Road to a Cowboy by Amy Aislin Release Blitz

Detour

Five years after the death of his spouse, Austin MacIsaac is ready to find love again—and he's got the perfect guy in mind: his sexy cowboy of a best friend, Cal Anderson. If only he can convince Cal to detour out of the friend zone.

Road work ahead

Cal has been in love with Austin for longer than he can remember. The man has been his rock through the ups and downs of messy family drama. But shaking up their friendship for something more could lead them down a bumpy and unsafe road.

Merge

Amid a backdrop of the Wyoming mountains and under a summer sky, can Austin and Cal merge their lives into one and let the road to romance lead to happily ever after?

Don’t miss our reviews of the rest of the Windsor, Wyoming series!
For book one, Home for a Cowboy, click HERE.

 

 

Book 2
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Paperback (US)

 

 

Austin’s heart did a sideways flip when Cal stopped next to him, his broad shoulders as intimidating as the Rockies to anyone who didn’t know him.

“Welcome back,” Cal said in a slow drawl that dragged along Austin’s senses. “How was Montana?”

“Beats me,” Austin said with a grin, keeping his eyes on the image on his camera’s display. “But Kootenai National Forest was gorgeous. You should see some of the shots I got. The night sky there is spectacular.”

“Doesn’t it look the same as everywhere else?”

Austin gave him the stink eye. “Don’t sass me, Calvin.”

Cal didn’t smile—his smiles were as rare as a sighting of Halley’s Comet—but his lips twitched.

“And no, it doesn’t look the same everywhere.”

“If you say so.” Cal looked off to the right. “What’s with the second camera?”

Austin jerked his gaze to where he’d set up an additional tripod several feet away. “That one’s recording so I can make a time-lapse video.”

Cal grunted.

His presence was nonintrusive as the sun sank and the stars began to emerge, yet Austin was always aware of him. He was as aware of Cal as he was of the location of the moon or the image in his camera’s viewfinder.

A few minutes later, shadows bathing the landscape, Austin began packing up his equipment under a sky quickly turning to dusk. The mountains had turned nearly invisible—when it got dark out here, it got dark—and Cal was almost a silhouette against the sky. Something about him standing silently with his hands shoved in the pockets of his jeans, gazing out into the distance, screamed of both contentment and loneliness, making Austin’s heart clench.

The first memory Austin had of Cal at Windsor Ranch was of him falling into a puddle near the corral on a rainy summer day when they’d been seven or eight. Now, as the foreman of that same ranch, Cal was basically running the place. The juxtaposition between kid-Cal, covered in rain and mud as he’d blinked up at Austin with big gray eyes as though wondering how he’d fallen into the puddle, and adult-Cal, tall, strong, coolly confident, and carrying the weight of the entire ranch on his shoulders, was sometimes jarring in that strange twist-of-fate kind of way.

Austin brought the camera up to his eyes, adjusted the settings, and snapped a photo, framing Cal in the right third of the shot while he gazed off to the left, making the viewer wonder what he was looking at. Austin would call it Cowboy Against the Night. He might even put it up for sale in his gallery instead of keeping it for himself.

Maybe.

Cal must’ve heard the shutter, because he turned with a raised eyebrow.

“Smile,” Austin said, aiming his camera at him again.

Cal did the exact opposite, making Austin laugh as he took the picture anyway.

 

 

 

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
This is the second book in the series, and I would say that you don't absolutely need to read book one, but it would give you some more context to the ranch and to the fun that these two men have together as the very best of friends.

Austin and Cal were at school together and both secretly crushed on each other – but family situations and the times they grew up in were not that conducive to admitting their attraction. Now years later, they are both single and probably deeply in love with each other. Yet they daren't admit it to each other because their friendship is too valuable to lose.

I really enjoyed being back in Windsor, and ranch life – and even more enjoyable, learning more about the photographic skills that Austin uses to earn his living. Delighted that they found their way to each other... and that Cal finally sorted out his relationship with his mother.

I am already looking forward to seeing who gets their chance at love and happiness in Wyoming!


Angie – ☆☆☆
This author is apparently not a good fit for me. I read the first book in the series and didn't like it. I had high hopes for this one; you can only go up, right? This book was only marginally better. Austin and Cal were both great, I just didn't connect with them. There was too much distraction from other things and honestly it was slow burn... I mean really, really slow. When Austin and Cal finally got it together, it just didn't have enough oomph for me. It was just meh. I am sure others will enjoy this book and series, but it just wasn't for me.

