Time to Shine by Rachel Reid

From the USA Today bestselling author of the Game Changers series comes a merry and bright hockey romance about finding your place, finding your people, and finding your way back to the one you love the most.

For Landon Stackhouse, being called up from the Calgary farm team is exciting and terrifying, even if, as the backup goalie, he rarely leaves the bench. A quiet loner by nature, Landon knows he gives off strong “don’t talk to me” vibes. The only player who doesn’t seem to notice is Calgary’s superstar young winger, Casey Hicks.

Casey treats Landon like an old friend, even though they’ve only interacted briefly in the past. He’s endlessly charming and completely laid-back in a way that Landon absolutely can’t relate to. They couldn’t have less in common, but Landon needs a place to live that’s not a hotel room and Casey has just bought a massive house—and hates being alone.

As roommates, Casey refuses to be defeated by Landon’s one-word answers. As friends, Landon comes to notice a few things about Casey, like his wide, easy smile and sparkling green-blue eyes. Spending the holidays together only intensifies their bromance-turned-romance. But as the new year approaches, the countdown to the end of Landon’s time in Calgary is on.

 

 

Buy Links

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Apple Books  ~  B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  Kobo
Audiobook (US)  ~  Paperback (US)
Carina Press (HQN)

 

 

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Veonica – ☆☆☆☆☆
We meet hockey goalie Landon when he is called up from the AHL to the NHL after an injury to a player in the senior team. Landon is a serious guy who wants to keep to himself. He is dealing with grief over the death of his beloved sister and estrangement from his parents. Then we meet Casey and he is gregarious, friendly with everyone and always looking for a good time, and a successful member of the NHL team.

The very first time we met Casey, I thought he was a bit much to deal. Then I saw a few team members making fun of him for being stupid, it had my heart going out to him. It didn’t sit right with me, and I wanted to protect him. And it wasn’t long before it became obvious that Casey is pretty lonely. So I wasn’t surprised when Casey invited Landon to live in one of his spare rooms while he is playing in the NHL.

Landon and Casey are such different men and I was captivated by their growing friendship and romance. I wasn’t sure how two such different men were going to manage but they complement each other and are good for each other. I was so emotionally invested in their lives I broke down in uncontrollable tears at least three times. Coping with a new relationship while the future of Landon’s career is unknown adds a bit of stress to their lives and my heart felt every bit of joy and difficulty the men experienced.

I’m a big fan of m/m Ice Hockey romances and Time to Shine is one of my new favourites. I particularly enjoyed seeing the struggles of a player trying to establish himself in the NHL team. I really loved Casey and Landon and I didn’t want their story to end. I know that Time to Shine is a book that I’m going to read again and again.


Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
This is a really lovely read, with a great mix of hockey and a romance which is delicious in its slow burn.

Casey is such a loving, friendly guy, so when Landon is called up to his NHL team, Casey is more than happy to be welcoming. As we soon learn, he also hates living alone, so as he admits to his attraction to Landon, he also offers him the guest room until he gets settled.

Landon has some deep scars about why he plays hockey, and his lack of self confidence in his ability to stay in the NHL and his natural introversion is in stark contrast to Casey's joviality. But Casey definitely affects him and makes him feel new emotions, unexpected, confusing, and ill timed, but impossible to ignore. I love how his awakening feelings are written – it is subtle, loving, and intense, and Casey is incredibly patient and caring. Really lovely to read and get really invested in the future of these two very likeable guys.

There are lots of important subplots too, which I found brought much to our understanding of their sport, their families, and their teammates – I recommend this to you!


Erica – ☆☆☆
3.5 stars

As a fan of slow-burn romance, I did not find the pacing for this novel to hold my interests, which is one of the most important factors in a slow-burn romance. I read this book over almost two weeks, a chapter here or there, as after the initial half of the novel, I was no longer hooked as it dragged onward. Keep in mind, I am a Rachel Reid fan, rereading novels dozens of times, one or two novels in a day.

Landon is a lovely character, sweet, kind, and compassionate, while holding onto survivor's guilt. He and his parents love one another but there seems to be an unbridgeable gap between them. The goalie is brought up from the farm league to the NHL when the backup goalie is injured. Awestruck and starstruck, Landon is now playing with hockey titans. The fact that he feels as if there is a time limit to his being in the NHL has Landon keeping a firm boundary between himself and his new teammates.

Casey is gregarious, infectious, outgoing, and a bit exhausting to read. Casey is sweet, kind, and funny, but I just kept picturing him as a puppy or toddler, and it just exhausted me. While friendly with everyone, he truly has no close friends. He's lonely and gets scared when left alone in his large home. Happy to have Landon on the team and eager to gain a new roommate. Casey is exactly what Landon needed to come out of his shell.

Landon resonated with me because he was introverted, reserved, and a demisexual (that was my take on his sexuality, anyway). I thought Reid did an excellent job with Landon's portrayal early on the in the book, but then he had a character trait lobotomy and started acting differently in the last third. Slightly cruel and selfish, which didn't fit with who he was for the rest of the novel.

Whereas I thought Casey did come off as infantilized, juvenile, to the point that I could not picture him in my mind as a masculine hockey player because he came off as a small child of indeterminate gender. I get where the author was going with Casey, but it didn't mesh with a hockey player. Best way to put it, the characterization didn't fit the character. The fact that he was a player, having nonstop hookups and not considering his hook-ups' feelings just didn't fit any of the other character traits. It was off-putting and out of left-field, and actually unnecessary.

