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jambrea's review
4.0
The Hockey Player, The Professor and a Kink
This book pulled me in right away. I loved the beginning and the way the relationship built. Everything was a slow build up. The conflict was good and handled wonderfully. I really couldn't tell it was two people writing, which makes the read that much better!
I loved the ending as well. The supporting characters were great and fleshed out so I was happy to get to know them as well.
It was steamy and... wonderful. You should read it.
This book pulled me in right away. I loved the beginning and the way the relationship built. Everything was a slow build up. The conflict was good and handled wonderfully. I really couldn't tell it was two people writing, which makes the read that much better!
I loved the ending as well. The supporting characters were great and fleshed out so I was happy to get to know them as well.
It was steamy and... wonderful. You should read it.
tashas_books's review
3.0
2.5 stars
Good but nothing particularly special. It just didnโt have the same spark that Avon Galeโs other hockey books had.
Good but nothing particularly special. It just didnโt have the same spark that Avon Galeโs other hockey books had.
tmclain4's review
I don't remember why I stopped this book. I honestly don't really remember it.
bookish_notes's review
4.0
I have to say, I really love the Avon Gale and Piper Vaughn collaborations. First with Permanent Ink (another series) and now with Off the Ice. Tristan Holt is a realist and recognizes that he can't keep playing in the NHL for the Atlanta Venom forever. He doesn't want to spend the rest of his life after as an announcer on local TV. So, he decides that between seasons, he would take a couple classes towards his unfinished business degree. He catches the eye of the professor in his Sociology class, Sebastian Cruz. Sebastian is a non-tenured professor who immediately takes a disliking to Tristan. Sebastian thinks Tristan is hot, but will be a slacker in his class.
Sebastian is Puerto Rican and unapologetically out as a gay man. Whereas Tristan is gay, but has kept his sexuality a secret from everyone he knows, even his family. He doesn't want to be the first player out in the NHL, so he keeps himself pretty solidly locked in the closet.
I love the characters, and I love how the story came together. I was initially worried about this being a student-teacher romance (I'm just not into the trope at all when it comes to an imbalance of power), BUT nothing happens between Sebastian and Tristan for the semester Tristan takes Sebastian's class. Which, I'm glad for. There's some kink and I was not expecting it. This is also an age-gap romance with a...I want to say 12 year age difference? Sebastian and Tristan have a fiery hot chemistry and they're so much fun to read. It's not heavy on angst, but there's depth to the characters and is certainly more of a character-driven story.
Sebastian and Tristan are endearing and I wish that there was just more of this book. There's a few instances in the story that summarizes scenes that happens in order to move the story along, but I wouldn't have minded if all those scenes got a short or novella in the future? Like, where is this car hood scene? *looks pointedly at book* Or just their entire scene up at the cabin that gets condensed into one paragraph? I just want to selfishly ask for MOAR SEB AND TRIS. <3
I've read a few hockey books now, but still know next to nothing about hockey. I feel like this book does a good job of highlighting the game without getting too involved or technical and managed to keep me engaged as a reader. We do meet some very lovely and interesting secondary characters, who seem to be starring in their own books soon, and I can't wait to read their stories!
***Thanks to Judith at Binge On Books/A Novel Takes PR for the ARC as part of a bookstagram tour***
Sebastian is Puerto Rican and unapologetically out as a gay man. Whereas Tristan is gay, but has kept his sexuality a secret from everyone he knows, even his family. He doesn't want to be the first player out in the NHL, so he keeps himself pretty solidly locked in the closet.
I love the characters, and I love how the story came together. I was initially worried about this being a student-teacher romance (I'm just not into the trope at all when it comes to an imbalance of power), BUT nothing happens between Sebastian and Tristan for the semester Tristan takes Sebastian's class. Which, I'm glad for. There's some kink and I was not expecting it. This is also an age-gap romance with a...I want to say 12 year age difference? Sebastian and Tristan have a fiery hot chemistry and they're so much fun to read. It's not heavy on angst, but there's depth to the characters and is certainly more of a character-driven story.
Sebastian and Tristan are endearing and I wish that there was just more of this book. There's a few instances in the story that summarizes scenes that happens in order to move the story along, but I wouldn't have minded if all those scenes got a short or novella in the future? Like, where is this car hood scene? *looks pointedly at book* Or just their entire scene up at the cabin that gets condensed into one paragraph? I just want to selfishly ask for MOAR SEB AND TRIS. <3
I've read a few hockey books now, but still know next to nothing about hockey. I feel like this book does a good job of highlighting the game without getting too involved or technical and managed to keep me engaged as a reader. We do meet some very lovely and interesting secondary characters, who seem to be starring in their own books soon, and I can't wait to read their stories!