 

 

AMY AISLIN has lived with her head in the clouds since she first picked up a book as a child, and being fluent in two languages means she’s read a lot of books! She first picked up a pen on a rainy day in fourth grade when her class had to stay inside for recess. Tales of treasure hunts with her classmates eventually morphed into love stories between men, and she’s been writing ever since. She writes evenings and weekends—or whenever she isn’t at her full-time day job saving the planet at Canada’s largest environmental non-profit.

An unapologetic introvert, Amy reads too much and socializes too little, with no regrets. She loves connecting with readers. Join her Facebook Group to stay up-to-date on upcoming releases and for access to early teasers, find her on Instagram, or sign up for her infrequent NEWSLETTER.

Connect with Amy Aislin!

Facebook  ~  Instagram  ~  Twitter  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads
Facebook Group: Amy Aislin's Readers

 

 

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Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Road to a Cowboy (Windsor, Wyoming #2) by Amy Aislin to read and review.

Game On by Amy Aislin Release Blitz

When he broke off his engagement to his team captain's brother the day before their wedding, Jamie Jamieson swore he'd never get involved with anyone associated with a teammate again. Getting traded to the Orcas is a chance at a fresh start, but one glance at his new housemate, and Jamie knows he's in way over his head.

Dorian is his new coach's cousin. And his team's social media coordinator. And his housemate.

It's the trifecta of bad ideas.

Dorian Shore doesn't do hockey. He's lived by that rule for years, ever since a season playing as a kid left him with emotional scars. But his new housemate—a big, buff, beautiful athlete who gets under his skin—makes him seriously consider doing a hockey player.

It’s not a good idea.
They live together.
They work together.

When the sparks between them ignite, will it be game on or game over?

Don’t miss our reviews of the rest of the Vancouver Orcas series!
For book one, Game Plan, click HERE.
For book two, Game Changer, click HERE.

 

 

Book 3
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Apple Books  ~  B&N  ~  Kobo  ~  Smashwords
Audiobook (US) Narrated by Aaron Hokanson
Paperback (US)

 

 

It was Jamie’s own bad luck that Dorian looked like a walking, talking version of his every wet dream. He was tall—more or less Jamie’s own height of six two—and slender but toned, with a pointed chin and a small nose. His skin was winter pale, several shades lighter than Jamie’s more naturally tan tones, and it contrasted sharply with the two days’ worth of stubble on his jaw and upper lip and the rich brown hair that looked thick enough for Jamie to grab onto.

Gulp.

“Where’s the rest of your stuff?” Dorian peered around him. “Still in the car?”

“Nah, this is it,” Jamie said, forcing his mind back on track. “I’ll head back to Charlotte at the end of the season for the rest of it and have it shipped to a storage unit so I don’t clutter up your home.” Assuming Jamie hadn’t found a place to live by then.

“You don’t have to do that. I’ve got the space. We can store your stuff in the basement.”

“I thought you were putting Jamieson in the basement,” Coach piped in, arms crossed over his chest. With his height, thick beard, and broad shoulders, it made him look imposing as fuck.

“There’s no bed down there,” Dorian said.

“You could’ve gotten one.”

“Uh, I’d really rather have a bedroom than a basement,” Jamie interjected, picturing a lone bed among exposed pipes, insulation, and spiders. The stuff a kid’s nightmares were made of.

“Oh, it’s finished,” Dorian said, waving a hand. “There are three bedrooms down there, as well as a full kitchen and a separate entrance.”

Three bedrooms? In the basement?

“Exactly,” Coach said. “Had you put a bed in one of the rooms, Jamieson would’ve had his own apartment.”

Dorian crossed his arms over his chest, matching Coach’s posture, and glared, his eyes going all fiery. “Wouldn’t that defeat the purpose? You’re the one who said you didn’t want him in a sterile apartment. Trust me, my basement is very fucking sterile.”

Jamie had just come from a team where he’d been treated like a pariah after his breakup with the team captain’s brother, and now he had two men arguing over what would make him most comfortable.

He didn’t quite swallow a laugh. His aborted chuckle drew the gaze of both men.

Rolling his eyes, Dorian huffed a breath. “You’re right. We’re being stupid.”

Now Jamie laughed outright. “I didn’t say anything.”

“Your face said it all.”

Well. That was probably true.

 

 

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Shannan – ☆☆☆☆
Game On is the third and final installment in the Vancouver Orcas series. It can be read as a standalone without issue. But if I were you, I'd read the whole series!

