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jamieb_19's Reviews (273)
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
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
Wars have been fought for less than a smile like Max Kuemper’s.
Ever since a traumatic event marred his sophomore year, Max Kuemper has kept his focus on his classes and hockey and has tried to make himself as invisible as possible everywhere else. Then one night, his late-night walks led him to an all-night diner where he met Luke Kelly, the cute, flirty waiter. Luke takes an instant liking to Max, and Max can’t help but be drawn in by his confidence and charm. Luke is the first person Max lets in after keeping everyone at arm’s length for so long, but Max’s secret looms large between them. Max fears he’ll lose Luke if it ever comes to light, but he also underestimates Luke’s commitment to their burgeoning relationship. In fact, clearing the air may be just the thing Max needs to finally get on the road to healing.
“Hello, you.”
What an emotional roller coaster! Right from the prologue, this book was quite the journey. It deals with an extremely difficult subject, but in a sensitive and caring way. My heart hurt for Max. I wanted to wrap him up and never let anything bad happen to him ever again. The poor guy really went through it and was suffering so much; it hurt to see him that way. I loved Luke for him so much. His sunshiny demeanor and general persistence in pursuing something with Max were just what Max needed. I also loved that despite everything he’d been through, Max was open to getting involved with Luke and kept grasping at a chance at normality again.
It was a bumpy road, though, as Max’s trauma reared its head at unexpected times. Luke was so wonderful with him, though, caring and patient, he made Max feel safe, and it was beautiful seeing the trust build between them. I don’t think I’ve ever read sex scenes that were quite as emotional as the ones in this book. They were beautiful and healing and often brought tears to my eyes.
I know he doesn’t belong to me, but I can’t help but feel that if someone were to be created specifically for me, they’d look and act a whole lot like Luke.
What happened to Max and the subsequent journey was difficult at times and hurt my heart to read, but the overall story balanced the heavier times with lighter moments. The flirting and general lightheartedness that Luke brought to the table were a welcome reprieve from the heavy moments, and I was thankful for it. I loved these two together, and it was worth the hard times to get to see how far Max came by the end of the book. I only wish that we had an epilogue. I’d love to see what the future holds for these two!
I can’t believe I was lucky enough to stumble across Luke Kelly in a fucking all-night diner, and I really can’t believe I might be lucky enough to hold onto him.
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I’m trying to tell him that I thought about him the entire game, and felt like a better player because of it. It’s different, winning for someone other than yourself. I want him to know a lot of things that I’m incapable of putting into words.
This series is one I see everyone talking about, but it was just sitting on my TBR, and I’m so glad I finally started it! This book was delightful. I fell in love with Carter and Zeke from the first chapter, they were the perfect grumpy/sunshine, jock/nerd, opposites attract pair. I loved the slow burn and swooned like crazy as these two developed a friendship that turned to dating. They were just the sweetest together. Zeke was a little ball of sunshine, and Carter, who always put on a grumpy facade, was thoroughly charmed by him right away.
“I really like you, Carter Morgan. I like you more than I’ve ever liked anybody before.”
Carter pulled at my heartstrings; he came off as grumpy and aloof, but it was mostly a defense mechanism because he wasn’t shown much kindness in his life. Seeing how starved for affection he was and how he eagerly ate up any small kindness or affection that Zeke showed him was heartwarming. I melted every time Carter showed his vulnerable side to Zeke. These two really had the best relationship. On paper, it would look like they should never work, but they were perfect for one another.
I also appreciated and enjoyed the demisexual rep. Zeke was very up front about it, and Carter was so patient and wonderful with him as they gradually formed the emotional connection Zeke needed to develop a sexual attraction. As a result, this book was a very slow burn, but it was more than worth it, and I loved how everything played out. Their weekly friend dates were so much fun and so cute. The overall pacing was perfect and felt authentic for these characters!
There are a lot of things I could survive losing, but Zeke Cassidy isn’t one of them.
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was short and sweet. For as short as it was, there was kind of a lot going on. Elliot and Morgan were cute together though - supportive and very close best friends that begin to see each other in a new light after Morgan walks in on Elliot mid-hookup.
I listened to the audiobook and Iggy Toma and Kale Williams did nice jobs, as usual. And while this is a standalone, it was nice seeing some familiar faces from the other books in the series.
