"In a world devoid of hockey fiction, Valerie J. Woods story fills the void nicely...An interesting story on the toughest athletes in the world..."

"This book may be fiction but the story is amazing. Every encounter on the ice and behind closed doors explained in painstaking detail, hockey jargon is perfect and theauthor's knowledge of the sport is both impressive and appreciated by this reviewer. You don't have to be a big hockey fan to appreciate this book. You don't even have to be a sports fan--you just have to want to read a compelling story that takes you on a journey."

                                      Russ Cohen (Foxsports and Author of 100 Ranger Greats)

USATODAY.com users were asked to recommend some books for summer reading.

"For a fascinating read, I highly recommend the novel Enforcer by Valerie J. Wood. This is a fast-paced, psychological look into the lifestyle of a fictitious NHL role player, Cole Bowman, who is the team's fighter (the 'enforcer'). You don't even have to be a hockey fan to enjoy this book; while there is plenty of exciting action, this story is most captivating off the ice, where the title character's chemical, physical and emotional problems threaten to push him to the breaking point. ... If you love human emotional drama, this book is for you!" —Heather Nusbaum, Owings Mills, Md.

And...

Enforcer by Valerie J. Wood is about more than ice hockey. I found this little gem on Amazon. There is not a lot of good fiction with a hockey backdrop!

Although ice hockey fans will enjoy Ms. Wood's description of the games, practices, and daily routines of the players, the real story revolves around the main character, Cole Bowman, and his tortured relationships off the ice. Ms. Wood cleverly delves into the mindset of the hockey "goon," his romances, and his drug use. She shows how his coach and his father shape Bowman's behavior. The plot is woven together very well, and, once I got into the second half of the book, I found myself caring about the characters -- they're obviously well-developed.

Tom C.
York, PA

"Though fiction, this book is more real than any hockey book I have ever read! The author's understanding of an Enforcer's role and mentality is amazing. This is a great book for all hockey fans and the story line will be enjoyed by non hockey fans as well."

Dave
Syracuse, NY

"ENFORCER, written by Valerie Wood is a gripping tale that clearly depicts the life of a professional ice hockey player and the sports world he lives in. As the story unfolds it gives glimpses into the past life of the main character showing just how he came to be where he is in his career. Indeed, all the characters in this story are developed into third dimension people who could easily be believed to have existed somewhere, sometime. I heartily hope Ms. Wood writes another book."

Elinore S.
Placer County, CA

"I was hooked on this book from the start. It tells the story of a hockey fighter and how the role affects him not only on the ice, but away from it as well. The main character is Cole Bowman, a young player who made the pros on his fighting ability. I don't want to give anything away, because this story really moves quickly, but I think the readers will be fascinated with the 'behind the scenes' look at the sport. The characters are memorable, particularly the hard-nosed head coach, Al Farrell, and the team owner's conniving daughter, Barbara. Enforcer is a fast-paced, well written tale and I highly recommend it -- whether you are a sports/hockey fan or just someone looking for a good read. What a terrific story!! This would make a good movie!"

Sharon N.
Chattanooga, TN

Cole Bowman is an enforcer for the Rockets, a professional ice hockey team. He's good at his job and loves the game but things start going wrong for Bowman when the team owner's daughter Barbara takes a shine to him. Barbara is sophisticated, cultured and a world apart from the brawling, bone-cracking world of ice hockey. When her father puts Bowman into a situation he can't punch his way out of, Bowman knows he's in for the fight of his life. As if that wasn't enough to cope with, his addiction to steroids and other substances is wreaking havoc with his personal life. The end is a testament to the greed and graft that goes hand in hand with professional.

The coach Al Farrell is an excellent antagonist, one of those rare bad guys who exhibits some redeeming qualities. Wood has created some solid, believable characters in Enforcer, Mitzi, the waitress who has a brief affair with Bowman, his best friend, Bobby, team coach Al Farrell, Bowman's father, team-mates and others all combine to provide an enjoyable and thrilling story.