Jamie Jamieson was doing what he loved – playing hockey – and he thought he had found his person. But when that relationship crumbled right before their wedding, Jamie's hockey life changed. Being in a relationship with his captain's brother made things extremely hard for him on his team when he was being bullied and hazed. When the opportunity for a trade came about, Jamie jumped at the chance to move to Vancouver. His new coach’s cousin, Dorian, offered his spare room until Jamie was able to get himself settled. What he didn't expect was to find Dorian so attractive. But he swore he wasn't going to get involved with anyone associated with the team. Jamie is slowly finding his footing with his new team, never letting himself get to close considering what he's been through.

Dorian Shore may be surrounded by hockey gods, but Dorian doesn't do hockey even though he worked for the team’s social media. And having the sexy Jamie Jamieson move in with him in his space wasn't something he was expecting to do but once he did, he found he liked the hockey player in his space. Dorian didn't have to work after selling his app for millions, but he found himself still wanting to bring an idea he's had since college. Seasonal boxes filled with all the things that make you think of the season. He's been working on this idea for years, finding vendors, boxes, a graphic artist. He's never shared with anyone what he's working on but when Jamie comes into his office and starts asking questions, Dorian realizes he likes having Jamie's opinion on the boxes. Dorian slowly watched Jamie's walls drop with him and the team. And something between them changed when Jamie admitted his attraction to Dorian but didn't want to act on that attraction because of his past, but Jamie couldn't stay away from Dorian no matter how hard he tried.

I loved this series. I am sad that it's ending but I love that we finally got Dorian's happily ever after. The chemistry between Jamie and Dorian was instant but they were both hesitant to act on it knowing hockey had to come first for Jamie. The longer they were together it became impossible to stay away from each other. They were so sweet together and they were the person the other needed. I can't wait for whatever Amy Aislin has planned for next!


Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
This is the third book in the series, and I would recommend you read them in order, because they are such fun stories, as well as introducing the team and giving you an idea of how open the team players and coaches are to in-team relationships. This is a revelation to newly traded Jamie. He had a torrid time at his last team due to splitting from the captain's brother – which has badly impacted on his confidence and his trust levels for colleagues.

The Orcas have been at the bottom of the league, but Jamie is part of their plan for success, and as he feels happier, he helps them do well – I think that his mindset and thoughts are really interesting in understanding how the NHL system of trades clearly has a serious impact on the wellbeing of players.

As he comes mid-season he doesn't have time to move, and chooses to rent a room from Dorian Shore, who does the social media for the team and is Coach Shore's cousin. Dorian is just such a fun guy, a bit of a peacock, but good at his job as well as a kind and generous host. He is also busy setting up a new business too – so really has no time or interest in getting involved with anyone, but most especially a hockey player. So he does find his instant attraction to his new housemate.

I loved how much depth we get of both Dorian and Jamie, it makes the romance much richer as we have a good idea how the men will respond to situations as they arise. It is impossible not to want them both to find real happiness and the start of their happily ever after!

Thank you Amy Aislin for another great installment.


Veronica – ☆☆☆☆
I was so happy to read Dorian’s story. He might be tough on the outside, but it doesn’t take long to work out Dorian is a great big softie on the inside. I loved him. The way he treats Poppy is adorable. Jamie is such a good, easy going guy and I think he was a great match for Dorian. The men complement each other well.

Game On is a low-angst romance, which I really appreciated. That doesn’t mean there is no drama because both men have their own issues, but the story just is drama filled. I found Jamie and Dorian’s story to be really sweet and loving. Game On is another excellent ice hockey romance from Amy Aislin and I’d definitely recommend.

 

 

AMY AISLIN has lived with her head in the clouds since she first picked up a book as a child, and being fluent in two languages means she’s read a lot of books! She first picked up a pen on a rainy day in fourth grade when her class had to stay inside for recess. Tales of treasure hunts with her classmates eventually morphed into love stories between men, and she’s been writing ever since. She writes evenings and weekends—or whenever she isn’t at her full-time day job saving the planet at Canada’s largest environmental non-profit.

An unapologetic introvert, Amy reads too much and socializes too little, with no regrets. She loves connecting with readers. Join her Facebook Group to stay up-to-date on upcoming releases and for access to early teasers, find her on Instagram, or sign up for her infrequent NEWSLETTER.

Connect with Amy Aislin!

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Instagram  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads
Facebook Group: Amy Aislin's Readers

 

 

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Hosted by

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Game On (Vancouver Orcas #3) by Amy Aislin to read and review.

