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I had my translator app open the whole time I was reading! I didn’t want to miss a moment of the affections Bryce and Hunter shared
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I absolutely love Hunter and Bryce's sweet love story and really enjoyed both MC's and the side characters. The devotion and (platonic) love between teammates is showcased here, and I'm impressed by how realistic the hockey scenes are...Tal is apparently very familiar with ice hockey, and it shows! Can't say I was fond of my home team being villainized though ;)
My only issue with this story, is the (excessive?) use of French words...while I understand we're dealing with French Canadians, when the language is threaded along with English, it's *very* distracting. Several times I had to look up what certain terms meant and sometimes actually had to put entire sentences into a translator. Unfortunately, my 1 semester of French in high school didn't help much!
The spicy scenes are explicit but simply written, no kink, and not very detailed, just two young men falling in love and having first-time experiences with each other. I do like that they took time with their intimacy and built up to the main event.
An overall sweet bi/gay awakening story with a lot of greatly written sports scenes and a very sweet romance.
I would love to see an extra or novella detailing their trip to see both sets of parents/families!
My only issue with this story, is the (excessive?) use of French words...while I understand we're dealing with French Canadians, when the language is threaded along with English, it's *very* distracting. Several times I had to look up what certain terms meant and sometimes actually had to put entire sentences into a translator. Unfortunately, my 1 semester of French in high school didn't help much!
The spicy scenes are explicit but simply written, no kink, and not very detailed, just two young men falling in love and having first-time experiences with each other. I do like that they took time with their intimacy and built up to the main event.
An overall sweet bi/gay awakening story with a lot of greatly written sports scenes and a very sweet romance.
I would love to see an extra or novella detailing their trip to see both sets of parents/families!
So many feels 😭 I’ve read most of Tal Bauer’s books and they usually have so much emotion and depth - even the action packed ones. This book is no different and really had me all up in my feelings. I’d consider this more of a tender, slow-burn. It’s a hockey queer romance but I actually feel like hockey is more of a backdrop to the relationship. Hunter and Bryce were so vulnerable and their connection deep and I loved this so much.
emotional
funny
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I’ve read three of Tal Bauer’s standalone books, and they have been five stars every time. He writes relationships with such depth, as if he can truly see the ups and downs that make them great. You feel the emotions right from the very beginning. I loved how this story started — with Hunter meeting his hero at the All-Star Games — but it quickly grew into a genuine friendship between Bryce and Hunter as they were drawn to each other both on and off the ice. Bryce begins developing feelings for Hunter that he tries to suppress, leading to a kiss that causes a bit of heartbreak for both of them. But it’s not long before Hunter is transferred to Bryce’s team, helping to mend that heartbreak, as even his team could tell he was struggling after the All-Star Games. It takes a few game losses before Hunter and Bryce realize they both want to be in a relationship. From that point on, their relationship flourishes, and they create magic together on the ice. I loved the team dynamic — it truly felt like a family throughout the book. They stood strong through Bryce’s injury and never let any doubt creep in, always rooting for him to come back stronger and better. The joy, camaraderie, and love that Tal Bauer pours into this book were beautiful, and I enjoyed every moment of it.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
There is so much unnecessary description
So much French
I did not connect with them or their relationship
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Just...wow. I'm going to read everything Tal Bauer writes. The way I fell for the characters was amazing. He describes the scenery, the hockey games, and most importantly, the characters. Until the climax, I knew I was in love with Hunter and Bryce, but the pure attachement wasn't there until then. This is truly one of my top 5 MM romance novels. It really is all about the love. For each other, for the game, for their team. The faced many struggles, but when they got together: fireworks. I can't recommend this book enough. I read it on Kindle, but I'm buying the paperback too because I can't NOT have this in my collection. It will definitely be one I read again and again. And for all of you that don't like the third act break-up (I personally do), you will be happy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Blood, Medical trauma, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Cursing, Alcohol