{"product_id":"shot-on-gold-isbn-9780399585166","title":"Shot on Gold","description":"\u003cb\u003eIn the new Play-by-Play novel by the New York Times bestselling author of The Final Score, opposites attract when a figure skater and hockey player lace up their skates--and go for the gold...\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWill \"Mad Dog\" Madigan is making his second trip to the Winter Games, and he couldn't be happier. Hockey is his life and playing for the U.S. team is a privilege. Then he meets U.S. figure skater Amber Sloane. She's beautiful, ambitious and driven--everything Will desires in a woman. He would love to show Amber how hot life off the ice can be. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAmber has skated her entire life, sacrificing everything in the hopes of one day winning gold. Now she's competing for the third and final time. She intends to win, and nothing's going to get in her way--until she meets Will. He's an irresistible charmer, and before long Amber is wondering if this sexy hockey player is the perfect guy to show her some moves outside the rink.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBut after all the medals have been awarded, Will and Amber will have to decide if what they have together is just a fling or a real shot at true love.\"Jaci Burton's stories are full of heat and heart.\"\u003cbr\u003e—\u003cb\u003eMaya Banks\u003c\/b\u003e, #1 \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e bestselling author\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e“Jaci Burton’s books are always sexy, romantic, and charming!”\u003cbr\u003e—\u003cb\u003eJill Shalvis\u003c\/b\u003e, \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e bestselling author\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Jaci Burton is a stalwart in the romance genre.\"\u003cbr\u003e—\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eUSA Today\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"A wild ride.\"\u003cbr\u003e—\u003cb\u003eLora Leigh\u003c\/b\u003e, #1 \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e bestselling author, on \u003ci\u003eRiding the Edge\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"One to pick up and savor.\"\u003cbr\u003e—\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e, on\u003ci\u003e Surviving Demon Island\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003e \u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Jaci Burton delivers.”\u003cbr\u003e—\u003cb\u003eCherry Adair\u003c\/b\u003e, \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e bestselling author\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e “Captures everything I love about a small-town romance.”\u003cbr\u003e—\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eFresh Fiction\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e, on \u003ci\u003eHope Burns\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cb\u003eJaci Burton\u003c\/b\u003e is a \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eUSA Today \u003c\/i\u003ebestselling romance novelist. In addition to writing the Play-by-Play, Hope, and Wild Riders series, she has also coauthored a number of anthologies with fellow romance writer Lora Leigh. Burton lives in Oklahoma with her husband and dogs.\u003cb\u003eONE\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Will \"Mad Dog\" Madigan stood on the carpet leading to the ice in      the hockey arena.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e He wasn't supposed to be here-not today, anyway. But he'd gotten      up early this morning, needing a run after his long flight      yesterday. He'd needed to clear his head, and when he'd ended up      at one of the two arenas that would serve as home for several of      the ice events here at the international games, he couldn't help      himself. He had to see if he could get inside. Fortunately, the      team's coach had been arriving and spotted him, and he had access,      so he let Will inside.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e But only for a few minutes, coach had said.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e A few minutes was all he needed.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e The arena was huge, and there'd be attendees from all over the      world watching the games. On the ice, there'd be hockey, as well      as figure skating, curling and speed skating. He took in the sheer      size of the arena, then dragged in a deep breath of chilled air.      There was something about the smell of a rink, that crisp scent of      icy air that clung to his lungs and gave him life. It replenished      him, gave him a sense of purpose and affirmed he was right where      he was supposed to be.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Like now, looking over the ice rink for what would soon be the      international games in Vancouver. He felt damned fortunate to be      here and he couldn't wait for the games to start. He was itching      to put on his skates and get out there, test the ice and get some      speed going under his skates. Then all he'd need was his stick and      a puck to chase after.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e He loved playing hockey. It fulfilled him in ways he would have      never thought possible when he had been a kid fighting it out with      his friends at the local rink back in Chicago. Back then it had      been all fun and games, shoving and laughing and playing all day.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Even then, it had been in his blood. Now, it was his job playing      forward for the St. Louis Ice hockey team.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e And to be selected to play for these games, not just once, but      twice? It was a damn dream come true. He planned to soak in every      minute of this experience, so he could remember it forever.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Four years ago he'd been twenty-three, an excited young guy who'd      partied his ass off the entire time. If he'd been honest with      himself, he couldn't remember much about the experience. On the      ice, of course, he'd put everything into his game play. Off the      ice had been a constant party. This time he wanted to soak in the      experience, really live it. This time would be different.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e He could already imagine playing in the upcoming games, even      against some of his own teammates, who'd be playing for their home      countries. They'd talked about it before the games began. On their      pro team, they fought for the Ice. Here, they'd play for their      country and they'd respect each other for that.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e When it was over, they'd all be teammates again.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"That's it, Mad Dog,\" Coach Stein said as he came up to him. \"Time      to clear out.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Will nodded. \"Thanks for getting me in.