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toddles 's review for:
Zone Entry
by Maia Kinley
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
tense
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:
Yes
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶🌶🌶
I received an E-book ARC edition of this novel in exchange for an honest review. It is Book One of Maia Kinley's Camrose U Series. It will be available Match 25th on Amazon & Kindle Unlimited:
https://www.amzn.com/B0DLTFFP6J
This is fast-paced 314-page Opposites Attract, Bi-Awakening, Hate-to-Lovers MM Romance. Taking place at Camrose University college campus, Nick who is a ‘Golden Boy' and happy-go-lucky attitude, love hockey and his friends. He's always on the brightside, even if something goes wrong. Until he finds out that not only is he getting a new hockey teammate, but he will also be his roommate. Caleb, the coaches nephew, transfers in for his last year of college to be closer to family. But right off the bat, he rubs everyone the wrong way with his cocky attitude and mouthy and verbal taunts. Both guys are super skilled on the ice, and with one of them already been drafted for the NHL.
--How can a single person have that big of an impact on me?--
Written in alternating chapters duel POV and broken down in Month timeline sections, this novel starts at the beginning of the school year with everyone getting back in the swing of things. Starting off at a party where everything goes to shit for Nick, it only gets worse at his first hockey practice of the season when he’s told to help the new guy get acclimated. But attitude, irritation, and tension sky rocket when Caleb appears. He has a reputation, and it’s not great. Caleb can’t stand Nick with his sensitive soul and ‘creepy' smile. They get competitive on and off the ice, which ends up bringing them closer.
--Note to self: Next time I want Caleb to shut up, all I need to do is grip his throat.--
When Nick finds out the real reason for Caleb’s transfer, he can’t stop himself or his heart. But Nick has his own insecurities. When Caleb witnesses how he is already his family and questions everything about Nick's life choices, everything skurts to a stop. Nick can’t go pro and is forcing himself to come to terms with spending his life in an office with his father because he feels like he has no choice. He is a people pleaser and feels indebted to him for the life he was given and just doesn’t want to be a burden.
--I’m obsessed with him, maybe.--
Their character development was phenomenal! They both grow so much as individuals but also together as a couple. Their Ups & Downs was like a car with acceleration and brake problems at the same time, which in turn added so much meat to the plot. Each going through their own problems but being there for each others childhood anguishes added to their chemistry and made them human. You really connected with both of them even though they are so different from each other.
--…sometimes, I stare at him and wonder what it would be like to touch him? If I could make him make the same sounds he did, that night I saw him with someone else?--
The spice gave me heat stroke. 4/5🌶! Their intensity and connection gave them sweet intimacy. The tease at the beginning was THICK! But once it got going, it broke my barriers. It was edgy, wanting, possessive, and with a dash of jealousy. And one scene giving gay *orn inspiration. There was also a piercing k!nk that we don’t see often that really heightened their bodily responses.
--My hands fly up to his sides, and I swear I see stars.--
The ensemble was written soooooo well!!! The dialogue was spunky with multiple reveal bombs that make you say ‘f*ck!’ out loud. This really set up the entire series. Every character is fleshed out perfectly with enough to hold you until their own book in the series but didn’t take away focus from our MCs. All the characters' personalities are great and hilarious. Their connection and friendships are special. As you read, you learn more about each person. They are a diverse group from their different orientations to financial class. The hockey scenes were not skipped over and were written with great detail, so you can visually see it in your mind. Schultz was my MVP! He was hilarious. Every time he appeared, I couldn’t wait to see what he would say or do. Especially once Maddox arrived on the scene (hint hint). The third book was also teased with Nick's bestie Rhys taking center stage. The tropes of each book were also teased, which was really cool how Maia wrote that into the plot already. I also hope we will get a prequel in the future because I wanna know more about Coach Holland!
It does end with some missing detail that you wish we got, BUT we will most likely get in the upcoming novels. Even though their story ends doesn’t mean it’s done. That’s the beauty of how Maia wrote the format of the book. She makes you want to keep reading and begging for more.
