4.5 stars 
 Oh my. When I was reading Garrett and reached the point where Zack's story changed, I was gutted. This was a story that I knew would bring me to tears, though I couldn't have guessed exactly how. 
 Zack Grantham is a mess following the death of his long time girlfriend and the mother of his son. He is grieving. He feels guilt. But he feels little beyond those two emotions, and can barely function, let alone parent. His sister, Delaney, steps in to help out, but when she has to return to work, Zack knows he has to hire a nanny to help out during the upcoming season. 
 Kate Francis is determined to get out from the poverty of her childhood, and returning to her father's trailer is the last resort she is not long away from reaching. Her last chance at independence is as a live-in nanny. And she is a rabid Cold Fury fan, so when she learns her new employer is Zack she knows a little of his backstory. 
 She is quirky and funny, always trying to make those around her laugh. I loved her blunt honesty and habit of saying exactly what she was thinking. She started out seeming nerdy and dowdy, but learning the why behind her physical appearance had me rethinking that first impression. 
 I knew this was going to be an emotional story. With the unresolved guilt Zack was still feeling about Gina, there was a lot of dark feelings that needed to be worked through. At several points, I found myself outright crying as I followed his journey. 
 But for all the tough emotions, there was chemistry through the roof between these two. Not only does Zack have his issues to deal with, but Kate carries her own baggage that has to be put aside before they can act on the attraction between them. There were a few moments where it felt close to insta-love simply because of where Zack had been inside his head before they met, but they way the relationship progressed kept that feeling closer to lust than love in the early stages. 
 And while I'm on the subject of chemistry and attraction, this book has one of the best fade-to-black scenes I can think of. Usually fade-to-black scenes cut just before things get really good. This one hits at the height and is just the perfect blend of heat, sexiness, and leaves just a little bit to the imagination. 
 As the third in the Cold Fury series, there are plenty of returning characters to make this feel comfortable. Kate befriends Sutton and Olivia quickly, and especially leans to Sutton for advice on handling Zack. Garrett and Alex play roles as Zack's friends, and Ryker, Cold Fury's new backup goalie gets a deeper introduction as he and Zack realize the similarities in their stories despite differing circumstances. 
 I was gifted a copy in exchange for an honest review.