Friday, March 20, 2020

Out on the Ice by Lane Hayes Release Blitz


Colby Fischer is a bad boy with attitude and a chip on his shoulder. As a senior at a Southern California college, he knows this may be his last shot. He doubts he’ll ever become the hockey legend he dreamed of being as a kid, but he definitely doesn’t want to be an accountant. Things get interesting when he’s asked to train the new intern at his step-dad’s firm, who happens to be the troublemaker from his econ class. And the one guy Colby can’t stand.

Baseball is Sky Jameson’s life. He’s happy to be back at Chilton for his senior year, but he’s burned a few bridges and has a bit too much free time off-season. He could use the money and something to keep him busy until his season begins. But his accidental crush on his prickly coworker could be a problem. Colby is straight and Sky is in the closet. Their timing isn’t great, but the intense attraction is hard to deny. With his final season on the hockey team in the balance, Colby may have to decide if he’s ready to come out on the ice.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/51206521-out-on-the-ice


Book 5
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
~  Also Available with KindleUnlimited  ~




“What position do you play?” Sky asked, pealing the label off his water bottle.

“Right wing. Forward. Think of soccer where the front line moves the ball down the field. We do the same with the puck.”

“I know how it works. I’ve watched a lot of hockey.”

“Have you ever played?” I asked.

“No. Baseball was always number one for me. Besides, hockey is kind of… rough. There’s always a fight. And the game moves so fast, it’s hard to see the puck sometimes.”

“Not if you pay attention.” I raised my beer bottle in a mock toast and grinned. “And I like it rough.”

Sky pursed his lips and stared at me… or maybe he was staring at my throat. I couldn’t tell. “Me too. But not on the field. It distracts from the game.”

“In hockey, it’s part of the game. If you can’t defend yourself, your teammates, and the ice, you have no right to be out there. Might as well take up ice dancing or something,” I snarked, only half kidding. “And no offense, but ice dancing is a hell of a lot more entertaining than baseball. Trust me, I know. I played Little League for a couple of years. I used to beg the coach not to put me in the outfield. Geez, you could take a fuckin’ nap out there some days, you know?”

Sky laughed. “Fuck you. You obviously don’t know what you’re talking about. Baseball is a game of strategy.”

“Strategy my ass,” I huffed, smiling to take the sting from my words…even though I kinda meant it. “It’s one of those weird sports where everyone gets pumped when nothing happens. ‘Oh, it’s a no-hitter. That’s amazing!’ Sure… but nothing fuckin’ happened! No one hit the ball, no one rounded the bases, no one slid to home plate. No one had to even wash their damn uniforms! And you know why?”

“Why?”

“’Cause nothin’ fuckin’ happened,” I replied, taking a long sip of my beer as I let the sweet sound of Sky’s laughter wash over me.

God, he had a great laugh. It made me like him a little more. And yeah, as much as I didn’t want to admit it, I liked Sky. He was smart, talented, easy on the eyes, and he had a sense of humor.

“That just proves baseball players are smarter than hockey players,” he taunted.

“Said no one anywhere ever.” I held my hands up in surrender when he flipped me off. “Hey, I’m kidding. I like baseball fine. I told you I follow the Tigers. I still have the jersey my dad bought me when I was ten. Dude, I’d wear it if I still fit in it. What’s your position?”

“Shortstop. I’ve played almost every position at one time or another but I like it the best. You gotta be quick, have a strong arm, and good instincts. I also have a long wingspan. That helps.”

“Makes sense. I don’t know about wingspan, but you gotta be quick in lightning fast hockey too with quick reflexes. Big ol’ quads help.” I smacked my thighs and chuckled. “Mine are kinda huge.”

Sky gave me a lopsided smile. “I noticed. It’s hot.”

“You think muscular legs are hot?”

“I do. Believe it or not, it wasn’t your sweet personality that made me look twice. It was your thighs.”

I snickered. “That’s weird.”

“Maybe, but it’s true. You always wore shorts to summer school. I used to come in a little late so I’d get a good look at you before I sat down. I purposely didn’t sit next to you because I knew I’d get caught staring. And the one day I did, you were the one who got caught.”

“Are you telling me that all this started because of my thighs?” I asked, narrowing my gaze suspiciously.

Sky nodded. “Basically… yes.”

We held eye contact for a moment then busted up.

And when our laughter faded, the mood changed all over again. I felt that same crackle of heat and sexual energy I always did when I was around him, but this time I knew what it was. And though I might have been unsure, I wasn’t afraid.

I leaned forward on my barstool and motioned for Sky to close the distance. He brushed his nose against mine. I held my breath and waited for him to make a move. Any move at all. When he blinked, I licked the corner of his mouth then pressed my lips to his and closed my eyes.




Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Erica☆☆☆☆
Spoiler-Free Review

Can Out on the Ice be read as a standalone, since it's the fifth installment of the Out in College series? Sure can. With zero confusion. Easily read as a standalone. However, the previous narrator was the connective character in the series, but it won't add/lessen the emotional attachment to the characters, unless you want to meet Sky earlier and experience some of the drama.

Our hockey star, Colby is sexually deadened, is the best way of putting it. He just hasn't felt the spark, but has felt something towards females in the past. He is far too interested in a newcomer in Econ class during the summer session. A little bit aggressive, equally confused, a bit of a PitA when it comes to his super nice stepfather, Colby is struggling to find a path through life after losing his dad when he was a teen.