Get Frosted by Amy Aislin Release Blitz

For years, Mik has wanted nothing more than to put coal in Rudy Snow's stocking.

As former pro hockey players, they’ve been rivals for years. It started in Mik’s rookie season, when a reporter pitted him against his older brother's best friend. Rudy pushes Mik’s buttons like no one else, going out of his way to one-up him at every turn.

Now they’re both pub owners in a small town that takes Christmas to a level best seen in Hallmark movies, but not much else has changed. They’re still rivals, this time pitting gingerbread martinis against pomegranate sangria.

But when they’re forced to work together to plan a special holiday party, sparks ignite. Maybe it's a bad idea to put coal in Rudy's stocking after all. They both might just catch fire.

Then again, what better way is there to stay warm on a cold winter's night?

Christmas Falls is a multi-author M/M romance series set in a small town that thrives on enough holiday charm to rival any Hallmark movie. Each novel can be read as a standalone.

 

 

Book 3
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Paperback (US)
~  Also Available with KindleUnlimited  ~

 

 

“You certainly know how to make a splash,” said a dry voice at his elbow, shaking him out of his irritation.

And setting into motion a new kind of annoyance that fizzled in Mik’s blood. “No one asked you,” he said to his brother’s best friend.

Rudy Snow raised one dark eyebrow, because of course he could do that. When Mik tried, he ended up with both eyebrows at his hairline.

“It’s certainly...” Rudy cast his gaze around, taking everything in. “Unique.”

“It’s majestic.”

“It looks like the Island of Misfit Toys. All you’re missing is a Charlie-in-the-Box.”

Crossing his arms over his chest, Mik clenched his teeth. “You’re not allowed to judge. You don’t even have a wreath on your front door.”

Rudy made a sound in the back of his throat, a rumbly laugh that made the back of Mik’s neck itch. “Do you often happen to find yourself outside my house, Miki?”

Mik’s stupid feelings went all gooey at the nickname. Or maybe that was just hunger. “It’s on my way to work.”

“Sure. If you take the long way.”

God. Why did he have to be so annoying?

And hot.

And annoyingly hot. All dark-haired and dark-eyed and scruffy-jawed, with a natural tan to his skin that perpetually made him look like he’d just come from the beach. He stood a couple of inches taller than Mik’s five feet eleven. At a year older than Mik’s thirty-one, Rudy was as fit now as he’d been when he’d played in the NHL, even two and a half years post-retirement.

Mik had considered himself lucky to be drafted to his brother’s team’s rival. With Mik playing for Washington and Josh playing for Pittsburgh, it had given Mik the chance to step out of his brother’s shadow and assert himself as his own person. And playing up the rivalry between their teams had been all sorts of fun at family get-togethers.

The problem Mik hadn’t anticipated had been twofold.

First, because Josh’s rookie year had been the gold fucking star of rookie years, Mik had been instantly compared to him when he’d been drafted a year later, forevermore casting him in the role of Josh Gilmore’s little brother.

Second, there was Pittsburgh defenseman Rudy Snow. And Pittsburgh defenseman Rudy Snow wasn’t shy about checking his teammate’s little brother into the boards during Mik’s first Washington versus Pittsburgh game.

“It’s no secret in the league that your brother and his teammate Rudy Snow are good friends,” a reporter had said to Mik during the post-game interview after that game. “What do you have to say to your brother’s best friend after that check in the second period?”

Um, nothing?

He’d barely known Rudy. Plus, checking was what hockey players did.

While both those things were true, that hadn’t been what the reporter wanted to hear. So Mik had smirked and said, “That he better watch out. He won’t get the jump on me again. In fact, next time, I’m going to swipe the puck out from under him and score. Just wait and see.”

Mik had later learned that Rudy had responded to that with a pithy, “He can try.”

And that was it. Instant rivalry.

 

 

 

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
This is one of a series written by a talented group of authors, and it really did a great job of bringing Christmas to the forefront of my mind... as well as being a really fun, sports-related romance. Both Mik and Rudy have retired from the NHL, and work in competing bars in the festive town of Christmas Falls.

Mik was always in the shadow of his also NHL playing older brother, Josh, and has almost forgotten how it is to be oneself, so often is he referred to as the younger Gilmore brother. Josh's best friend, Rudy, has had a nomadic life to date, with parents who spend their time moving, and so, after two and a half years in one place, he is feeling ready for a change – yet he still has a crush on Mik, and is not sure whether to act on it. On the ice they were big rivals, and have found it easy to continue the antipathy, but is it real, or does he stand a chance?

