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inkstndfngrs's review against another edition
3.0
Siiiiiiiiigh.
It was fine.
I expected more (for what ever dumb reason).
It took way too long for Xappa to figure his feelings out. Like...painfully long. Be prepared.
It was fine.
I expected more (for what ever dumb reason).
It took way too long for Xappa to figure his feelings out. Like...painfully long. Be prepared.
asteroula_t's review against another edition
3.0
This pairing is the sweetest ever.
Kris is just a huge teddy bear and the struggle when he realizes he is into his best friend's little brother is real. It's so cute and fun to watch his infatuation unraveling.
Rory on the other side is already catching feelings and the only way to go is towards Kris.
It is really delightful to see how Rory tries to show Kris how he feels, but the huge teddy bear is hilariously ignorant.
Add a hockey team to the mix and Rory's older brother and this story gets really fun.
Thank you @gayromancereviews for the ARC.
Kris is just a huge teddy bear and the struggle when he realizes he is into his best friend's little brother is real. It's so cute and fun to watch his infatuation unraveling.
Rory on the other side is already catching feelings and the only way to go is towards Kris.
It is really delightful to see how Rory tries to show Kris how he feels, but the huge teddy bear is hilariously ignorant.
Add a hockey team to the mix and Rory's older brother and this story gets really fun.
Thank you @gayromancereviews for the ARC.
kaitlin_durante's review against another edition
4.0
[I received a digital arc for an honest review]
Two-Man Team by Amy Aislin is the fifth book in the Stick Side series. Kris Xappa has found himself at the tail end of bad press after trying to help de-escalate a fight at a friend’s bar. He is now trying to keep his head down and finish out his final season without being labeled a troublemaker. He finds himself being tasked with caring for his best friend’s younger brother and teammate, Rory Stanton, after he breaks his leg. After a precarious drunken kiss, Rory finds it hard to ignore the growing affection he feels towards Kris as he cares for his safety and well-being while he heals. Kris is not “out” so the closer they get the harder it is to hide the secret of their ever strengthening relationship. But news finds its way of getting it out and Rory and Kris must decide where their futures lead.
Kris Xappa is a good guy wrapped in a bad boy exterior. He regularly volunteers with organizations he has founded and is working on a non-profit to run after retiring. He has always known Rory through and recalls the struggles Rory faced with bullying in his younger years. Once Kris allows himself to open up his protective heart to the now adult Rory, he finds himself drawn to the sunshine and positivity that Rory brings to everything. Their compatibility and chemistry translates to high heat bedroom scenes and warm and fuzzy moments in between.
“Cuddles?”
Kris did the complete opposite of what he expected. He lifted an arm and said, “Get over here.”
“Yes,” Rory said under his breath, drawing the word out. He snuggled up to the warmth that was Kris.
Rory Stanton is such a sweet man who only finds himself hurt when helping an elderly neighbor decorate. He hesitates to have Kris watch over him while he recuperates because he knows he has feelings for Kris and doesn’t think there’s any chance of them being reciprocated. Rory can take care of himself and has worked through his childhood struggles with bullying but watching him lean into the care and comfort Kris provides was so sweet. Rory can’t put his past completely behind him and is shocked as his new found family of teammates fully embrace his creativity when it comes to painting wooden trains. Rory brought so many smiles to my face while reading because his charm was palpable.
“We should get going,” Rory whispered against Kris’s mouth, the taste of him making him light-headed. Good thing he was still leaning against the dresser.
“Mm-hmm.” Kris kissed him again, smiling into it, then brought him in for a hug. Oh god. This was comfort and familiarity and a sense of rightness and belonging that pulled sharply on old wounds. Rory buried his face in Kris’s shoulder and wanted to hang on forever.
Amy Aislin’s hockey world is one of those familiar places that just feel so good to go back to. Toronto’s team is filled with familiar faces from previous books that provide support to these MCs as they work their way through their careers as professional hockey players as well as their relationship. This book would be considered low angst from an action perspective but had plenty of emotional moments where you felt for both Kris and Rory.
4 stars for Rory and Kris finding comfort and love with a side of snuggles and waffles.
