breve è diventato lo scapolo più ambito della città. Daniel ha tutto ciò che vuole – con l'eccezione di una persona speciale - ma gli sta bene così. Non vuole e non ha bisogno di complicazioni. Quincy di complicazioni ne ha tante. Dopo un tragico accidente che stravolge la sua vita, si trova in breve tempo ad essere una madre single, allevando il nipote di cui non sapeva nulla. Tra l'imparare a fare da mamma, il suo lavoro a tempo pieno, e il dolore soffocante della perdita di sua sorella, ogni giorno è una lotta. Quando le loro strade s’incrociano spesso e inaspettatamente, tra i due nasce un’amicizia inverosimile che continua ad evolvere. I loro sentimenti cominciano a cambiare. I limiti vengono oltrepassati, e quello che succede li sorprende entrambi... Prima che se ne accorgano – sono stati dribblati.
U.S. Women's Soccer: Go for Gold! (Penguin Young Readers, Level 4)
by Heather AlexanderJust in time for the 2016 Olympics, get to know the US Women's Soccer team!Ranked number one in the world by FIFA after their 2015 World Cup win, the US Women's national soccer team has a long history of firsts. Get to know the team that was the first women's team to have a ticker-tape parade down the Canyon of Heroes in New York in this exciting book.
The Summit
by Eric AlexanderIt's one of the greatest challenges one can face on Earth: an ascent to the top of the world on the slopes of Mount Everest. Eric Alexander experienced grace and a faith-empowering journey he will never forget as part of a record-setting team in May 2001, scaling the heights of Everest with his friend, blind climber Erik Weihenmayer. Experience some of the most dangerous locations in the world, including abject terror on Ama Dablam, a blind ski descent of Russia's Mount Elbrus, and up Kilimanjaro in Africa with four blind teens Gain wisdom in the application of trust, courage, innovation, teamwork, leadership, and integrity to overcome your own Everests. Discover practical faith lessons learned on the highest peaks of six continents. Here is the powerful story of Eric Alexander and his unique life journey of guiding people with disabilities as they overcome the most perilous places of the world. Follow in their footsteps, and learn about faith, trust, prayer, depending on God, as well as the perseverance needed in your own life. Be inspired and motivated by Eric's insight, not simply to survive but to thrive every day in God's grace.
Outside the Box: A Statistical Journey through the History of Football
by Duncan AlexanderIn football, numbers are everywhere. From touches in the opposition box to expected goals, clear-cut chances to win-loss ratios. In the modern game, these numbers help provide the narrative, the drama, and the conversation. They are scrutinised in order to justify results and to predict future outcomes. They even dictate transfer policy and drive clubs to achieve the impossible.But when did the numbers become so important and what do they mean?In Outside the Box, Duncan Alexander looks back at twenty-five years of the Premier League and beyond, uncovering the hidden truths and accepted myths that surround the game. Using the archives of OptaJoe and never-before-seen data, we discover why Liverpool have gone 27 years without winning a league title and why Lionel Messi is the best player in the game’s history. Or is he? Insightful, wry, and hugely entertaining, Outside the Box is an enlightening and accessible account of football across the decades, analysing data from the some of the greatest seasons, players, teams and managers.
Bagua Daoyin: A Unique Branch of Daoist Learning, A Secret Skill of the Palace
by David Alexander Jinghan HeThe beautiful, complex movements of Bagua require a lifetime to master fully, but can be practised with significant physical and mental health benefit at any level. In this highly illustrated guide, Master He, a fifth generation practitioner, introduces the ancient Daoist principles on which Bagua is based, its place within the Chinese martial arts, and the approach to life it nurtures. Many pages of photographs illustrate a programme of sequences, showing the beauty of the movements, and the positions and transitions the practitioner is aiming for. Bagua Daoyin supports and trains the body and the mind to promote balance and harmony. The external movements are echoed in the internal body, which promotes the flow of energy that leads to greatly improved health, a tranquil and focused mind, and increased longevity. Practitioners quickly report reduced stress levels and increased enjoyment of life. This fully illustrated introduction to Bagua Daoyin will be essential reading for Bagua, Xingyi and Taiji practitioners at all levels, dancers, and indeed anyone interested in improving their physical and mental wellbeing.