It's hard to find anything wrong with this book, characterization is superb. Wood brings her vast knowledge of the ice hockey world to the fore, providing the reader with an insight into what has been perceived as a brutal sport. I found Enforcer to be a pleasure to read and a real contender for the Eppies. I don't normally give a mark out of ten for a book, but Enforcer goes to the top of the list, an encouraging start to the New Year and a shot in the arm for lovers of books everywhere.

(Note: the Eppies are ebook awards)

Review by INSIDE HOCKEY columnist Frank Krewda

Rating: 4 Pucks

What would inspire a young, female Alabaman to write a novel about hockey hooliganism? Turns out love for the underdog, respect for the NHL's top cops, and - yes - old-fashioned bad-boy magnetism.

But Valerie J. Wood, author of Enforcer is no garden-variety sycophant. After working as a photojournalist in the ECHL and AHL, Wood has earned her chops as an insider. Even Link Gaetz, for whom Wood runs a Web site, put his stamp of approval on her knack for authenticity in the foreword.

Cole Bowman, on the other hand, seems more difficult to explain. Bowman, NHL goon and Enforcer's central character, conjures up images of the late John Kordic.

In contrast to his imposing appearance on and off the ice, Bowman is emotionally frail and complex. Torn between pleasing his father, who wants him to develop his playing skills, and his win-at-all-costs coach, who depends on his toughness, Bowman gets caught in a web of self-loathing and doubt which leads to a substance abuse problem that nearly ends his life.

Complicating Bowman's daily existence even further is a complicated love triangle among Cole, his working-class girlfriend, Mitzi, and Barbara, the team owner's rich bitch daughter.

Barbara, ostensibly to stabilize Cole's frayed life, showers him with meals, limousines and her company. By the end of the book, readers are all too aware of her true motive: to shut Mitzi out of the picture by making Bowman 100% dependent on her and her money.

The only real problem with Enforcer is that Wood assumes that readers are extremely well-informed hockey fans. For example, she gambles that readers will know the Kordic saga, but the gamble doesn't pay. Casual hockey fans are less than likely to understand Bowman's motivations, which aren't sufficiently explained throughout the novel.

Why, for example, is Cole so desperate to please his father? Why does he let an opposing player pummel him into semi-consciousness during an important game? How can coach Al Farrell justify shooting up players with near-lethal doses of pain-numbing drugs minutes before a game?

Wood makes the common mistake of telling, rather than showing, readers her character motivations. But that doesn't take away from a still very entertaining experience. Let's face it, Enforcer is the first novel I am aware of that looks under a goon's helmet to see what's swirling around. That alone makes it an interesting read. And since Cole lives, Wood may be sitting on a (hopefully, longer and more detailed) sequel.

Spector's Hockey Review: Enforcer 

A Review by Lyle Richardson for Spector's Hockey

Of the many hockey books I've read over the years, I had yet to read one that was a work of fiction. The true stories of professional hockey are the most prevalent and finding a work of fiction is rare. So I was intrigued when I was asked to review Enforcer by Valerie J. Wood.

Enforcer tells the story of Cole Bowman, a forward on the fictional NHL Rockets, who's one of the top fighters and penalty minute leaders in the game. His brawling style has made him feared and hated by his rivals and a favorite of his hometown fans.

Yet Bowman is being torn apart by personal demons and the punishing demands of his occupation. His coach, a demanding, old-school mandarin, values Bowman's roles as team "policeman" but belittles and berates him in the dressing room at every opportunity. Many of his teammates treat him with barely disguised disdain, even though he carries the heavy burden of "watching their backs" during games.

In order to stay on top of his game physically, Cole uses steroids to build muscle mass and painkillers to numb the physical price he pays for toiling at his craft. Despite his size and fighting ability, Cole suffers from low self-esteem and lives in almost daily fear that his coach will replace him. He is also filled with self-loathing over what he's become and looks toward each game with dread .