Our baseball star, Sky was the confusing one for me. In the beginning, he comes off as kind of lighthearted and flighty, but Hayes wrote him as serious and focused during monologues. Sky was the one to pull Colby out of a funk, make him live life, and see the bright spots, after his own drama. Sky's behavior didn't match up with what I was reading at some points, confusing me, and sometimes making me wonder if I wasn't getting the pair mixed up. Like Colby thinking Sky is the serious one, when I felt Sky more of a temperament of the stepdad/boss, even with his family drama and what was shown previously.

In the beginning, the attraction did feel forced, really In Your Face and Out of Nowhere. But as the novel flowed by, Colby and Sky really did seem to naturally click, a good balance for one another.

Out on the Ice is a good installment in the series, providing the backdrop of sports, the perils of coming out in college athletics, while understanding one's own sexuality. A nice bit of angsty deliciousness, warm and fuzzy romance, smoking hot between-the-sheets action, and a coming out story.

There was a bit of zany tossed in for good measure, where you need to suspend belief, because the fake girlfriend who just wouldn't go away provided some drama, thankfully not between the guys with manufactured misunderstanding/miscommunication, but I found it a hard pill to swallow, like a woman would be so flighty/pushy/lack proper boundaries/not take no for an answer/ while also be ridiculously idiotic, giving my gender a bad name. Are women really like that? I'm sure we could find one or two, but I hope not.

Highly recommend to fans of the author, series, and MM sports romance. I look forward to whatever Lane Hayes publishes in the future, a nice afternoon escape.


Ruthie☆☆☆☆
This is the fifth book in the series, and whilst there are links to earlier ones, you do not need to have read them to enjoy this story. Each book has given us a unique sport on which to concentrate, and yet, in each the impact of being gay in college and in sport is considered.

Colby is a college hockey player, who in his final year is coming to terms with probably not making it big in the sport. In a summer class he finds himself inexplicably attracted to Sky, a man and a baseball player. Although I found their initial intimate interactions a little sudden, they definitely grew on me as a couple. I found that they mixed some very horny moments with some very endearing and caring ones, without ever veering into the soft side that would have seemed false.

Sky has no family who want to communicate with him, but Colby has a wonderful step-dad who is unerringly positive. Colby found that exhausting and annoying as a teen, and still doesn't understand it now, but given Sky's perspective, he starts to realise he should not be complaining. I enjoyed the relationship that shows promise between Harry and Colby.

I did find the Kendra character extremely odd; her mix of nerd and fangirl, a bit of coercion and loose lips... she did not come over well, and I spent unnecessary worry on what she would do something really foolish or wrong. It was really no more than an annoyance, as Sky and Colby grew closer and did not let her disturb their relationship.

Another good addition to the series, I look forward to future installments.


Sarah☆☆☆☆
This is a sweet and steamy read about the relationship that builds between two college athletes. Set in sunny southern California, this is an easy, happy read and I enjoyed it very much.

Colby is a hockey player whose attraction to men takes him by surprise. He is also surprised by the instant connection he feels to Sky. The chemistry between the two is explosive but emotionally, both boys feel young and emotionally messy. I love the friendship that builds between Sky and Colby and I love the way they support and encourage each other. Like all the best new adult books, this is a story about the boys growing up and becoming confident adults. I love the way their relationship takes them both by surprise and I loved Colby’s sense of awe and wonder as he explores his sexuality with Sky.

Beyond Colby and Sky, Colby’s mum and stepdad are well drawn and interesting but the rest of the characters are roughly sketched and pretty simplistic. This is a pretty simple new adult sports romance but it’s also a rewarding, feel good read.


Also Available in the Out in College Series

Book 1
Audiobook Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Audible  ~  iTunes

Ebook Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca

For reviews & more info, check out our stop on the Out in the Deep Release Blitz and the Out in the Deep Audiobook Release Blitz.


Book 2
Audiobook Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Audible  ~  iTunes

Ebook Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca

For reviews & more info, check out our stop on the Out in the End Zone Audiobook Release Blitz.


Book 3
Audiobook Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Audible  ~  iTunes

Ebook Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
~  Available with KindleUnlimited  ~

For reviews & more info, check out our stop on the Out in the Offense Blog Tour and the Out in the Offense Audiobook Release Blitz..


Book 4
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
~  Available with KindleUnlimited  ~

For reviews & more info, check out our stop on the Out in the Field Release Blitz.




Lane Hayes is grateful to finally be doing what she loves best. Writing full-time! It’s no secret Lane loves a good romance novel. An avid reader from an early age, she has always been drawn to well-told love story with beautifully written characters. These days she prefers the leading roles to both be men. Lane discovered the M/M genre a few years ago and was instantly hooked. Her debut novel was a 2013 Rainbow Award finalist and subsequent books have received Honorable Mentions, and won first prize in the 2016 and 2017 Rainbow Awards. She loves red wine, chocolate and travel (in no particular order). Lane lives in Southern California with her amazing husband in a newly empty nest.

Connect with Lane

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Lane’s Lovers Facebook Group



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Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Out on the Ice (Out in College #5) by Lane Hayes to read and review for this tour.

2 comments:

  1. I loved this book. But in your review I think you mean WITH zero confusion

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. DOH! The worst part is that I read over everyone's reviews again yesterday before publishing the post and missed it. Thanks for catching that so I could let the reviewer know to correct it as well. ~ Angela

      Delete

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