I listened to the audiobook and Iggy Toma and Kale Williams did nice jobs, as usual. And while this is a standalone, it was nice seeing some familiar faces from the other books in the series.
challenging
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It's my 5th time reading this book, it's safe to say I love everything about it!
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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
“Would you show me off?” Shane asked quietly. He could feel the heat of Ilya’s gaze even without looking.
“I would never stop showing you off,” Ilya said. “If I could.”
There’s something to be said about being late to the party. I only recently discovered Heated Rivalry, where Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov’s relationship first started, despite it being out for a few years now. But it ended up working out because I’m so glad I didn’t have to wait between that book and the continuation of their story in this book! I can imagine the wait was brutal for fans who read it in real-time. Shane and Ilya stole my heart in Heated Rivalry and I immediately dove into this book as soon as I finished that one because I just needed more of these two. This story was everything I could have hoped for, and more. Talk about all the feels! I was having a hard time coping with all the emotions this story drew out of me. I laughed, I cried, I swooned, and just fell even more in love with these characters. I highlighted so many parts of this story, I had to stop myself from pulling them all to put in this post! But I did include a few of my favorites that highlight just how in love these boys were!
“I am so glad I met you,” Ilya said quietly.
Shane’s heart clenched. It was such a simple statement, but it was so open and honest, and it instantly made Shane think of the flip side of those words.
What if they’d never met?
But they had, and they were perfect for each other in a way that probably only they would ever understand. Their relationship wasn’t easy, but it existed. They’d made it happen, against all odds, and they’d protected it.
This book picks up shortly after the ending of Heated Rivalry. Shane and Ilya are finally in a committed relationship and have taken the first steps in their plan to soften the blow to the hockey world when they eventually are able to go public with their relationship. They are head over heels in love and willing to play the long game if it means they’ll get to have a future together. Ok so maybe Shane is more committed to this plan than Ilya, Shane loves Ilya with all his heart but he also wants them to remain at the top of their games and knows that a scandal surrounding their love life will derail that. If it were up to Ilya, he’d shout his love for his boyfriend from the rooftops and let the whole world know, to hell with the consequences. Their end game is the same but their timelines are definitely out of sync - together they are going to have to figure out which is more important, hockey or their relationship.
He wasn’t sure, after years of being together, how he could still be surprised by the depths of what Ilya felt for him. By the plain, unguarded way Ilya would occasionally reveal what he held in his heart. Maybe English being Ilya’s second language made it harder to dress up his feelings with fancy words, but the raw honesty left Shane thunderstruck every time.
I’m just going to come out and say it - Ilya Romanov completely stole the show and my heart in this book. He’s notorious for being hockey’s bad boy. He’s cocky, a smart ass, loves to antagonize his opponents on (and off) the ice, but has the talent to back it all up. What we started to see in the later parts of the first book and what became abundantly clear in this book is that Ilya also has the biggest heart you’ll ever see and when he lets you in, he wears that heart right on his sleeve. He made so many changes and sacrifices to be with Shane but he never hesitated because he loved Shane and would literally do anything to protect what they had. My heart swells, even now, thinking of everything he did for the sake of their relationship. Some of the lines he came out with took my breath away. There was one line where I audibly gasped because it was just so lovely. Seeing him with Shane’s family and with his new friends, finally feeling like he has a family he really belongs to - it was incredibly touching. But we also see the dark side of all his sacrifices. He’s done so much to make sure Shane is protected and comfortable but being the only one sacrificing so much can end up being very lonely. And we see Ilya struggle with this a lot and it broke my heart. This man loved with his whole heart and was usually a larger-than-life personality so it was really sad seeing him struggling so much. But I loved how this aspect was handled.
There was no question how much Shane loved Ilya and how dedicated he was to their relationship but the fact that not much else in his life changed caused him to take certain things for granted and he didn’t always realize how difficult things were for Ilya. I got a little frustrated with him but I think it was realistic and understandable for him to not realize things weren’t quite right. But I will say, as soon as he figured it out, he was so apologetic and felt awful. It was never his intention to hurt Ilya, in fact, that was the last thing he ever wanted to do. They had so many things stacked against them but their love was unwavering and it filled my heart right up.
I loved seeing them so in love but I also loved that they still maintained that (friendly) rivalry and competitiveness. Plus their banter was still spot on. I think I laughed just as much as I swooned throughout this one. And don’t worry, they may be in a committed relationship now but the spark is certainly not gone. All that heat we’ve come to love from these characters was there in abundance and fit perfectly into the story.
