Mile High by Liz Tomforde is the first book in her “Windy City” series. I chose this book as part of the series summer option of the Kindle challenge program. My decision was based on a recommendation from a trusted romance blogger. Now this book was pretty long, (16 hours of listening) which is rare for this genre, but it was totally worth the hours. Mile High is hands down one of the best sports romance I have had the privilege to read.
Zanders: Chicago hockey isn't complete without me—everyone's favorite player to hate. I know my role, and I play it well. In fact, I thoroughly enjoy spending the majority of my game time in the penalty box before leaving the arena with a new girl on my arm each night. This post contains affiliate links you can use to purchase the book. If you buy the book using that link, I will receive a small commission from the sale.
Title: Mile High
Author(s): Liz Tomforde
Series: Windy City #1
Narrator(s): Winston James, Mari
Published by Tantor Audio on April 25, 2023
Length: 16hrs 48mins
Genre(s): Contemporary Sports Romance
Source: Kindle Unlimited, Purchase
Format: Audiobook, eBook 
Purchase: Amazon|Audible
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What I don't like is the new flight attendant on our team's private plane. She works for me, not the other way around. But I'll be sure to remind her of that, and I can guarantee, by the end of the season, she'll be begging to quit her job.
But every road trip blurs the lines, and I can't quite figure out if I keep pushing that flight attendant call button in order to push her buttons or if it's more than that.
Stevie: I've been a flight attendant for years. I thought I'd see it all, but when my new job lands me onboard working for the most egotistical and self-righteous diva in the NHL, I start to second guess everything. Including the promise I made to myself of never hooking up with an athlete again . . . no matter how annoyingly tempting he may be.
Zanders is unfiltered, unapologetic, and too attractive for his own good. He loves his image, but I hate everything about it.
Everything but him.
Contains mature themes.
Mile High introduces readers to Zanders and Stevie. Zanders is a professional hockey player. Hockey is his life, the one thing that keeps him sane in the journey of life. He shares his love of the game with his best friend and co-captain. Now, while is best friend is happily basking in the joys of family life, Zanders is contented with playing the role of the ultimate playboy. The thing is, though, most of the time this done as a ploy to feed the media frenzy and to placate his fans. The image he portrays to the public is a far cry from his true personality.
Stevie is a flight attendant who so happens to work on the plane which the team uses to travel on to and from their games. Her feisty, bold and daring nature will win you over in no time. A fact which Zanders will learn throughout the course of the story. Their first encounter started out on a rocky path. However, after several encounters, the path became less rocky and soon feelings began to develop. However, insecurities on both their part coupled with past trauma and the no fraternization rule threaten to derail their happily ever journey. These two will need to face their demons and fight to preserve their relationship.
The romance between Zanders and Stevie was beautiful and endearing. Their connection was evident from the start. I enjoyed seeing how they moved from antagonists to a couple deeply in love with each other. Their fun and fiery banter will have you falling in love with them in no time. The way they stood up for each other warmed my heart. I especially enjoyed seeing how they brought out the best in each other. They both deserved happiness, and one cannot help but root for them in their journey of love.
The supporting cast added depth to the story. Zanders’s relationship with his best friend and by extension his family, as well as Stevie’s relationship with her twin brother, will warm your heart. Stevie’s growth, which got a boost from Zanders, throughout the story was phenomenal. It made me happy to see her accepting herself and finally standing up to her mother for all the emotional abuse she put her through.
Mile High delivered a feel good romance that romance readers will find satisfying. This was a worthwhile read and one which I encourage lovers of sports romance to add to their reading list.
Winston James and Mari narrated. While this my second experience with the male narrator, the female was new to me. Both narrators did a good job in bringing the characters to life. However, on the production side of things, the quality needed work. The background noises which sounded like birds chirping coupled with the sound of the narrators taking a breath and swallowing was quite distracting. This placed a damper on the narration experience.
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About Liz Tomforde
Liz Tomforde writes sports romance novels that depict realistic and healthy relationships. Her books offer a mix of witty banter and real-life struggles. Her heroes are alpha yet vulnerable, and her heroines are strong. Born and raised in Northern California, Liz is the youngest of five children. She loves all things romance, travelling, dogs, and hockey. When she’s not travelling or writing, Liz can be found reading a good book or taking her Golden Retriever, Luke, on a hike in her hometown in Sonoma County, CA.
Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