John Mcgraw
by Charles AlexanderSpanning forty years from the 1890s to the post-World War I decade is this life story of one of baseball's most charismatic, competitive, and savvy players--and the most accomplished manager the game has ever known. 8-page photo insert.
A Winning Season: A Will, A Wish, A Wedding / A Winning Season (wickham Falls Weddings) (Wickham Falls Weddings #10)
by Rochelle AlersSliding home…for a lifetimeThe girl next door…Or a grand slam love?Baseball ace Sutton Reed’s returned home triumphant after years in the majors. When he moves next door to a troubled young man, he’s determined to help—for the boy’s sake and for the boy’s gorgeous older sister, Zoey Allen. After sacrificing everything to keep her family together, Zoey has no time for romance…even with a hometown hero. But will this unlikely combo be the home run love story they all deserve?Nationally Bestselling Author
The Assassins Series 5-Book Bundle
by Toni AleoSteamy, heart-wrenching, and hilarious, the Nashville Assassins series isn't just for hockey fans--readers of Rachel Gibson, Susan Elizabeth Phillips, and Molly O'Keefe will adore New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Toni Aleo's sexy take on contemporary romance. Now all four novels and the companion novella are together in one can't-miss eBook bundle: TAKING SHOTS TRYING TO SCORE EMPTY NET FALLING FOR THE BACKUP BLUE LINES The Assassins may be the hottest things on two legs and ice skates, but when the gloves come off, the chiseled men of this Nashville NHL team will do anything for the women they love: A reformed bad boy helps a charming, willful beauty face off against the demons of her past. . . . The league's leading scorer pulls a power play to make things right with the one that got away. . . . A heartbroken rookie vows to turn a one-night stand into a happily ever after. . . . Looking for a second chance, a former superstar encounters the most distracting woman he's ever met. . . . And one crazy-sexy night with a supposedly nice girl leads to a very big surprise: two blue lines on a pregnancy test. Praise for the Assassins series "Aleo melts the ice and hits it into the net."--Award-winning author Jami Davenport "Taking Shots is really the whole package. You get romance, humor, steamy sex, drama, and then it all wraps up with a great conclusion. I am amazed that this is Toni's first book. She has come out in a huge way. I can't wait to read more from her. Don't hesitate for a moment to grab this book."--Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews "A little steamy, a little heartbreaking, and a whole lot of fanning yourself are in order this time around, readers. Are your cheeks feeling a little pink yet? Get used to the feeling."--Dreaming in the Pages, on Trying to Score "Empty Net is an honest, heartwarming, endearing story. . . . Toni Aleo doesn't just write a story. She gives you the ability to experience the journey of her characters right along with them. Her stories are enveloped with passion, emotion, humor, love; and let me tell you, that girl knows how to write a sex scene that just makes you sweat!"--Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews "Sexy and riveting . . . the perfect combination of love and lust."--USA Today bestselling author Heidi McLaughlin, on Blue Lines "Funny, charming, sweet, sexy . . . [Falling for the Backup] has everything you want in a story."--Blushing Reader
Blue Lines: The Assassins Series
by Toni AleoOpposites do more than just attract in Toni Aleo's latest Nashville Assassins novel about a very bad boy and the good girl he can't resist. The instant Piper Allen sees Erik Titov, she wants him--wants his rock-hard body, sure, but the strength and mystery that lie behind that superstar hockey jock demeanor, too. So when he sidles up to her at a bar and slinks his arm around her waist, she's lost. What follows is the wildest night of her life . . . followed by inevitable heartbreak the next morning. And then, a few weeks later, a very big surprise: two blue lines on a pregnancy test. Only a check to the head could make Erik fall for a nice girl like Piper. But since their crazy-sexy night together, he's been trying to forget about her alluring body by falling into bed with every woman in Nashville, and it's not working. So when Piper shows up at his house with a baby-bomb to drop, it doesn't take much for Erik to suggest the nuclear option: marriage. While it's supposed to be all for show, the second they say "I do," the ice between them starts to melt into sizzling steam.Praise for Toni Aleo's Nashville Assassins romances "Aleo melts the ice and hits it into the net with her Assassins series."