There were so many other things I loved about this story, I could go on for paragraphs. But I’ll spare you. So far Shane and Ilya’s books are the only ones I’ve read from the series but after meeting more of the characters from the other books, I’m definitely going to be checking them out as well. Not only because I really liked what I saw from those characters but also because I’m hoping for some Shane and Ilya cameos. If this is truly the end for these boys, as sad as I am that it’s over, my heart is delighted with how things ended. It was a well-earned happily ever after. Selfishly, I hope that somewhere down the line we’ll maybe get a novella or a short story. Or maybe another bonus scene (I’ve already read all the bonuses on Rachel Reid’s website). Heck, I’d be happy with just a new sentence about these boys!
Ok wow, this has become a long rambling review now. Bottom line is, I loved these books and these boys. They’ve sky-rocketed up to my all-time favorites list. This is a story I won’t soon forget! If you were like me and hadn’t read either of these books yet, do yourself a favor and grab copies now!
“I’m sorry for basically everything I said. Like, so fucking sorry. I love you.”
“I know, moya lyubov.”
Shane grinned. “I know that one.”
“Ah,” Ilya said in mock despair, “then you know my secret.”
“That you love me?”
“That I am very mushy inside.”
Shane laughed. “I knew that too.”
He’d never expected to be so charmed by such an unrepentant goofball.
We’re back in the Game Changers universe and I’m still going all out of order on this series, I started with books 2 and 6 back-to-back (Heated Rivalry and The Long Game) and then jumped back to book 3 (Tough Guy). Most recently, I did a buddy read with a friend of mine for this one, Role Model, which is technically book 5 in the series. I do wonder what the experience would have been like if I went in order but I’ve been loving this series so much that it doesn’t really matter!
Given the order I happened to read them, I first met Troy Barrett in The Long Game and a lot of the timeline in that book overlaps with Role Model. My first impression of him was a decent guy who was troubled but was on the road to making changes. Then I went back and read Tough Guy, where Troy appears again but that book was set a few seasons earlier than this one and in that one Troy was a very different version of the character. He was (seemingly) not a good guy and was quite awful to Ryan Price in that book. It surprised me. In reading this book, I found it interesting to finally learn how he went from the awful guy in Tough Guy to the much nicer guy in The Long Game.
Of the books I’ve read so far, Shane and Ilya are still my #1 but Troy and Harris have claimed the #2 spot for now! Troy’s redemption arc was very well done. There were a lot of factors that went into why Troy chose to hide behind this asshole persona rather than out himself as a gay man - the biggest factors being his asshole father and the homophobia and toxic masculinity that’s so common throughout the NHL. But after Troy is traded for calling out his once best friend and teammate, Dallas Kent, over sexual abuse allegations made against him, he wants to try being a better person and maybe one day live his truth. His new team is the Ottowa Centaurs, the worst team in the league, which he isn’t thrilled about but getting to play with all-stars like Ilya Rozanov and Wyatt Hayes isn’t all bad. He thought he would hate it in Ottowa but his teammates and coach turned out to be a great group of guys. Then there’s the cute, cheery, and chatty social media manager Harris Drover. Troy is instantly drawn to Harris and starts finding any excuse to see him, even though he thinks Harris deserves someone far better than him. On paper, these men couldn’t be more different but you know what they say about how opposites attract.
First of all, what Troy did, calling out his ex-best friend and teammate on his gross behavior was admirable. It didn’t really earn him any favors as far as the league was concerned but he stood his ground and was determined to do what was right. I loved how his team/management supported him in this. One of the overarching themes of this series is challenging all the toxic behaviors that are common throughout professional hockey and I love that about these books. It’s hopeful and heartwarming and shows how things could be without being preachy.
I absolutely loved Troy and Harris together too. Harris was the definition of sunshine, his cheerfulness was infectious and it was no wonder Troy was so drawn to him. He was literally a light in Troy’s otherwise dark world. I think I would categorize this one as a slow burn. Troy was very much in the closet and dealt with a lot of internalized homophobia so as much as he wanted to make a move on Harris, it was a 1 step forward, 2 steps back situation. Harris, being the wonderful human being that he was, had so much patience with Troy and gave him the space he needed to figure things out while still being there to support him. Once they finally got together, though, it was equal parts tender and smoking hot! They were both so good for one another.