As they both come to realise there is definite chemistry between them, Rudy's inability to settle is going to challenge Mik's need to be near his family – the tension is not dramatic, but rather emotional and thoughtful, and was accompanied by a lovely ease between the men which neither of them wanted to lose.

A really enjoyable read, thank you.


Veronica – ☆☆☆☆
Get Frosted has a good mixture of fun, lighthearted romance and seriousness. I love that once Rudy decided he was interested in Mik, that he went for it and that their antagonistic history went out the window and the men pursued their romance. The only problem was while Rudy knew he wanted Mik, he was also itching to leave Christmas Falls, where he had lived for the last two and a half years, and take a potential new job in another state. You could really feel the tension this creates in the new relationship.

It was a joy to experience Rudy and Mik’s romance as they fall in love and deal with a little bump in the road. I’m a sucker for a small-town Christmas romance and Get Frosted was right up my alley. I loved experiencing Rudy and Mik’s romance as they fall in love and deal with life’s ups and downs. I even cried a happy tear or two.

I loved the town of Christmas Falls and all the activities going on in the town over the holiday season. The Christmas trivia night that the men went to on a date sounded like great fun. Christmas Falls is a place I’d love to visit. So I was happy to discover that Get Frosted is just one of many stories by different authors set in Christmas Falls. I’ll definitely be checking out the other books in this series.

 

 

AMY AISLIN has lived with her head in the clouds since she first picked up a book as a child, and being fluent in two languages means she’s read a lot of books! She first picked up a pen on a rainy day in fourth grade when her class had to stay inside for recess. Tales of treasure hunts with her classmates eventually morphed into love stories between men, and she’s been writing ever since. She writes evenings and weekends—or whenever she isn’t at her full-time day job saving the planet at Canada’s largest environmental non-profit.

An unapologetic introvert, Amy reads too much and socializes too little, with no regrets. She loves connecting with readers. Join her Facebook Group to stay up-to-date on upcoming releases and for access to early teasers, find her on Instagram, or sign up for her infrequent NEWSLETTER.

Connect with Amy Aislin!

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Instagram  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads
Facebook Group: Amy Aislin's Readers

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

 

Hosted by

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Get Frosted (Christmas Falls #3) by Amy Aislin to read and review.

Game Changer by Amy Aislin Release Blitz

It’s Blair Brawsiski’s ride or die year. After a decade in the AHL, if he doesn’t get called up to the NHL this season, it’s time to hang up his skates and focus on other things. But between a second job and family priorities, his attention isn’t where it should be, and his dreams of making it to the big leagues are dwindling by the day.

Hiring a personal assistant to help out with day-to-day stuff? Probably the smartest move Blair’s made in a while.

But when that PA turns out to be an assertive baker who’s exactly Blair’s type? Blair can’t help but wish those dexterous hands would knead something other than pastry dough. Namely, him.

Charlie needs extra income. Desperately. With his expenses about to go up, it’s find a second job or get evicted. Getting hired as Blair’s PA is perfect: flexible hours, decent wages, and a scorching hot professional hockey player who’s willing to let him use his gorgeous kitchen for his baked goods.

Too bad that hockey player is exactly Charlie’s type. Too bad Charlie knows better than to date his new boss…

Don’t miss our reviews of the rest of the Vancouver Orcas series!
For book one, Game Plan, click HERE.

 

 

Book 2
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
Apple Books  ~  B&N  ~  Kobo  ~  Smashwords
Audiobook (US)  ~  Paperback (US)

 

 

“Charlie?”

The man on his porch turned and... oh. Okay. Charlie being Coach Shore’s cousin, Blair had expected him to look like Coach: big, burly, and bearded. But Charlie was short, slim, and clean-shaven. He wore a wool coat in a colour that was somewhere between ivory and tan, a dark green scarf, and a matching toque with a grey pompom. Dark blond hair peaked out the bottom of the hat.

He looked like an ethereal fairy from another realm.

Of course he was exactly Blair’s type, all cute and rosy-cheeked and elfin.

Blair let out a rueful laugh under his breath. As if he had time for dating with everything else going on in his life. Jen and Jerry would be married before Blair found a minute of free time.

“Charlie?” he asked again, holding out a hand as he crested the porch’s top step. “I’m so sorry I’m late.”

“No biggie.” Charlie’s smile was wide and genuine despite Blair’s tardiness, and it triggered something loose in Blair’s brain.

