I'm sorry. I tried. But there's just no way I can finish this book. I have so many problems with it that I don't even know where to start.

Firstly, this book is obviously not finished. I know that because the copy I read from Kindle Unlimited explicitly said it was an ARC version. It's easy to tell because there's a ridiculous amount of grammar and spelling mistakes among other problems. A lot of characters get referred to by completely different names at some points. Maddox becomes Max, Leon becomes Lee (which is the name of the nephew), etc. It's distracting and annoying.

Secondly, there are so many inconsistencies and unbelievable deus-ex-machina plot points in the story. There's just no way that Jake got two owners to trade their star players who have been playing well just like that. It's just not possible. They didn't have no-trade clauses (which are very common for big players)? And their agents weren't even involved? One guy traded his "best player" because his sister asked him to? Absolutely the fuck not! Where are the investors in this? Surely, the NHL would step in at some point as this could ruin quite a few markets.

And the worst part is that it's an easy fix too! Jake has been into hockey for years, so the author could have made Maddox and Leon former superstars who are in a rut and have the Bellport Bears be their "last chance" before retirement. It would 1) force them to get along in a more organic way and 2) make narrative fucking sense.

Thirdly, the way this book handles Leon's attraction is, frankly, appalling. Leon is introduced as a guy who hasn't ever had feelings for a man and is vehement that he's "not gay". This in itself is not bad. I love a good gay/bi awakening trope. I've liked it in several books that I've read. The problem is that Leon goes from 0 to 100.

Once the team dinner/party happens at the Bellport Estate, it's like Leon and Maddox are magically drawn to Jake and each other. For no reason. There's absolutely zero build up to their attraction. Leon and Maddox literally have one (1) somewhat friendly interaction before this, where they agree to try to be friends. And in the next chapter, Leon volunteers to bottom for Maddox, a man he heavily disliked for most of their career. A man who he couldn't even admit his own attraction to. It's so completely unrealistic and weird. Just make Leon bi to start with like Maddox. There's no reason to shoehorn in the gay/bi awakening trope if you are going to drop it 20% of the way into your story.

Additionally, this book should not be advertised as the beginning of a new series. The author says you can read this as a standalone, but I very much disagree. You'll be missing a lot if you haven't read at least one of the related books (A Little Finn and Hear Me). Also, this last point is a minor gripe, but if you're going to make up cities (Bellport) and teams for other cities (Dallas Diamonds), at least use names that aren't taken by hockey teams in real life. The team in Winnipeg is called the Maple Leafs in this book, but in real life, there is a hockey team in Toronto called the Maple Leafs. Just use a different name!

All my points from my Hear Me review also stand. The author has absolutely zero fucking clue how hockey works. The author has a cheeky line in their "Dear Reader" note saying to ignore it, but I just can't. If you know nothing about hockey, don't write about it or do the research. Simple as that.

Personally, I don't think this book is worth anything in its current state. It needs heavy editing and review. If you're looking for a MMM DDLB book, look elsewhere. You have been warned.