As I mentioned earlier, the timeline for this book and The Long Game was mostly the same so a lot of the scenes I knew from The Long Game in Ilya’s POV, I got to experience again from Troy’s POV which was fun. Plus we got loads of Ilya content in this one and I’ll never be sad about that! I love that guy so much. The ending of this book left me with tears in my eyes because it was such a powerful, moving, and beautiful way to wrap it all up. This whole series has just left my heart feeling so full, it’s quickly becoming an all-time favorite series for me! Next up, I’m finally going back to the beginning and will be reading Game Changer. Scott Hunter has appeared in all the books so far so I’m excited to go back and actually get his story. Stay tuned!
Ryan blinked. “We are not a good match.”
“Not at all. Want to make out?”
“Yeah. Bedroom?”
“Yes please.”
After I plowed through both of Shane and Ilya’s books (Heated Rivalry / The Long Game) I decided to go back and read the other books in the series because I just fell in love with this world. I’m borrowing the ebooks from the library so I’m just going to read them in whatever order they become available since I already went out of order with the first two I read. The first book to become available was this one about Ryan Price and Fabian Salah. Ryan appeared in both of the other books I read and in The Long Game he appeared with Fabian so I was at least a little familiar with them. As I read this book, I was delighted by their sweet, opposites-attract, love story!
On the ice, Ryan Price is an enforcer and is feared not only for his large size but for what he can do with his fists. Adding to his mystique amongst his fellow pro-hockey players is that he tends to stick to himself and has been traded all over the league. But off the ice, Ryan struggles with anxiety, body image issues, and some pretty debilitating fears. He knows what’s expected of him on the ice, and for the most part, he lives up to the expectations, but he’s grown to hate it and the toll it’s taking on his mind and body is getting harder to ignore. When he’s traded to Toronto and is, yet again, forced to start over he’s in a bad way mentally. That all changes one day when a chance meeting with an old friend sparks something in him that he hasn’t felt in thirteen years - when he last saw Fabian Salah. He was Ryan’s first crush when he had gone to live with Fabian’s family for a year back in high school but he never acted on the desire because, for one, he never imagined anyone as fabulous and confident as Fabian would ever be interested in someone like him and because they met at a time when Ryan was only just discovering his sexuality and would have never been bold enough to make a move. But it turns out Fabian also spent that year in their teens crushing on Ryan, despite his intense dislike of hockey players. And when they reconnect, all those old feelings come roaring back for both men. Can these two, who are opposite in pretty much every aspect, find the love they’ve always dreamt of?
“You don’t want to?” The scepticism was strong in Fabian’s voice.
“I do. I—you know I do. But you don’t want this. Trust me.” He opened his eyes, and saw Fabian’s affronted expression.
“If I didn’t want this, I wouldn’t be doing it.”
First off, Ryan Price was just the biggest, sweetest, teddy bear of a man. Known throughout the league for what he did with his fists, but off the ice, he couldn’t have been more different. His struggles with anxiety, the side effects of his medication, and his self-esteem issues just broke my heart. He was trying so hard to get better but he was really struggling. I just wanted to wrap him up in a giant hug and never let go. My heart squeezed every time he put himself out there or stepped outside his comfort zone. Even before things started up with Fabian, I loved seeing him become friends with Wyatt - who was a character I loved in The Long Game. He really needed that friendship and support from a teammate. Then, of course, there was the moment he reconnects with Fabian. From the get-go, Fabian was kind and welcoming, and I loved seeing Ryan come alive as their friendship developed. It was a bumpy road because brains are dumb and poor Ryan’s brain kept getting in the way. But what made their connection so special was how understanding and patient Fabian was with Ryan. He was so good at helping him through his hangups and doing whatever he could to ensure he was never uncomfortable when they were together. Ryan’s struggles never fully go away but when he was with Fabian he felt more at peace than he ever had. It really was lovely.
Ryan was a hulking, giant of a man and Fabian was the complete opposite - nearly a foot shorter, slim, and femme with his gender-bending fashion and makeup choices. I loved how unapologetically authentic Fabian was. He was fabulous and seeing how affected Ryan was whenever he was in his presence was super sexy. Ryan had a lot of hangups with his body and with sex while Fabian was very comfortable with his body and with sex - on paper they never should have worked. But Fabian was so wonderful at making sure Ryan was ok with whatever they were doing and he worked hard at showing Ryan just how attractive he was in Fabian’s eyes. They had a beautiful connection and communicated really well in these moments which made the sex scenes even hotter, in my opinion.