Hand still in Charlie’s, he said, “Have we met before? You look familiar.”

“No,” Charlie said with a conviction that had Blair questioning himself. “But we’ve probably been to several of the same functions, most recently the pre-season barbecue at Coach Epps’ place. I work for the organization.”

“No kidding. Doing what?”

“I’m the baker for our NHL team. I make pastries for team breakfast, breads for sandwiches for lunch, and whatever else the head chef might need. Dinner rolls, desserts, that sort of thing.”

Now Blair recognized him. There were only a few times a year when the entire organization got together: the pre-season barbecue, the holiday party, and the end-of-season barbecue. But when you put the entire AHL and NHL teams in a room, along with coaches, management, and office and support staff as well as significant others and children, it made for close to two hundred people. And with Blair missing half of those due to other commitments in the ten years he’d been with the Orcas, it was no wonder he hadn’t officially met Charlie. Plus, not being a social creature meant that introducing himself to a crowd of strangers one by one was basically his version of a living nightmare.

He did remember once seeing Charlie from across the yard at one of the barbecues and wondering who the cutie with the smile that radiated warmth was. By the time Blair had set his plate down and turned back to make his way toward the man, Charlie had vanished.

And now here he was, on Blair’s doorstep.

What was he doing here if he already had a job, though? “Are you... seeking a new career direction?”

“No,” Charlie said with a quiet laugh. “Just a second job.” He cocked his head, and he might’ve looked guileless if there hadn’t been a hint of humour in his brown eyes. “Can I have my hand back?”

“Right.” Blair snatched his hand away, embarrassment tingling across the back of his neck. “Sorry. Uh. Come on in.”

 

 

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
This is the second book in this series and is a really good read. I would recommend that you read them in order, so that you get the full dynamics of the team, but you could read this first and go back later.

This is such an interesting take on the career of a hockey player – the reality that so many excellent but not extraordinary players must experience. Blair has not broken out of the AHL into the NHL and he knows that he has to set a limit on his plans - and a decade seems to be a reasonable one. Until he now finds himself in that last year and he is juggling helping his parents at their business, his sister with her baby, and... well, something has to give.

Charlie is suggested as a possible PA to help Blair so that he can make sure he doesn't miss a practice again. This is a brilliant suggestion, although the attraction that the two of them feel is more than a little inconvenient! This sets up a delicious, fun, sexy, and engaging romance which I thoroughly enjoyed.

I have to say that the cake jars were so vividly described that they made me hungry just reading about them – such a fun side plot with Charlie clearly being an excellent baker! I am already looking forward to the next installment!


Shannan – ☆☆☆☆
Game Changer is the second book in the Vancouver Orcas series. It can be read as a standalone, but I personally feel it reads better if you read in the order the author intended to get the full dynamic and structure of the team.

Blair Brawsiski has played for the AHL for 10 years. He made himself a promise that in ten seasons if he didn't get that call to play in the NHL, he'd hang up his skates and put his fall back plan – his graphic design degree – to use. Blair is the one his parents depend on when someone calls out of their deli, the one his sister depends on to pick up and watch his niece. Somewhere with practices, games, and always being there for everyone else, he's juggling a lot of things and dropping things that he shouldn't. His coach suggests him getting a PA to help with basic things so he can focus on what's important... hockey. When he interviews Charlie (who happens to be the coach's cousin), he finds him very attractive and exactly what he needs in his life.

Charlie made some bad decisions regarding his finances and has accrued a large debt. When his cousin, Matt, tells him about a player needing a PA, he thinks it would be a perfect solution for his money problems. He hates cooking but if he's getting paid to do it, it won't be a problem. Finding Blair so attractive and having a crush on your boss is not what Charlie should be focusing on, but he can't help himself working slowly hoping to talk to the man.

I love this series. It is written so well, and the characters are all so loveable you can't help but root for them and their happily ever afters. Charlie and Blair, even though they seem to be in different places in their lives, help each other to focus on their goals for themselves and each other.

I can't wait for what's next for Dorian!!

 

 

 

AMY AISLIN has lived with her head in the clouds since she first picked up a book as a child, and being fluent in two languages means she’s read a lot of books! She first picked up a pen on a rainy day in fourth grade when her class had to stay inside for recess. Tales of treasure hunts with her classmates eventually morphed into love stories between men, and she’s been writing ever since. She writes evenings and weekends—or whenever she isn’t at her full-time day job saving the planet at Canada’s largest environmental non-profit.