While I love slow-burn romance, and am thrilled when a book isn't a smexy fest, by the time I hit the halfway mark, I felt the book should have been concluded. My eyes kept flicking down to check the percentage read. The pacing dragged since nothing was happening on the pages, and I include character development as important. It was just random, inane things where it wouldn't have made a difference if the reader skipped entire chapters. No drama, no angst, no character development. A laundry list of daily activities. I needed a bit of excitement to escape my list of daily activities.

When there was a bit of drama in the last third, it didn't fit the characters, with Landon acting differently. It was like the character development backslid for both characters, and I do not mean that in a good way.

I struggled to finish. I felt zero chemistry between the characters. No intensity. It felt as if they were adolescents in a young adult romance, and I don't mention this due to a lack of nonstop smexy action. The mindset was super clean, warm and fuzzy, saccharine, sugar sweet, and it comes off as fake with no real connection. As if they were acting or playing a role.

There just needed to be more plot to support the page-length, to push the pacing, and to keep readers' interests. I enjoyed the characters individually but found the journey rather lackluster.

 

 

RACHEL REID has always lived in Nova Scotia, Canada, and will likely continue to do so. She has two boring degrees and two interesting sons. She has been a hockey fan since childhood, but sadly never made it to the NHL herself. She enjoys books about hot men doing hot things, and cool ladies being awesome.

Connect with Rachel Reid

Twitter  ~  Instagram  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads

 

 

ARC provided by

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided with a free copy of Time to Shine by Rachel Reid to read and review.

The Long Game by Rachel Reid

The sequel is finally here! Shane and Ilya’s story, first seen in Heated Rivalry, continues in this long-awaited hockey romance from Rachel Reid.

To the world they are rivals, but to each other they are everything.

Ten years.

That’s how long Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov have been seeing each other. How long they’ve been keeping their relationship a secret. From friends, from family… from the league. If Shane wants to stay at the top of his game, what he and Ilya share has to remain secret. He loves Ilya, but what if going public ruins everything?

Ilya is sick of secrets. Shane has gotten so good at hiding his feelings, sometimes Ilya questions if they even exist. The closeness, the intimacy, even the risk that would come with being open about their relationship… Ilya wants it all.

It’s time for them to decide what’s most important—hockey or love.

It’s time to make a call.

Don’t miss our reviews of the rest of the Game Changers series!
For book one, Game Changer, click HERE.
For book two, Heated Rivalry, click HERE.
For book three, Tough Guy, click HERE.
For book four, Common Goal, click HERE.
For book five, Role Model, click HERE.

 

 

Book 6
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
Apple Books  ~  B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  Kobo
Audiobook (US)  ~  Paperback (US)
Carina Press (HQN)

 

 

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Erica – ☆☆☆☆☆
The Long Game is the sixth installment in the Game Changers series. It absolutely cannot be read as a standalone or out of series order, paralleling events in all the previous novels, as well as being the sequel to Heated Rivalry.

Hands down, Ilya Rozanov is my all-time favorite character. A big, lazy cat, paw batting at anyone who comes close. Playful. Taunting. Hunting. Teasing. But he keeps his claws sheathed.

My favorite scene-stealer during the entirety of the series, stole the show from Shane during their novel as well. Forever drawing the best and worst out of past and future narrators. A biting dig in his broken English meant to inspire, what it inspired is up to the person who received the comment, even if they take it in a different way than Ilya meant—Ilya likes it that way, being purposefully misunderstood, cryptic and baiting.

Ilya Rozanov has a heart of gold, even if he doesn't reveal it often. Empathetic and sympathetic, caring and kind, the type of leader that draws the best out of his failing team. More so, Ilya is the type of person who pushes others to make changes, then allows them to take the credit.

All the way back to when they were minor children, fighting tooth and nail to be the best of the best, Ilya and Shane have been drawn to one another. Their rivalry is legendary. Their connection is soul deep. Their romance spans a decade. As they sit back and watch player after player reach for their happily ever after. Waiting like a patient cat has nothing to do with cowardice – Shane and Ilya are legendary, fearing they would not receive the same reaction as their fellow hockey players.

Shane believes they're on the same page, living a life in secret. With the backing of his family, his closest friends, even a few of his teammates, Shane has a comfortable life with a full support system to shelter him from the lonely stretches without Ilya.

Then there is Ilya, who only has Shane. Alone in this world. Making sacrifices to be near Shane, seeing Shane's family as his only family. Set apart from his team. Unable to make friends when he's hiding such a large secret. Ilya feels isolated and alone, a terrifying place to be when depression is etched on his DNA.

I was terrified the entire time I was reading, fearing the worst. Some petty miscommunication that derails their strong relationship. But Reid did not do us dirty like that. Ilya and Shane do each other proud, Reid does her readers proud, giving us tooth decaying sweetness, heart-clenching emotion, lip-splitting humor, smothering us beneath a mountain of feels.

This series tops my favorite, and not just in M/M Romance or in the sports subgenre. Reread worthy. The Long Game was utterly satisfying, pure perfection. I can't recommend it enough. I look forward to Ilya stealing more scenes in future installments (fingers crossed the series never ends).


Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆☆
This is the sixth book in the series – and I have loved them all! I highly recommend that you read them in order – at the very least you should read Heated Rivalry where these two delicious men first come together. We see them ten years after they first get together, and can only hope that they finally get to be together all the time.

I find both the guys engaging, but Ilya is my favourite because he is the one who has given up a huge amount to be close to Shane. He is a good leader and gets the chance to bring his team up thanks to some new heart being injected into the club. He is so patient and calm when Shane is doing so well, and yet he chose love over everything. He has also become important to Shane's family, and I loved that he gained a family as well as a lover, as he completely deserved one.

I keep thinking of lovely bits, dramatic bits, and hurtful bits, and I really don't think I should share any of it, as you need to get the full goodness of it straight from the book. I cannot recommend it enough – and if you have time to read Heated Rivalry first, you will get the very best of stories all in one go. Enjoy!


Veronica – ☆☆☆☆☆
I was thrilled to be back with Ilya and Shane, my favorite couple, from the Game Changers series. It is 10 years since the men met and they are now together in a committed relationship that only a very select few people know about.

Ilya has changed teams and moved to Canada to be closer to Shane, but with them both playing hockey at different clubs, finding time to be together during the hockey season is a struggle and it is starting to be an issue, Both men want to be together more and Ilya in particular is struggling with keeping his love for Shane a secret. Their journey in this story has some ups and downs but their love for each other never wavers.

I enjoyed spending time with the men both in and outside the rink. They are more than just hockey players. I particularly loved exploring Ilya’s mental health issues and what it is like to be a sportsman who went from playing from one of the top teams to one of the bottom teams. Part of the timeline for The Long Game runs concurrently with other books in this series, so I was familiar with a few of the events that took place. I really liked seeing Ilya’s friendship with Harris and Troy from Ilya’s point of view and seeing how the aeroplane troubles affected Ilya and Shane.

I wallowed in The Long Game. I loved everything about it. There are good times as well as bad times. I laughed, I cried, and I was completely swept up in the romance. I just couldn’t get enough of Shane and Ilya and writing this review is making me want to go back and read their story right from the very beginning. A huge thank you to Rachel Reid for giving us more time with Shane and Ilya. They are one of my favorite romance couples ever!

 

 

RACHEL REID has always lived in Nova Scotia, Canada, and will likely continue to do so. She has two boring degrees and two interesting sons. She has been a hockey fan since childhood, but sadly never made it to the NHL herself. She enjoys books about hot men doing hot things, and cool ladies being awesome.

Connect with Rachel Reid

Twitter  ~  Instagram  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads

 

 

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of The Long Game (Game Changers #6) by Rachel Reid to read and review.

Role Model by Rachel Reid

The highly anticipated fifth novel in Rachel Reid’s Game Changers series sees a grumpy professional hockey player meet his match in an out-and-proud social media manager…

The hits just keep coming for Troy Barrett. Traded to the worst team in the league would be bad enough, but coming on the heels of a messy breakup and a recent scandal… Troy just wants to play hockey and be left alone. He doesn’t want to be in the news anymore, and he definitely doesn’t want to “work on his online presence” with the team’s peppy social media manager.

Harris Drover can tell standoffish Troy isn’t happy about the trade—anyone could tell, frankly, as he doesn’t exactly hide it well—but Harris doesn’t give up on people easily. Even when he’s developing a crush he’s sure is one-sided. And when he sees Troy’s smile finally crack through his grumpy exterior, well… That’s a man Harris couldn’t turn his back on if he wanted to.

Suddenly, Troy’s move to the new team feels like an opportunity—for Troy to embrace his true self, and for both men to surrender to their growing attraction. But indulging in each other behind closed doors is one thing, and for Troy, being in a public relationship with Harris will mean facing off with his fears, once and for all.

Don’t miss our reviews of the rest of the Game Changers series!
For book one, Game Changer, click HERE.
For book two, Heated Rivalry, click HERE.
For book three, Tough Guy, click HERE.
For book four, Common Goal, click HERE.

 

 

Book 5
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
Apple Books  ~  B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  Kobo
Audiobook (US)
Carina Press (HQN)

 

 

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Erica – ☆☆☆☆☆
Don't make the same mistake as I did by starting the novel at bedtime, expecting to read a few chapters before sleep. I read from start to finish, all through the night, not falling asleep until well past four am. Learn from my mistake, start early. Ha!

Role Model is the fifth installment in the Game Changers series. While it can easily be read as a standalone with little to no confusion, Troy was introduced in other installments. The emotional payoff would be greater if the novels were read in series order. Start with Game Changer.

Returning readers are no doubt asking themselves whether or not past narrators made an appearance on the pages. Most, if not all, I believe, made a cameo on the pages, their connection to one another made known, while others were mentioned heavily.

Now... to answer the most important question you all wished to know. What about Ilya? Does he make a cameo?

Ilya is a major focal point in the story, acting as a mentor of sorts, seeing something in Troy that resonates with him. Heavily present on the pages, acting as comedic relief, Ilya and the team pup were some of the cutest, most heartwarming scenes, scene-stealers of the best kind.

Back to our main characters. Our heroes. Troy and Harrison.

Troy was portrayed as a mega asshole in past installments, which he did as a defense mechanism, finding the person closest to his father's personality and befriending him as a shield against his true nature. With the flip of a coin, Troy's life is upended. Not only does he get caught on camera calling out his BFF for sexual assault, his closeted secret actor boyfriend dumps him at the same time. Not only does he get dumped, the boyfriend of two years is suddenly out and engaged, which meant he was being cheated on that whole time.