His personal life provides little relief. His father, who had high hopes for Cole to become a hockey star, despises the type of player he's become and constantly harangues him with phone calls. A woman he loved cruelly and coldly breaks his heart and he has almost no friends in which to confide in.

Feeling hurt and alone, Cole uses booze to take the edge off his emotional pain. He desperately wants to impress his coach, but is constantly afraid of losing his approval. He wants to heal his estranged relationship with his father but cannot bring himself to respond to his phone messages. He wants to get closer to his teammates but retreats into silence from their taunts and ribbing. He wants to be loved but cannot get over the pain of his failed previous relationship.

Fortunately two of Cole's teammates, Bobby and Dmitri, see more in him than a silent, no-talent goon and slowly build a friendship with him. Bobby tries to get Cole to open up and share his problems, while the good-natured Dmitri believes he has the skills to be a much better hockey player.

As the story progresses, Cole also attracts the attention and affections of Barbara, the team owner's daughter, and Mitzi, a waitress at his favorite bar. Both vie to win his love and help him come to grips with his emotional turmoil.

Just as life seems to be improving, the demands of the game, the emotional abuse from his father and coach, a personal family tragedy and the stress of his love triangle with Barbara and Mitzi pushes Cole further into the solace of booze and cocaine. It also threatens to send him over the edge.

At times the story drifts into soap opera, particularly involving Cole's interaction with Barbara and Mitzi. Some of the characters come across as stiff and one-dimensional; in particular coach Al Farrell, who is portrayed as a ruthless jerk lacking compassion.

In Farrell , Wood seems to be channeling the spirit of infamous Detroit Red Wings coach and GM Jack Adams, but while coaches like him once were commonplace in professional hockey, they rarely exist to that degree anymore.

Fortunately these few flaws barely detract from the gripping story of Cole's personal and professional battles, and this is where Wood's ability as a storyteller shines through. Despite Cole's self-destructive behavior, self-loathing and lack of self-confidence, I genuinely cared for the character and found myself rooting for him to overcome his woes. It's easy to sympathize with Cole Bowman because he's seeking the same things we all want: love, respect and approval.

Wood also does a very good job of describing the game, particularly the preparations and the "stories within the story" that occur in a hockey game. Anyone having played hockey, be it professional or in a local house league, will recognize many of the scenes described by Wood.

Some critics may point to Bowman's drug use and alcohol and how it's hushed up by the team doctor and head coach as far-fetched and unlikely to occur in big-league hockey, given the physical demands and conditioning of today's players. But the story of the fictional enforcer Cole Bowman is so real because it reminded me of two real-life enforcers, Brian "Spinner" Spencer and John Kordic.

Both played a hard, mean style as marginal NHL players renowned for their fists than for their playing abilities and both lived self-destructive lifestyles away from the game. They both suffered from low self-esteem and sought the approval of father figures. Spencer nursed his pain with booze and fast women, while Kordic used drugs and alcohol to ease his whilst using steroids to build up his body.

In Spencer and Kordic's cases, their stories proved that the real life of a big-league hockey player is not always peaches and cream. There can be casualties, emotionally and physically, whether from the toll of the physical game or the abuse to their psyches.

Hockey is to Canada what the NFL, MLB and the NBA are, combined, to the USA; it is THE game. Cole Bowman is a professional hockey player. But he is a man struggling with his inner demons. He isolates himself and is unable to shake his Enforcer image. His self-destructive behavior has him headed down a lonely, drug and violence filled road.

This work of fiction takes you behind the scenes, up close and personal into the life of a very human, and vulnerable, hockey player. His life revolves around the game and his self-image is based on his “enforcer” identity. It’s both a blessing and a curse. The game owns him, body and soul. He meets Mitzi and is finally beginning to look forward to life after the game. But, first he must deal with the team, the team’s owner and the owner’s aggressive daughter.

Ms. Wood has written a unique story because it is not only a love story but also a story of man struggling to reconcile his love of the game with his enforcer image.

Whether you are a sports fan, hockey fan, or just simply a fan of a good story, you will enjoy Enforcer.