An unapologetic introvert, Amy reads too much and socializes too little, with no regrets. She loves connecting with readers. Join her Facebook Group to stay up-to-date on upcoming releases and for access to early teasers, find her on Instagram, or sign up for her infrequent NEWSLETTER.

Connect with Amy Aislin

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Instagram  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads
Facebook Group: Amy Aislin's Readers

 

 

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Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Game Changer (Vancouver Orcas #2) by Amy Aislin to read and review.

Game Plan by Amy Aislin Release Blitz

As the new head coach of the Vancouver Orcas, Matt Shore has got his work cut out for him. Coming off a season where the Orcas came in last in the entire AHL, Matt’s job is to whip his new hockey team into shape for the oncoming season.

He doesn’t need any distractions, especially not one in the form of a tall, dark, and gorgeous antiques dealer.

Who’s also his ex—and his best player’s father.

Pierce Langley-Brown has a lot of regrets. The biggest? Leaving Matt behind two years ago when his son needed him. Now, with his son on Matt’s hockey team, there’s no avoiding the man who once owned his heart.

Not that Pierce wants to avoid him. And that heart? It still belongs to Matt.

But will Matt choose to keep it after all this time?

Game Plan is the first book in a new trilogy that’s a spin-off from Star of the Game, book 6 in the Stick Side series. All three books will stand on their own and feature new couples.

Content warnings: Past parental death (off-page but is discussed on-page); depression and mental health.

 

 

Book 1
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“What do you think?” Matt slowed as they approached the entrance to Kitsilano Beach Park. The parking lot was mostly empty at this time of day. “Should we park here or find street parking farther down?”

“Doesn’t matter,” Pierce muttered. “We both know I’ll only last five minutes.”

Matt grinned and pulled into the parking lot. “Not to worry. We’ll build your stamina in no time.”

Speaking of stamina... Matt scratched at his thigh, drawing Pierce’s gaze.

He swallowed hard. Sipped his coffee. Eyed Matt’s profile as Matt backed into a spot. “What kind of strenuous activities do you expect me to be doing that I’ll need stamina?”

Putting the car in park, Matt side-eyed him. “Increasing your stamina helps reduce fatigue. Allows you to perform your daily activities at a higher level while using less energy.”

“Uh-huh.” Amused at the non-answer, Pierce sipped more coffee, hiding a grin behind his mug. “Is that all?”

Huffing, Matt popped his door open. “Get out of the car, LB.”

Pierce let his laughter loose, feeling giddy and happy and like Matt’s laughter gave him superpowers.

Until they got a few minutes into their jog.

“I’m—” Huff. “—dying.” Huff. “Jogging is...” Huff.

“Good exercise?” Matt prompted, not the least bit winded.

“Torture.”

Matt chuckled, but he slowed to a fast walk. Other joggers and cyclists passed them, but Pierce didn’t care much about anything other than gulping big breaths of air. On their left, the sandy beach was dotted with wooden logs for seating, and the ocean was calm under a blue sky peppered with the occasional cloud. In the distance, the mountains rose, tall and green.

Pierce sucked in a deep breath of ocean-tinted air, held it, and released it in a long sigh.

“How did you survive in landlocked Laval for two years?” Matt asked.

“Technically, it’s not landlocked. Laval is mostly on an island across the Prairies River from Montreal. It’s not the same, but there are waterfronts. I did miss home, though. It’s good to be back.”

“Yet you’d still move with Jason if he got traded again?”

Pierce blinked at Matt. “What makes you say that?”

“You sort of implied it,” Matt said, suddenly finding a hangnail interesting. “When you said you moved back here because Jason did.”

“Oh, well... I mean, generally, parents don’t follow their kids around, right? Especially when those kids reach adulthood?”

Matt raised an eyebrow, and if ever sardonic had an expression... “Yet here you are.”

“Sure, but...” Pierce shrugged. “I kept my apartment here for a reason, you know? Jase getting traded here was fortuitous. It gave me an excuse to return home, which gave me a reason to be close to Jason so we can keep repairing our relationship.”

“If he’d gotten traded to... I don’t know... somewhere in the States, you wouldn’t have gone with him?”

Pierce blew out a breath. “I might’ve gone with him for the first week or so, just to make sure he was settling in okay. Whether or not I would’ve moved there with him...” He rubbed his jaw, the overnight stubble he hadn’t bothered to shave scratching at his palm. “I honestly don’t know. I don’t spend much time mapping out what I would or wouldn’t have done in a situation that doesn’t exist.”

“But it could exist.”