Bumped down to a losing team in the league as punishment for speaking the truth, Troy is surrounded by past rivals, nursing a broken heart and unable to tell a soul, while dealing with the repercussions of speaking his mind. The entire league and its fans, everyone has an opinion on Troy, thinking him a traitor for betraying his friend and teammates because he believed numerous women's accounts of sexual assault and had to audacity to admit it publicly.

Troy, Asshole to Hero. Fans and league, his father too, they all loved him as the asshole, but he's never felt more lonely as the accidental hero. It's no wonder Troy is so reserved, his guard completely up, thinking his new team wouldn't want anything to do with him.

Harrison is the team's social media guru. Extroverted, bubbly, and super friendly, it's impossible for even the most prickly member of the team to not be entertained by Harrison, especially when he brings a puppy to work. An entire team of rough and tumble hockey players melt for Harrison, behaving and treating him with respect as soon as he appears.

Plagued with a congenital defect, Harrison has a good heart, seeing the best in everyone, which is exactly the succor Troy needed to heal. Slightly slow-burn, a friendship is built over one-sided conversations and coffee, Troy making the first step by bringing the coffee, and Harrison being patient and coaxing Troy to open up and reveal the sweet guy beneath.

Warm and fuzzy, super sweet, undeniably realistic, Troy and Harrison were perfect for one another. Their banter, added with the reinforcement of Ilya, made for an entertaining read. Quick wit, humorous teasing, Harrison coaxes Troy until he's a pup eating out of his hand.

Oddball that I am, I adored the fact that their team sucked. Loss after loss. So used to the main characters being super awesome on the best team, it was a refreshing change of pace, as was the teammates being good dudes instead of rampaging assholes. Troy, Ilya, and the others, their team progresses as the story does, the bond improving both their lives and the team itself.

I am anticipating the next and the next in the series. Upon completion, the only thing I could think is how I'd love to do a series reread, get another hit of the feel-good vibe the entire series yanks from me.

Definitely recommend to MM Romance fans, particularly those who love the sports genres. Game Changers tops my favorite series list in the hockey subgenre.


Sarah – ☆☆☆☆☆
I love that each book in this series feels fresh and original. In this fifth book, Troy is an unlikely hero. For most of his all-star career, Troy was as successful as he was toxic. When a scandal takes away his success, it isn’t easy for him to make a fresh start.

If Troy is difficult to like at the start of this book, Harris is impossible not to love. Out and proud – and as positive as Troy is miserable, Harris is determined to help Troy fix his tarnished public image. I love Harris, but I was surprised to find myself falling even harder for Troy in this story. The wonderful slow burn sexual tension between these two is fabulous.

I love that the author tackles some of the darker aspects of toxic masculinity in this book. I’ve not read a #metoo story from the point of view of a complicit man before and I’m surprised how well this works. Somehow, Harris and the actual hockey parts of the book prevent the story from ever becoming too earnest or too dark. This might be the best book in the series so far.


Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
This is the fifth book in the series. I would recommend that you read them in order, but each book deals with another romance, so it is possible to start here and go back!

I read a lot of sports romance and feel that the genre has really moved on from the first to be out, to now looking at the truth for each person and how they deal with how they choose to be. Sadly in Troy's case, he has been conditioned by his horrible, homophobic father, and made friends with a guy who sexually assaulted women. When he calls Dallas Kent out on his behaviour, it is he who is traded to Ottawa, and told to be quiet. Having finally taken a stand on something, and still been the bad guy, Troy is really sad, confused, and determined to keep his head down and his face like ice.

Such a great start to what we have to know will involve him thawing, but we have to be patient – it is a really moving and engaging journey, made all the more exciting by the wonderful Harris.

There are so many great things about this romance, some which made me laugh, some gasp, and some worry. But faith in Rachel Reid meant that I was keen to follow how the complications of their lives would play out. We can rely on Ilya and Wyatt to help, along with Scott and others, to give Troy the self-belief that he does deserve better, and even accept that Harris may be a bright light in his life.

Sexy, swoony, sporty, and satisfying – another great read!


Veronica – ☆☆☆☆
On first meeting Troy, I wasn’t sure I was going to like him. He has been traded to a new team after calling out his best friend and teammate for raping women (something that didn’t go down well). And while that is a good thing, Troy has spent a lot of his career behaving badly, being a bully, and acting like a homophobe. He is, of course, firmly in the closet, so you can see why I was hesitant. It didn’t take long at all for me to change my feelings about Troy. And I think my feelings changed because Troy is remorseful and wants to be better and do better. His struggles to do better and with his sexuality really tugged at my heart strings and had me desperate to see him find happiness.

Enter Harris, the team's out and proud social media manager. He is full of life and is a social butterfly. He makes the effort to engage Troy and slowly they develop a friendship. I loved Harris. He has a good soul and just what Troy needs, even if Troy doesn’t think he deserves someone as good as Harris. But for me, this story is all about Troy, changing his life, fitting in at his new team, and ultimately deciding if he will come out.