--Award-winning author Jami Davenport "Taking Shots is really the whole package. You get romance, humor, steamy sex, drama, and then it all wraps up with a great conclusion. I am amazed that this is Toni's first book. She has come out in a huge way. I can't wait to read more from her. Don't hesitate for a moment to grab this book."--Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews "A little steamy, a little heartbreaking, and a whole lot of fanning yourself are in order this time around, readers. Are your cheeks feeling a little pink yet? Get used to the feeling."--Dreaming in the Pages, on Trying to Score "Empty Net is an honest, heartwarming, endearing story. . . . Toni Aleo doesn't just write a story. She gives you the ability to experience the journey of her characters right along with them. Her stories are enveloped with passion, emotion, humor, love; and let me tell you, that girl knows how to write a sex scene that just makes you sweat!"--Guilty Pleasures Book Review "Sexy and riveting . . . the perfect combination of love and lust."--USA Today bestselling author Heidi McLaughlin, on Blue Lines "Funny, charming, sweet, sexy . . . [Falling for the Backup] has everything you want in a story."--Blushing Reader Includes a special message from the editor, as well as excerpts from these Loveswept titles: Taking Shots, Trying to Score, and Empty Net.
Empty Net: An Assassins Novel (Assassins #3)
by Toni AleoIn Toni Aleo's third novel in her hot Assassins series, the chiseled men of this Nashville hockey team can make anything happen when they go all out for the women they want--even turn a one-night stand into a happily ever after. Audrey Parker is up against the boards. She's stuck in a job she hates and pining for a total jerk. Meanwhile, her sister Fallon is moving out and getting married to hockey star Lucas Brooks. Where is Audrey's Prince Charming? Nothing she does has ever seemed to be good enough for any of the men in her life. Audrey's about to hit rock bottom . . . until she wakes up next to Tate Odder. The thrill of moving up from the minors to the Nashville Assassins was a welcome distraction. But not even becoming the first rookie goalie to tally three shutouts in the Stanley Cup finals alleviates the pain. With the loss of his parents and sister weighing as heavily on his soul as ever, Tate Odder can't keep pretending he's okay. That's when he meets smart, sexy Audrey. Her gentle warmth and quirky sense of humor make him feel whole for the first time in too long. But to stay that way forever, Tate must find a way to accept his past and learn to live for love.Praise for Toni Aleo's Nashville Assassins romances "Aleo melts the ice and hits it into the net with her Assassins series."--Award-winning author Jami Davenport "Taking Shots is really the whole package. You get romance, humor, steamy sex, drama, and then it all wraps up with a great conclusion. I am amazed that this is Toni's first book. She has come out in a huge way. I can't wait to read more from her. Don't hesitate for a moment to grab this book."--Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews "A little steamy, a little heartbreaking, and a whole lot of fanning yourself are in order this time around readers. Are your cheeks feeling a little pink yet? Get used to the feeling."--Dreaming in the Pages, on Trying to Score "Empty Net is an honest, heartwarming, endearing story. . . . Toni Aleo doesn't just write a story. She gives you the ability to experience the journey of her characters right along with them. Her stories are enveloped with passion, emotion, humor, love; and let me tell you, that girl knows how to write a sex scene that just makes you sweat!"--Guilty Pleasures Book Review "Sexy and riveting . . . the perfect combination of love and lust."--USA Today bestselling author Heidi McLaughlin, on Blue Lines Includes a special message from the editor, as well as excerpts from these Loveswept titles: Taking Shots and Trying to Score.