***Thanks to Judith at Binge On Books/A Novel Takes PR for the ARC as part of a bookstagram tour***
liza5326's review
4.0
This book had so much potential. I love sports books. Then throw in a little age gap, some light BDSM and I should have been in HEAVEN. And I did enjoy most of this book. But Sebastian came across as a hypocritical, sanctimonious ass at times with his demands. I understood where he was coming from, but he was still a hypocrite. Tristian was such a teddy bear of a hockey player and I loved his teammates, so I am eager to continue the series.
booked_moody's review against another edition
4.0
๐ ๐๐ฒ ๐๐ก๐จ๐ฎ๐ ๐ก๐ญ๐ฌ.
This is another one I chose based on the narrator and went into completely blind. Obviously, I knew it involved hockey from the title/cover but outside of that, zero details. And zero disappointment once I got into it.
I feel like this is my go to sentence but I loved Tristan and Sebastian! They're a, seemingly, unlikely pair. Not only in that Sebastian is Tristan's teacher but they're the definition of opposites attract. They work so well together though and I'm a big fan of the size difference + not playing the typical roles you'd expect.
Sometimes I struggle with sports romance bc I'm not a sports girlie in real life so it's very easy for me to get lost in the sportsball details. Especially because it usually seems to be written in a way that assumes the reader knows how all the sports things work. In this case, it's presented as a teaching moment for Sebastian who was every bit as clueless as I am - the fact that the lesson was tied into spicy time was just a great bonus. ๐ฎโ๐จ
It's not all surface level though. They're dealing with confronting their own biases, Tristan coming out to not only his family but his team, and Sebastian figuring how to navigate his coworkers - while also trying to figure out if the thing between them is worth it. (*Spoiler alert: It is*)
If you like spicy, low angst, character driven stories with the perfect sprinkle of kink then you should read this and tell me what you think!
robazizo's review
2.0
2.5 stars. Tristan was lovely, but I didn't like Sebastian, both because of his biased behaviour in the beginning and because of his insistence on Tristan coming out. I also didn't feel the chemistry between them aside from the sexual. And let's not even mention the face slapping... So far Avon Gale had been a really mixed bag for me. I DNF-ed the first book in her Scoring Chances series, liked the third one and loved the fourth one. This book was a dud again. I'll have to read the reviews before deciding to read the next one, although Ryu is cute so far.
jacqueleenthereadingqueen's review against another edition
Ok I went into this book with huge high hopes. I think that was my first problem. I had built up how much I would love it in my head from reading reviews and the blurb, also Avon Gale enough said.
Tristan is a pro hockey player and is also working towards his college degree. It's while hes attending summer classes that he meets Sebastian, the scowly and sexy professor. The two instantly attract each other, but nothing happens until grades are in and Tristan is no longer a student. Then all bets are off!
I liked the plot. I liked the two MCs. I even liked the side characters. The sex was definitely whoa. What I did not like was the humiliation kink. It just rubbed me the wrong way. I couldn't seem to shake it after a particular scene which involved .
The rest of the book was enjoyable. I do love me some angst. The few teammates close to Tristan who supported him were awesome. I look forward to their stories, especially a certain bisexual someone. Sebastian's best friend was also great. He was a genuine friend to Sebastian and gave him good advice. Tristan's family also gets an A+ in my grade book. Like I said, although some parts were not my cuppa the rest was a worthwhile read. 3.75 stars
Tristan is a pro hockey player and is also working towards his college degree. It's while hes attending summer classes that he meets Sebastian, the scowly and sexy professor. The two instantly attract each other, but nothing happens until grades are in and Tristan is no longer a student. Then all bets are off!
I liked the plot. I liked the two MCs. I even liked the side characters. The sex was definitely whoa. What I did not like was the humiliation kink. It just rubbed me the wrong way. I couldn't seem to shake it after a particular scene which involved
Spoiler
Sebastian repeatedly slapping Tristan across the faceThe rest of the book was enjoyable. I do love me some angst. The few teammates close to Tristan who supported him were awesome. I look forward to their stories, especially a certain bisexual someone. Sebastian's best friend was also great. He was a genuine friend to Sebastian and gave him good advice. Tristan's family also gets an A+ in my grade book. Like I said, although some parts were not my cuppa the rest was a worthwhile read. 3.75 stars