Role Model was a more emotional story than I was perhaps expecting. I felt a good deal of Troy’s sadness and loneliness at the beginning, but the story is also romantic, a bit sexy with some good fun. The only thing I would have liked was to see a little more of Troy getting to know more of his teammates. But I loved reading Role Model. It is another great addition to this series

M/M ice hockey romance is one of my most favorite romance tropes and for me, Role Model is a great story in a great series. If you haven’t read any of the Game Changers series, I’d highly recommend each and every story in the series.

 

 

Rachel Reid has always lived in Nova Scotia, Canada, and will likely continue to do so. She has two boring degrees and two interesting sons. She has been a hockey fan since childhood, but sadly never made it to the NHL herself. She enjoys books about hot men doing hot things, and cool ladies being awesome.

Connect with Rachel

Twitter  ~  Instagram  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads

 

 

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Role Model (Game Changers #5) by Rachel Reid to read and review.

Common Goal by Rachel Reid

New York Admirals goalie Eric never thought his friends-with-benefits arrangement with much-younger Kyle would leave them both wanting more…

Veteran goaltender Eric Bennett has faced down some of the toughest shooters on the ice, but nothing prepared him for his latest challenge—life after hockey. It’s time to make some big changes, starting with finally dating men for the first time.

Graduate student Kyle Swift moved to New York nursing a broken heart. He’d sworn to find someone his own age to crush on (for once). Until he meets a gorgeous, distinguished silver fox hockey player. Despite their intense physical attraction, Kyle has no intention of getting emotionally involved. He’ll teach Eric a few tricks, have some mutually consensual fun, then walk away.

Eric is more than happy to learn anything Kyle brings to the table. And Kyle never expected their friends-with-benefits arrangement to leave him wanting more. Happily-ever-after might be staring them in the face, but it won’t happen if they’re too stubborn to come clean about their feelings.

Everything they both want is within reach… They just have to be brave enough to grab it.

Don’t miss our reviews of the rest of the Game Changers series!
For book one, Game Changer, click HERE.
For book two, Heated Rivalry, click HERE.
For book three, Tough Guy, click HERE.

 

 

Book 4
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo
Carina Press – Harlequin

 

 

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Sarah – ☆☆☆☆
4.5 stars

I love Rachel Reid’s hockey romances and I really love a friends-with-benefits storyline. This book offers both – and I fell hard for both Eric and Kyle.

At the end of his NHL career, Eric has been in the background of this series for a while. I love the contrast between his reputation on the ice and his vulnerability off the ice. The uncertainty he faces on the verge of retirement feels real and very raw. The age gap works between him and the younger Kyle because in many ways, Kyle has so much more life experience. The two men balance each other and they take care of each other.

This is a high heat read – with a little bit of kink. For a hockey romance, there’s not a whole lot of bling or flash – though Eric’s house is pure property porn – and the connection between Kyle and Eric builds quietly. Rachel Reid writes great romance and this one gave me all the good feels.


Erica – ☆☆☆☆
Common Goal is the fourth installment in the Game Changers series. While it could most definitely be read as a standalone with little to no confusion, there are cameos and continuing interactions with past narrators, as well as the introduction to the two narrators in this novel during past installments. I don't believe there would be more of an emotional impact in reading the series versus this as a standalone when it comes to this couple in question.

Hockey. Bisexual. Age-gap. Slight BDSM bedroom sports.

Goalie Eric is newly divorced. Lonely, despite the camaraderie of an entire team having his back, because as the goalie he sets himself apart, but mostly because he's one of the oldest members of the team, one who doesn't drink and is a vegetarian, along with one who doesn't have a string of flings to add to the locker room banter. Mostly, it's Eric himself who creates this divide, failing to see how badly his teammates want to interact with him.

We previously met Kyle, the friend and bartender coworker who has an unrequited crush on Kip. He's still nursing a broken heart because Kip is madly in love with Scott, while trying to ignore his feeling in favor of a close platonic relationship.

On the relationship front, both Eric and Kyle have hang-ups on what the other represents. Kyle is into older men but has been burnt badly because of it, while Eric thinks himself an octogenarian and Kyle a child.

Age was the focus, but this portion was a major con for me, aside from the teammates’ jokes that had me busting a gut. Eric is stuck on his age, which became annoying for this 42 year-old to read, how I am ancient and decrepit and should just crawl into a grave and wait for the Grim Reaper to claim me.

All said in jest on my part, but it did get annoying coming from Eric's nonstop inner monologue about his ancientness. I understood it from a professional athlete standpoint, and the jokes made at his expense were really funny, as well as simply said because they were actually calling Eric out, not because they felt he was old. I understand this was a hang-up for Eric, but it was like beating a dead horse then dragging it through hundreds of pages. A handful of times, we'd get the picture. After that, it just became overkill and slightly insulting to anyone older than 40 reading the novel, borrowing some of Eric's self-loathing over his age.

The team camaraderie was most excellent, especially how Eric's teammates tried so hard to include him in everything. I experienced a ton of feels during those moments. The warm and fuzzy and the humorous, especially from Ilya. The fact that after all this time, I immediately read Ilya with an accent added to the humorous bent. Ilya, now he's a fan favorite, every cameo turning into a scene-stealer.

The intellectual and art outside interests connected Eric and Kyle, bridging the gap in their ages until it wasn't a big deal for this reader, as well as when they were in each other's orbit. I understood why Kyle was seen younger than he was. Almost 26, the fact that he was still in college made him appear more 17-21 than half a decade older. Then there was Eric, who behaved and hated himself as if he were on death's door, when he was still in his prime. These issues made the age-gap wider than it truly was.