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"We'll see you back here tomorrow after the rest of your teammates      arrive.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"You got it.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Try to stay out of trouble until then.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Will laughed. \"You know I will.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Coach Stein gave him a head tilt and a disbelieving look. \"Do I?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Will gave him a grin. Okay, so he had a rep. Even Coach Stein, who      was the coach of the New York team, knew his reputation. He went      out the way he came in, through the front doors that were locked      and guarded by a security guy, who nodded and let him out.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e He stretched, started off with a walk, then eased into a run as he      made his way back to the village he'd call his home for the next      three weeks. His roommate hadn't arrived yet, so he had no idea      who he'd be bunking with. Hopefully someone fun.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e They weren't allowed to bunk with teammates. He was certain it was      the committee's way of getting them to branch out and make friends      with people from other disciplines, and often other countries.      Last time he'd bunked with a bobsledder from Latvia.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e They'd partied their asses off the entire time. He'd had a blast.      He was looking forward to reconnecting with several of the friends      he'd made during the games four years ago.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e When he got back to his apartment in the village, he stripped and      climbed into the shower. A hot shower was one of his favorite      things. Maybe even top-ten favorite things, especially after a      grueling hockey game.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Thanks to his run he was hungry, so he got dressed and headed out      to the other building where the dining hall was located.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e It was fully stocked-and huge. It was like a hangout here, and the      size of a couple of football fields.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e You could get anything you wanted, with food from almost every      country participating. Last time he was here he'd made sure to eat      something from every country. It seemed only respectful to sample      the various cuisines.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e And, hey, he liked to eat.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e He planned to do it again.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Many athletes had already arrived, though the dining hall wouldn't      be fully packed until the end of the week. Several of his      teammates were flying in today, so he'd catch up with them later.      For now, and since he wasn't shy, he sat with some of the      snowboarders, figure skaters and downhill skiers.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e The great thing about the games was that everyone was friendly.      You could take a seat and strike up a conversation with anyone.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"How was your flight?\" a guy named Hans asked him.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Long. Yours?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Hans smiled. \"Same. Slept in a bit this morning. Looking forward      to getting my skis on those mountains, though.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Will dug his fork into the egg-white omelet and nodded. \"I got a      glimpse at the hockey arena earlier, but they wouldn't let me      skate on it yet.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Telisa, one of the figure skaters, looked shocked. \"They let you      in already?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"My coach was there so he snuck me in. But I couldn't get on the      ice.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Oh. You're lucky.\" Robbie was Telisa's husband and the other half      of their pairs team. \"We're nearly drooling over the figure      skating arena. We can't wait to get in there.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"They said they'd open it up to us this afternoon,\" said Rory, one      of the individual figure skaters. \"We have to practice and stay      limber.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Huh,\" Will said. \"Maybe I'll mention that to my coach. Can't get      stiff.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Unless it's your dick,\" Zeb, one of the skiers, said. \"You want      that to be stiff at all times.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Will laughed, then noticed he'd gotten a suggestive look from one      of the women across the table. He thought her name might be Monie      or Monica or something. No idea. The names had flown fast and      furious when he'd sat down.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e He wasn't interested in sex. Okay, that was a lie. He was always      interested in sex. But there was plenty of time for that, and for      the next few weeks there'd be a hell of a lot of it going around.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e The only thing on his mind right now was getting on the ice. After      that he could think about sex.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAmber Sloane set her bags down at the front counter, taking in the      multitudes of athletes surrounding her.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e She was here. In Vancouver. Her third-and final-international      games.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e This was her last shot at gold. At twenty-four, she'd be      considered old for a figure skater. Her biggest competition was      here. She spied Tia Chang in line about four people ahead of her,      her posture near perfect even standing in line, her dark hair      shining like a fall of midnight down her back as she      absent-mindedly checked her phone. It was like she had no cares at      all.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Seventeen. God, that had been a lifetime ago for Amber. At      seventeen she'd been a nervous wreck at the Worlds. But she'd come      in first.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e It was only the international games where she'd failed to grab the      gold. She'd won both bronze and silver, but the gold eluded her.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e This was her last chance. Her mother told her it was her time to      shine.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Amber thought her chance escaped her four years ago, when Elena      Bulosova of Russia had just inched her out for that gold medal.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Amber's long program had been better. The judges had to have been      blind not to see it.