Two-Man Team by Amy Aislin is the fifth book in the Stick Side series. Kris Xappa has found himself at the tail end of bad press after trying to help de-escalate a fight at a friend’s bar. He is now trying to keep his head down and finish out his final season without being labeled a troublemaker. He finds himself being tasked with caring for his best friend’s younger brother and teammate, Rory Stanton, after he breaks his leg. After a precarious drunken kiss, Rory finds it hard to ignore the growing affection he feels towards Kris as he cares for his safety and well-being while he heals. Kris is not “out” so the closer they get the harder it is to hide the secret of their ever strengthening relationship. But news finds its way of getting it out and Rory and Kris must decide where their futures lead.
Kris Xappa is a good guy wrapped in a bad boy exterior. He regularly volunteers with organizations he has founded and is working on a non-profit to run after retiring. He has always known Rory through and recalls the struggles Rory faced with bullying in his younger years. Once Kris allows himself to open up his protective heart to the now adult Rory, he finds himself drawn to the sunshine and positivity that Rory brings to everything. Their compatibility and chemistry translates to high heat bedroom scenes and warm and fuzzy moments in between.
“Cuddles?”
Kris did the complete opposite of what he expected. He lifted an arm and said, “Get over here.”
“Yes,” Rory said under his breath, drawing the word out. He snuggled up to the warmth that was Kris.
Rory Stanton is such a sweet man who only finds himself hurt when helping an elderly neighbor decorate. He hesitates to have Kris watch over him while he recuperates because he knows he has feelings for Kris and doesn’t think there’s any chance of them being reciprocated. Rory can take care of himself and has worked through his childhood struggles with bullying but watching him lean into the care and comfort Kris provides was so sweet. Rory can’t put his past completely behind him and is shocked as his new found family of teammates fully embrace his creativity when it comes to painting wooden trains. Rory brought so many smiles to my face while reading because his charm was palpable.
“We should get going,” Rory whispered against Kris’s mouth, the taste of him making him light-headed. Good thing he was still leaning against the dresser.
“Mm-hmm.” Kris kissed him again, smiling into it, then brought him in for a hug. Oh god. This was comfort and familiarity and a sense of rightness and belonging that pulled sharply on old wounds. Rory buried his face in Kris’s shoulder and wanted to hang on forever.
Amy Aislin’s hockey world is one of those familiar places that just feel so good to go back to. Toronto’s team is filled with familiar faces from previous books that provide support to these MCs as they work their way through their careers as professional hockey players as well as their relationship. This book would be considered low angst from an action perspective but had plenty of emotional moments where you felt for both Kris and Rory.
4 stars for Rory and Kris finding comfort and love with a side of snuggles and waffles.
valerieullmerauthor's review against another edition
5.0
I absolutely loved both men in this book and how their HEA worked out. Rory, who is Kris' best friend's younger brother, has been on the same team for three years. While they aren't as close as Kris and Rory's brother, he learns Rory is a caring, helpful man who supports him during a not-so great time in his life and career. Rory is a ray of sunshine with deep emotions and a need to help others around him. Kris, while working on his post-career, comes to depend on Rory. The more he learns about the man, the harder he falls for him. The secondary characters are supportive and feel like family and add an additional sweetness to their story.This is a wonderful book about a friendship turning into more. Both men are sweethearts and I loved every word of this story. A great read!!
coffee_books_breathe's review against another edition
3.0
Such a sweet read. I love the best friend's brother trope. Rory and Kris were so sweet together. This was a fun and easy read.
jprody's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
mmromancereviewed's review against another edition
5.0
I love Rory and Kris together - this book is a slow burn, brother's best friend, secret crush trope and it works so well! Add in that they are both hockey players on the same team, roommates and that the whole thing is set in my hometown of Toronto and well...
read my full review here (and also see an excerpt from the book) http://www.mmromancereviewed.com/2021/10/two-man-team-by-amy-aislin-review.html
I received an ARC to facilitate my review
read my full review here (and also see an excerpt from the book) http://www.mmromancereviewed.com/2021/10/two-man-team-by-amy-aislin-review.html
I received an ARC to facilitate my review
blaireisrad's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
crookshanks_13's review against another edition
3.25
It was nice not a very slow burn but they it was a well rounded romance and I mean they are fluffy and cute Kris and Rory.