The romance was overshadowed by the angst dealing with the age-gap, especially since it was obvious how Kyle emotionally distanced himself from Eric the entire time due to his past trauma with an older man. This took the warmness out of the romance, detaching their connection for the sake of angst, removing the feels for me.

Bi-discovery, that was insanely hot and silly and awkward and endearing. Kyle acted older in this regard, while Eric was sexually stunted after twenty years of marriage to a woman he wasn't feeling a spark toward. Thankfully, the ex wasn't shown as a villain or in a bad light. But it was most definitely authentically and realistically written.

I will say, it was a struggle for me, because the role reversal was at odds with their personalities. I am a sucker for power-exchange, and I understand all the facets of it, but there were a few personality traits missing from their everyday lives to extend into the bedroom for the believably factor. This isn't in regards to Eric.

Kyle acted mature only in the bedroom or during art discussions with Eric, yet silly and childish for large portions of the novel, where Kyle and Kip took on distinctly teenager-ish, effeminate personalities, yet acted like grown men at other times. The flip-flop of personalities traits was a struggle for me, a struggle to grasp who these men truly were and what was an act. I understand that they are young, but it came across as more high school than college graduates on the cusp of the paths they'd take for the rest of their lives.

All in all, the series as a whole has been beyond entertaining, the gamut of emotions. I most certainly recommend Common Goal, the Game Changers series, and Rachel Reid to fans of the MM romance genre, particularly the sports subgenre.


Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
This is the fourth book in the series – it also ties in with book one, where Kyle worked with Kip in the bar, and Eric was a friend and teammate of Scott. That said, you could read it as a standalone and still enjoy it for sure.

Eric is nearing the end of his hockey career. He is thinking about the future and how his life will be. He loves art and has been collecting it and filling his large house with it for years. When he finds that Kyle also loves art, he has to accept that there is more to the 'young' man than he had given him credit. Whilst Eric is worrying about being too old and too new at realising his interest in Kyle, he really would like to examine his attraction and learn about how to pursue a man. Kyle is unexpectedly reluctant, as there is clearly a connection between them. We learn why eventually – these two guys really need to speak more and rely on their internal voice less!

I enjoyed catching up with other characters from previous books and chuckling at the fun they bring to this story. I found the pace and the relationship did work in the context of these two guys – and look forward to seeing them in future installments.


Veronica – ☆☆☆☆
Eric is 41-years-old and playing what will be his last year of professional hockey. Recently divorced, he is a pretty reserved kind of a guy, he doesn’t drink, is into clean eating and taking care of his body, and he loves art. So his best mate steers him in the direction of 25-year-old Kyle, a bartender who is studying art history, thinking they could be friends.

Eric and Kyle are attracted to each other but in the beginning, different assumptions, including Kyle’s assumption that Eric is married and straight. When Eric confirms he is bisexual, Kyle offers to help Eric get out in the dating scene, but it is clear that the only person Eric is interested in is Kyle.

These two are off-the-charts hot in bed and Kyle takes the lead, broadening Eric’s horizons. Their age difference isn’t even a consideration when they are burning up the sheets. The problems arise when they leave the bedroom and their brains get in the way. The thing is, when they stop thinking so much out of the bedroom, they have a great time together. And I had a great time right along with them but I could understand, at least initially, Eric’s concerns.

I’m not a fan of romances with large age-gaps but I have to say, I was won over by this story. Their age-gap is a big deal for Eric and it stands in the way of him finding happiness with a guy that is clearly perfect for him. That is when I realised the age-gap just doesn’t matter, their happiness is more important.

I adored reading Common Goal and I feel like this story has opened me up to reading a whole new sub-genre of romance novels I would usually avoid. Just thinking about this story now is making me smile. Common Goal gets four happy stars from me.

 

 

 

Rachel Reid has always lived in Nova Scotia, Canada, and will likely continue to do so. She has two boring degrees and two interesting sons. She has been a hockey fan since childhood, but sadly never made it to the NHL herself. She enjoys books about hot men doing hot things, and cool ladies being awesome.

Connect with Rachel

Twitter  ~  Instagram  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads

 

 

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Common Goal (Game Changers #4) by Rachel Reid to read and review.

Tough Guy by Rachel Reid

They have nothing in common—so why does Ryan feel most like himself whenever he’s with Fabian?

Pro hockey star Ryan Price may be an enforcer, but off the ice he struggles with anxiety. Recently traded to the Toronto Guardians, he’s determined to make a fresh start in the city’s dynamic LGBTQ Village. The last thing he expects to stumble upon in his new neighborhood is a blast from his past in the fabulous form of Fabian Salah.

Aspiring musician Fabian loathes hockey. But that doesn’t stop him from being attracted to a certain burly, ginger-bearded defenseman. He hasn’t forgotten the kiss they almost shared back in high school, and it’s clear the chemistry between them has only intensified.

Fabian is more than happy to be Ryan’s guide to the gay scene in Toronto. Between dance clubs and art exhibits—and the most amazing sex—Ryan’s starting to feel something he hasn’t experienced in a long time: joy. But playing the role of the heavy on the ice has taken its toll on his body and mind, and a future with Fabian may mean hanging up his skates for good.