This story was not without angst. Ryan not feeling like he is good enough for Fabian and doubting a relationship could ever work between them. And Ryan’s growing displeasure with his career but not having a better alternative. Then, of course, Fabian’s complicated feelings toward the entire sport of hockey. All this combined to deliver a bit of angst along the way but fortunately, we aren’t left hanging for too long. I loved how everything ended up and I was giddy when the epilogue crossed over with the beginning of the events in The Long Game - any glimpse of Shane and Ilya is more than welcome! I’m excited to see which book becomes available next from the library, this has been such a great series so far!
“There’s always been something about you. I’ve always been drawn to you. Is that weird?”
Ryan considered it. “I don’t know. But I feel the same way.”
funny
fast-paced
This short story was so good! I haven't started The Long Game yet but after finishing Heated Rivalry, I'm desperate for any scraps I can get of Shane and Ilya. This little bonus story was Ilya in all his glory! Antagonizing Hayden while they hosted him and his wife for dinner cracked me up. And then afterward he was so sweet and tender with Shane and of course, we got a little spice thrown in as well. It was a lot of fun and a must-read if you've already finished Heated Rivalry!
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-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
Ilya couldn’t resist a bad idea.
And Shane Hollander was a bad fucking idea. The worst idea. Wrong in every way imaginable. Two men. Two NHL players, poised to be the two biggest stars in the league soon enough. Two bitter rivals on opposing teams that had hated each other for almost a hundred years.
I have seen this book talked about so much over on Instagram recently, even though it came out a few years ago now. I figured if people were still that passionate about these characters and this story after all this time, there must be a reason why. So I one-clicked and finally dove in. And let me tell you - I LOVED this book! I can understand the hype, Shane and Ilya and their enemies-to-lovers story was everything I hoped it to be! Do you want good banter? This one’s got it. Plenty of steam? Look no further. How about a cocky Russian hero who will make you swoon? Ilya Rozanov has got you covered.
I’m going to spare the recap on this one. The quote at the start of this post basically covers it, but check out the blurb if you wanted more details. Heated Rivalry was the perfect title for this book because that’s exactly the dynamic between Shane and Ilya, even if it was mainly manufactured by the league, it was legendary and made whatever was happening between them behind closed doors a really bad idea. If anyone caught wind that these guys were hooking up, it would ruin both of them and probably be the biggest scandal to ever hit the NHL. The way this rivalry was written was perfect, there was no doubt about how high the stakes were for both men. And the hopelessness they both feel over the possibility of any sort of future will tug at your heart.
The first half of this book was good, loved the push and pull between Shane and Ilya. Their sexual chemistry was off the charts which was evident by the fact that neither one could bring themselves to call off their little arrangement over the years, despite the risks and impossibility of it all. But for much of the first half of the book, it’s not clear if either one actually liked the other. If you look closely, though, you see little hints here and there that they may have actual feelings. These little things start adding up (ginger ale, anyone??? Swoon!) and then really come to a head about halfway through and the second half of the book is amazing! I think we got to see the vulnerable side of Shane through much of the book but once Ilya’s vulnerabilities start to come out later in the story, I was a goner. He was the sweetest, while still being the same playful, cocky guy we’ve come to know and love through the earlier chapters. I love that even when things started to get serious between them, we still got the banter and rivalry they were known for.
I also loved Shane, he was just too precious! His life and upbringing couldn’t have been more opposite from Ilya’s but I think his innocence and nice guy persona were a perfect balance for Ilya’s bad boy reputation. I enjoyed Shane’s journey to figuring out his sexuality too. I thought that was really well done and was really sweet. The scene later in the book where his parents find out was both touching and hilarious - loved it!
I’m so glad that there is a sequel for these guys because I’m not ready to let them go quite yet. This story has an HFN ending but I’m very much looking forward to diving into the sequel to see these boys finally have their HEA!!! If you enjoy M/M romance, especially hockey ones, and haven’t met Shane Hollander and Ilya Rozanov yet - don’t wait!
“Have you been... thinking about this?”
Rozanov gave a crooked grin and shrugged. “I like trouble.”
Shane laughed. “Well, I think we’ve found it.”
Adorable little bonus epilogue for Scott and Kip. Loved seeing Scott get his first proper Christmas with Kip's family.