Pierce stopped right there on the path, a frown pulling at his forehead. Once Matt had turned around, he said, “Are you trying to tell me something? Is Jason about to get traded? He just got here.”

Matt’s eyes were dark as sin under the autumn sun. “No. That’s not what I’m saying. I’m just... curious.”

Curious because... he didn’t want Pierce to leave again?

Because... he was still in love with him?

Pierce nearly laughed out loud at the fanciful thoughts.

“Curious about...?”

Matt walked backwards, forcing Pierce to follow. “What your long-term plans are. I don’t even know what you do for work right now.”

“I’m a runner.”

Another sardonic eyebrow paired with an amused twist of the lips. “I beg to differ.”

“No,” Pierce said with a laugh. “Not a runner runner. A runner for an antiques dealer in Quebec.”

“Which is...?”

“I buy antiques for my dealer. She tells me what she’s looking for and what her budget is, and I run around looking for it.”

“Huh.”

 

 

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Shannan – ☆☆☆☆
Game Plan is the first book in the Vancouver Orcas series.

Pierce Langley-Brown thought he had found his person in Matt Shore, an ex-hockey player turned coach. But he hasn't had the best relationship with his son. After he and his wife divorced, his ex-wife filled his son’s head with lies about him, which caused his son to push him from his life. After his son had a non-life-threatening car accident, Pierce's life fell apart around him. The only thing he could focus on was his son, not his relationship with Matt, while a dark depression came over him. Giving up everything and moving to be closer to his son and repair that relationship was all he could do, until a friend said he should go to therapy.

Two years ago, Pierce walked out of Matt's life; he never expected for him to show up at the rink when his best player passes out from the flu. Matt was angry when Pierce just left, and he still holds some of that resentment. But seeing him all these months later has the feelings he's carried for Pierce, flooding to the surface. Can Matt trust that Pierce won't leave again? Can he trust him with his heart again?

This is a new-to-me author and I really enjoyed this. Matt and Pierce have such a complicated history and their chemistry is still so strong. I loved seeing them come back to each other and Pierce finally getting a real relationship with his son. I am invested in this series and can't wait to see what's next.


Veronica – ☆☆☆☆
I’m grateful that Game Plan is dual point of view, because after meeting hockey coach Matt and learning that he was ghosted by the love of his life, Pierce, two years prior, I wasn’t feeling very kindly toward Pierce. When I read Pierce’s point of view and started to learn what he was going through, my heart went out to him and all I wanted was for Pierce and Matt to find their way back to each other.

This story deals with issues of mental health, and Pierce had me on the edge of tears a few times. To contrast, there are lighter moments and even a few laughs mixed in with a wonderful romance.

I am a big fan of m/m hockey romance and choosing to read the latest new series from Amy Aislin was a no brainer. I am pleased to say that Game Plan did not disappoint. Matt and Pierce’s romance made my heart happy, and it was a pleasure to experience their love. I very much look forward to reading more of this series.


Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
This is the first book in a new series, although Aislin fans will recognise some of the characters from an earlier series. We get right down to the moral question of a relationship where one has the potential to influence the success of a player... but in a rather interesting twist, this is between a father and a coach, and they also had a relationship before the situation got complicated. To be fair, it was probably always a bit difficult!

I really enjoyed the whole antique-dealer angle, always fun to learn a bit about a different career path, and it doesn't immediately sit with hockey, but is cleverly interwoven. Obviously, the issues of protracted silence and, most especially, regaining trust, feature both romantically and with family – and I thought were dealt with in a very sympathetic and realistic way.

Matt and Pierce make a good couple and there is some great humour and passion as well as complexity in their relationship. I am definitely looking out for the next installment in this engaging series.

 

 

AMY AISLIN has lived with her head in the clouds since she first picked up a book as a child, and being fluent in two languages means she’s read a lot of books! She first picked up a pen on a rainy day in fourth grade when her class had to stay inside for recess. Tales of treasure hunts with her classmates eventually morphed into love stories between men, and she’s been writing ever since. She writes evenings and weekends—or whenever she isn’t at her full-time day job saving the planet at Canada’s largest environmental non-profit.

An unapologetic introvert, Amy reads too much and socializes too little, with no regrets. She loves connecting with readers. Join her Facebook Group to stay up-to-date on upcoming releases and for access to early teasers, find her on Instagram, or sign up for her infrequent NEWSLETTER.

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

 

Hosted by

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Game Plan (Vancouver Orcas #1) by Amy Aislin to read and review.