Book 3
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo
Carina Press – Harlequin

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Veronica – ☆☆☆☆
Ryan Price is a gentle giant. He is 6.7ft and a professional hockey player who sees himself as a guy whose job it is to beat up other guys on the ice. This doesn’t not make him happy. Off the ice he is timid, has low self-esteem, and suffers from crippling social anxiety. Fabian, on the other hand, is out and proud, self-assured, and living the life he wants to live.

Tough Guy is a really lovely romance. It isn’t a perfect or easy and whenever a bump appeared in the road, I was just cheering Fabian and Ryan on, hoping they could work around their problems and be happy together. I love that Ryan isn’t perfect and it is inspiring to see him face his fears. For me, the biggest lesson I got from Tough Guy was that just because you’ve been given what most people think is a great opportunity, doesn’t mean it is the right opportunity for you.

Excellent story and a solid four stars from me.


Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
This is the third book in the series, and is a great addition to the hot hockey player MM romance genre.

Ryan is an enforcer, and a massive figure to be fought whichever team he plays for... but he is pretty fed up with constantly moving, with having to drop his gloves and hurt players all the time. He also has a bad reputation for not getting close to his teammates. His Toronto coach has said this needs to improve, so he is even more stressed than usual. Even though he is on medication due to anxiety and getting counselling, he still hates flying, which is not good for an NHL hockey player. Life is not great really at all.

A chance encounter in a drug store with his first ever crush, Fabian, gives us an absolutely gorgeous story. Fabian is as flamboyant as Ryan is big and burly; Fabian is a fine-boned musician who is about to make it big with his unique solo music style, whereas Ryan is thinking of quitting his career. But somehow together they smooth out the edges, give confidence, and most of all, find love.

Along the way we get to enjoy Ryan actually making a friend on his team, and having the interest of his team as he provides them with baked goods. Fabian's friends, who enjoy supporting him and indulge in bargain brunche,s are also important in supporting these two men as they come to terms with how their futures will work.

I loved this story, the honesty of Ryan and the problems that he had, especially with his stress and anxiety.


Erica – ☆☆☆☆
Spoiler-Free Review

Tough Guy is the third installment in the Game Changers series, and can easily be read as a standalone with little to no confusion, featuring a cameo by past narrators.

Right off the bat, I need to confess that Ryan's anxiety resonated with me deeply, which made me root for him, even if he was standoffish with his teammates and pretty brutal on the ice as an enforcer, even if it went against his natural teddy bear disposition. Ryan was a ticking time-bomb of stress, with the extra pressure of his coach riding his butt on his behavior.

In walks Fabian back into Ryan's life, just as that last thread is about to snap, in a second-chance romantic entanglement with Ryan's first crush, who just so happens to loathe hockey.

The indie musician versus the hockey enforcer, opposites attract yet also seem to balance each other emotionally, creating a quick, heartwarming novel that offered some much-needed escapism this afternoon. Another layer was the friendships shared with Fabian and Ryan, lending the warm and fuzzies.

Why not 5 stars?

The pacing slowed in places, where I felt my mind wandering, struggling to skip a few passages of redundant inner monologues. While I loved the characters, understood how they fit well with one another, I just didn't feel a push-pull spark of attraction that held my attention. There was also a lack of 'hockey' in this hockey romance.

To be honest, of the three novels in this series, this wasn't my favorite. I devoured the first two, where I just couldn't get enough. However, I do believe it was a worthy addition to the series and look forward to more in the future.

Also Available in the Game Changers Series

Book 1
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo
Carina Press – Harlequin

For reviews & more info, check out our Game Changer post.

Book 2
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo
Carina Press – Harlequin

For reviews & more info, check out our Heated Rivalry post.

Rachel Reid has always lived in Nova Scotia, Canada, and will likely continue to do so. She has two boring degrees and two interesting sons. She has been a hockey fan since childhood, but sadly never made it to the NHL herself. She enjoys books about hot men doing hot things, and cool ladies being awesome.

Connect with Rachel

Twitter  ~  Instagram  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Tough Guy (Game Changers #3) by Rachel Reid to read and review.

Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid

Nothing interferes with Shane Hollander’s game—definitely not the sexy rival he loves to hate.

Pro hockey star Shane Hollander isn’t just crazy talented, he’s got a spotless reputation. Hockey is his life. Now that he’s captain of the Montreal Voyageurs, he won’t let anything jeopardize that, especially the sexy Russian whose hard body keeps him awake at night.

Boston Bears captain Ilya Rozanov is everything Shane’s not. The self-proclaimed king of the ice, he’s as cocky as he is talented. No one can beat him—except Shane. They’ve made a career on their legendary rivalry, but when the skates come off, the heat between them is undeniable. When Ilya realizes he wants more than a few secret hookups, he knows he must walk away. The risk is too great.

As their attraction intensifies, they struggle to keep their relationship out of the public eye. If the truth comes out, it could ruin them both. But when their need for each other rivals their ambition on the ice, secrecy is no longer an option…

One-click with confidence. This title is part of the Carina Press Romance Promise: all the romance you’re looking for with an HEA/HFN. It’s a promise!

Book 2
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo
Carina Press – Harlequin

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Erica – ☆☆☆☆☆
Heated Rivalry is the second installment of the Game Changers series. While it could easily be read as a standalone, I strongly suggest reading Game Changer first, as there are parallel events.

