Rhayne's review posted on Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews 
 5 Stars 
 Grab your pencils and mark this down, because with the addition of Ms. Aleo's 3rd Assassin's book, she has officially scored her first Hat Trick! Way to go Toni! This is a story that encompasses much more than a typical romance book. It is a very realistic tale of something broken and destroyed being revived and made complete again. 
 Empty Net is a honest, heartwarming, endearing story of two people that have by all accounts lost all hope of ever reaching a happily ever after. Audrey has never experienced a healthy loving relationship. She has been used and abused and discarded time and time again. She is insecure, scared, and she believes that she doesn't deserve real love. The story starts out with her being involved with Levi. He is a complete and total asshat. He uses Audrey for sex. He tells her exactly what she wants to hear to be able to get her in bed, and unfortunately it works. She convinces herself that what she has with Levi is better than anything else she could find. Being with him sometimes, is better than being alone all the time. Then she has a fortunate encounter in a bar where she meets Tate, and he helps her to see life in a different light. 
 Tate is the new rookie goalie for the Nashville Assassin's hockey team. He has just recently moved from Switzerland to the States. He was a hockey God back home and never had to work to get a woman. Now that's he's in Nashville, he is an unknown athlete and is way out of his element. Not only is he struggling to fit in with his new team and his new environment, he is struggling with the loss of his parents and his sister. He lost them all in an auto accident back in Switzerland. Everything is new to him and he is trying to put his life back together. When Tate sees Audrey from across a bar one night, he knows from his first glance at her that she is the one to help him be whole again. 
 These two do not have an easy road and they have to deal with a lot of personal issues. Audrey has several concerns that are allowing her to push Tate away. She is older than him, she can't have children, and she doesn't trust many people. I loved the honesty of emotions that Audrey expresses. 
 If you know of anyone who is in a crappy relationship and gorged with low self-esteem, they really do believe that what they have is love, when love is the last thing present. That is exactly what happens with Audrey and Levi. Audrey's friends and her sister, Fallon, along with Tate, try to get her to understand that true love is not what she and Levi have. The more time that Tate and Audrey spend together, he comes to understand that she makes his life complete. He doesn't feel empty when she is around. The only problem is getting Audrey to agree that Levi is all wrong for her. He has to let Audrey see and trust that he can and will give her the happiness she ultimately deserves. 
 I admire the characters in this story. It's not a fairytale relationship. They are both struggling with their own flaws. It's not about 2 perfect people meeting and hooking up. They both have blemishes and they have to learn to overcome and move on. It's a true voyage of courage and trust as they each learn to lean and depend and ultimately love (the real heart and flower kind) each other. 
 I loved the way Lucas and Fallon's story continues and is entwined throughout the book. It doesn't smother the story line with Audrey and Tate, but it gives us a continuation of their lives. Each book in this series is so individualized. The smoking sex scenes are unique and fresh and extremely desirable. The plot lines are original and continue to pull you in from start to finish. 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! 
 I can't wait to read her next installment and see what she has in store for Piper in Blue Line. 
 Honestly, if you are looking for a book that is sexy, sweet, packed with romance, and gorgeous protective hockey players, you will absolutely loved Empty Net.