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e But this was her year. She'd revamped her entire program and      worked her ass off the past four years. And now, she was ready to      put it all out there and win.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Or she'd be done. Because there'd be no more games for her after      this year.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Amber!\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e She heard the shout of her name and turned, then smiled when she      saw her friend, Lisa Peterson.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Lisa threw her arms around Amber.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"I've missed you,\" Lisa said.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"I've missed you, too, Lisa. How excited are you to have the games      in your home city?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Excited beyond belief.\" Lisa pulled back, then looked around and      whispered, \"So, guess what?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"What?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"I pulled some strings, and don't ask me how I pulled those      strings, but you and I are going to be roommates again.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Amber raised a brow. \"Seriously?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Yes.\" Lisa grinned.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Amber couldn't be more excited to have Lisa as her roommate again.      Lisa was outgoing and talkative and incredibly sweet. \"That is      fabulous. I'm so excited. Though you aren't going to boot me out      of the room at two in the morning again because you've brought      some hot guy in to bone, are you?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Lisa crossed her fingers over her heart. \"I promise I won't do      that. We'll boot as-yet-unselected-hottie's roommate out.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Amber laughed. \"Perfect.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e They waited in line together and discussed their careers.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"How's snowboarding?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Kicking it,\" Lisa said. \"And if you'd come to Vancouver like I      keep asking you, I'd teach you how to snowboard.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Amber felt very guilty about that. For the past four years, Lisa      had invited her several times to many events, and to her home for      a visit.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"I know. I'm sorry. After winning the silver four years ago, I've      done nothing but work on a new routine.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e They made their way to the front desk and checked in, got their      credentials and packets, then grabbed their luggage.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"There's more to life than just your work as a figure skater,      Amber,\" Lisa said, taking out the map that would lead them to      their building. \"You have to find time for fun. For a life.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"I know. After this year, I'm going to travel and have nothing but      fun.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"That's what you said four years ago.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e They walked outside and Amber pulled her sunglasses off her head      and slid them over her eyes.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"This year is different. I'm confident about my routine, and I      know this is my last time at the games, win or lose, so I intend      to enjoy it.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Lisa stopped and turned to her. \"Which means you plan to have some      fun?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Amber offered up a tenuous smile. Did she even know how to have      fun? \"Sure.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Excellent. We'll start tonight after we unpack.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e She felt a giant lump of trepidation. What was she thinking      telling Lisa she was out for a good time? Her mother's voice rang      in her head.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003eThe work is everything, Amber. Focus, keep your head down and      skate. No distractions.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e No distractions. Fun was a distraction. That had been drilled into      her head from the time she was six years old and had first      strapped on a pair of ice skates. Since then it had been all work.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e And the reward would come when she won the gold. She knew that.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e But still, her mother wasn't allowed in the village, and what she      didn't know, she didn't know.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e They opened the door to their apartment. It was spacious and      lovely, with cream-colored dŽcor, a living room, kitchen and two      queen beds in the large bedroom.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"This is awesome,\" Lisa said. \"And the living room has a fold-out      sofa. You can even stay here if I have a guy over.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Amber laughed. \"Good to know.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Seriously. And who knows? You might even be busy with some stud      of your own and I'll be bunking on the couch.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Highly unlikely, but she wasn't going to spoil Lisa's grand plans.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Come on, let's unpack and go check out who's here.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Okay.\" She carried her luggage into the bedroom and set it down.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e This time would be different. She was determined. And she was so      happy Lisa was her roommate again. If anyone knew how to have a      good time, it was Lisa.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Amber had worked her ass off the past four years. She intended to      show that on the ice. She was disciplined and ready.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e But when she wasn't performing, she intended to party. Or, at      least, learn how to party.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e She had to start somewhere. She was twenty-four years old and it      was time to start living.","brand":"Berkley","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44866656600293,"sku":"NP9780399585166","price":16.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1842\/7735\/files\/9780399585166.jpg?v=1767736570","url":"https:\/\/k12savings.com\/es\/products\/shot-on-gold-isbn-9780399585166","provider":"K12savings","version":"1.0","type":"link"}