Rachel Reid has a new fangirl. I've been dealt emotional blow after blow in the past week, and I found succor, entertainment, and escape in reading both books in this series back-to-back. I would do just about anything to have another.

As decadent as candy, I couldn't get enough of the addictive, juicy content, making me crave more. I spent the majority of the novel covering my face to hide the fact that I was smiling and blushing, or to cover up a rare burst of chuckles, as those reactions are inappropriate in my household right now. But the fact that this novel managed to break through the grief, where I felt more connected to Ilya because of it, says how much I enjoyed every word.

I actually highlighted a few passages, thinking this novel needed to come with a Combustible Contents warning.

From the outside looking in, Shane and Ilya are enemies on both the ice and off. While they may be rivals, they've known each other since the beginning of their careers. Heated Rivalry spans nearly a decade, as the reader watches Shane and Ilya grow into men and grow closer.

Heat. The banter has sparks flying, and it was involuntary on my part how my mind supplied a Russian accent during Ilya's narration and dialogue, which added to the overall addictive quality. I was surprised at how often I found Ilya's douchebaggery hilarious and endearing. He didn't come off as mean-spirited, just blunt as his grasp on the English language escaped him.

HEA? HFN? The ending is open for the future, where I'm assuming we'll see what plays out next with another set of narrators. Normally I'm a standalone series kind of girl, who gets bored when it's the same narrators every book, so it's surprising how I'm good even if we hear from Shane and Ilya as the main characters again, or just riding shotgun for other characters. But what I absolutely want is to continue to see Ilya on the pages, in any way the author decides works best. He is comedy gold.

Highly recommend to fans of MM romance, specifically sports romance who enjoy the angst and tension of having to remain in the closet.


Sarah – ☆☆☆☆☆
Oh wow. This is a sexy, funny, sweet, and sometimes heartbreaking read. The book tells the story of two hockey players and their unlikely decade long relationship. From the moment they first meet at a Junior Hockey tournament, chemistry crackles between Shane and Ilya, two crazy talented rivals who will spend their careers playing for different countries and different teams.

I love the little moments the author gives readers. Told alternately from Ilya and Shane’s perspectives, the story is a record of ten years of tiny moments the men steal to be together. As their first hostile hookups become something warmer and more personal, Shane and Ilya’s lives grow further apart and an actual relationship seems increasingly impossible.

The interactions between Shane and Ilya are captured perfectly. Ilya’s reputation as an asshole on the ice starts to crumble as his walls come down with Shane. He never completely loses his edge and the contrast between Russian Ilya’s nasty attitude and Shane’s earnest, polite Canadian ways had me laughing out loud. I love the competition between these two on the ice and the slivers of warmth that frighten them both in the bedroom. I love that both Ilya and Shane are more complicated men than they first seem, and I fell madly in love with both of them.

The impossibility of Shane and llya’s relationship made me cry. And laugh. And finish the book in a single sitting. These two are wonderful together. I love the hockey in this book as much as the relationship stuff, and asshole Ilya on the ice is a wonderous thing. I loved everything about this book and I’m sure it’s one I’ll be rereading soon.


Veronica – ☆☆☆☆☆
Shane and Ilya at two of the biggest young stars in ice hockey and from the moment they are drafted, the media plays up a rivalry between them. In the media and the public’s eyes they are enemies but in private they are fiercely attracted to each other.

I love that while there is instant sexual attraction between the men there is no insta-love. There isn’t even really insta-like. The story takes us over the span of seven years and we get to see the men change and deal with different issues in their lives as they very slowly grow closer together, all the while trying to deny that there is anything more between them other than incredibly hot sex.

I loved watching Ilya and Shane fall in love. I fell in love with them. Every time they were apart, I was hanging for their next encounter to see what would happen. Would one of them be brave enough to take their intimacy from physical to emotional and if so, who would make the first move? Would they even make it to a happily ever after?

M/M Ice Hockey romances do it for me and Heated Rivalry is now one of my favourites in the genre. This is an amazing love story without being overly emotional. It is a fantastic read.


Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
This is the second book in the series, and I would definitely recommend that you read them in order. In fact, if you could read them back to back, you would find it even more satisfying.

What this book cleverly does is give us a hockey story which compares the styles of two different countries, two different NHL teams, and two gorgeous players. Aided by the media's interest in them, Shane and Ilya are pitched against each other at every turn. And yet... in private they have a chemistry which overtakes them whenever they get the chance – and WOW, anyone who doesn't like insta-love will love this romance which develops at a snail's like pace over a decade!

I utterly loved it, from the rivalry, the clear respect and devotion that the men showed to each other, their sport, and in Shane's case, to his family. As we hear from each of them about how their career and private life progresses, we can only hope that they will be strong enough to acknowledge out loud what they both know in their hearts.

I could have immediately reread this and loved it all over again. When the next installment comes out, I will be reading all three in one go to get all the goodness back in my mind!

Also Available in the Game Changers Series

Book 1
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo
Carina Press – Harlequin

For reviews & more info, check out our Game Changer post.

Rachel Reid has always lived in Nova Scotia, Canada, and will likely continue to do so. She has two boring degrees and two interesting sons. She has been a hockey fan since childhood, but sadly never made it to the NHL herself. She enjoys books about hot men doing hot things, and cool ladies being awesome.

Connect with Rachel

Twitter  ~  Instagram  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Heated Rivalry (Game Changers #2) by Rachel Reid to read and review.