💜HAPPY READING 🫶
**Personal Note: My 1000th Book Read!
🌶🌶🌶🌶
I received an E-book ARC edition of this novel in exchange for an honest review. It is Book One of Maia Kinley's Camrose U Series. It will be available Match 25th on Amazon & Kindle Unlimited:
https://www.amzn.com/B0DLTFFP6J
This is fast-paced 314-page Opposites Attract, Bi-Awakening, Hate-to-Lovers MM Romance. Taking place at Camrose University college campus, Nick who is a ‘Golden Boy' and happy-go-lucky attitude, love hockey and his friends. He's always on the brightside, even if something goes wrong. Until he finds out that not only is he getting a new hockey teammate, but he will also be his roommate. Caleb, the coaches nephew, transfers in for his last year of college to be closer to family. But right off the bat, he rubs everyone the wrong way with his cocky attitude and mouthy and verbal taunts. Both guys are super skilled on the ice, and with one of them already been drafted for the NHL.
--How can a single person have that big of an impact on me?--
Written in alternating chapters duel POV and broken down in Month timeline sections, this novel starts at the beginning of the school year with everyone getting back in the swing of things. Starting off at a party where everything goes to shit for Nick, it only gets worse at his first hockey practice of the season when he’s told to help the new guy get acclimated. But attitude, irritation, and tension sky rocket when Caleb appears. He has a reputation, and it’s not great. Caleb can’t stand Nick with his sensitive soul and ‘creepy' smile. They get competitive on and off the ice, which ends up bringing them closer.
--Note to self: Next time I want Caleb to shut up, all I need to do is grip his throat.--
When Nick finds out the real reason for Caleb’s transfer, he can’t stop himself or his heart. But Nick has his own insecurities. When Caleb witnesses how he is already his family and questions everything about Nick's life choices, everything skurts to a stop. Nick can’t go pro and is forcing himself to come to terms with spending his life in an office with his father because he feels like he has no choice. He is a people pleaser and feels indebted to him for the life he was given and just doesn’t want to be a burden.
--I’m obsessed with him, maybe.--
Their character development was phenomenal! They both grow so much as individuals but also together as a couple. Their Ups & Downs was like a car with acceleration and brake problems at the same time, which in turn added so much meat to the plot. Each going through their own problems but being there for each others childhood anguishes added to their chemistry and made them human. You really connected with both of them even though they are so different from each other.
--…sometimes, I stare at him and wonder what it would be like to touch him? If I could make him make the same sounds he did, that night I saw him with someone else?--
The spice gave me heat stroke. 4/5🌶! Their intensity and connection gave them sweet intimacy. The tease at the beginning was THICK! But once it got going, it broke my barriers. It was edgy, wanting, possessive, and with a dash of jealousy. And one scene giving gay *orn inspiration. There was also a piercing k!nk that we don’t see often that really heightened their bodily responses.
--My hands fly up to his sides, and I swear I see stars.--
The ensemble was written soooooo well!!! The dialogue was spunky with multiple reveal bombs that make you say ‘f*ck!’ out loud. This really set up the entire series. Every character is fleshed out perfectly with enough to hold you until their own book in the series but didn’t take away focus from our MCs. All the characters' personalities are great and hilarious. Their connection and friendships are special. As you read, you learn more about each person. They are a diverse group from their different orientations to financial class. The hockey scenes were not skipped over and were written with great detail, so you can visually see it in your mind. Schultz was my MVP! He was hilarious. Every time he appeared, I couldn’t wait to see what he would say or do. Especially once Maddox arrived on the scene (hint hint). The third book was also teased with Nick's bestie Rhys taking center stage. The tropes of each book were also teased, which was really cool how Maia wrote that into the plot already. I also hope we will get a prequel in the future because I wanna know more about Coach Holland!
It does end with some missing detail that you wish we got, BUT we will most likely get in the upcoming novels. Even though their story ends doesn’t mean it’s done. That’s the beauty of how Maia wrote the format of the book. She makes you want to keep reading and begging for more.
💜HAPPY READING 🫶
**Personal Note: My 1000th Book Read!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Sexual content
Minor: Infidelity, Mental illness, Death of parent