jamieb_19's Reviews (252)

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.

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!

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. 

It's my 5th time reading this book, it's safe to say I love everything about it!

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!

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.

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!

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?

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!

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!

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!

Adorable little bonus epilogue for Scott and Kip. Loved seeing Scott get his first proper Christmas with Kip's family.

The time has come - I finally made it back to the first book in the Game Changers series to see how it all started! Of course, I was well aware of who Scott Hunter was and how important he was for all the stories that came after his but I quickly learned that the Scott Hunter I created in my head based on the other guys’ perception of him was very different than the Scott Hunter I got to know during this story. More on that later (hint: he was way better than I ever imagined!) but I thought this was just the sweetest story, Scott and Kip were so cute together and I really enjoyed seeing where it all started.

Scott Hunter is the well-respected captain of the New York Admirals. He’s a great leader, well respected, and values his privacy. He’s also one of the biggest stars in the league so when he’s in the mid-season slump, people start to notice. On a whim, he pops into a local juice bar for a post-run smoothie to try and mix things up. When he ends up having a great game that evening, he thinks there must be some magic in that smoothie and returns the next day. But maybe it isn’t the smoothie but rather the cute barista, Kip Grady, who makes them for him that’s the good luck charm. Scott finds himself uncharacteristically pursuing Kip, drawn to him like he’s never been drawn to anyone else before. Kip can’t believe that someone as famous and attractive as Scott Hunter would ever want to take up with a juice bar barista like him but he’s not about to say no. The men quickly fall for one another and Scott can’t imagine his life without Kip in it but he’s not out and has spent his entire career hiding his sexuality since the NHL isn’t a historically welcoming place for a gay man. Kip is all in with Scott and willing to let Scott dictate the timing of their relationship going public but as time wears on, the loneliness and stress of a secret relationship wear on Kip, and Scott is left having to make a decision that will change both of their lives forever.

If you’ve followed any of my other reviews on this series, you know that I’ve gone completely out of order. I knew the climax of Scott’s book already because it’s mentioned in the others. Specifically in Heated Rivalry when Shane and Ilya witness Scott’s grand gesture and it’s a moment that really changes the trajectory of their relationship. Aside from that, all I knew of Scott was that so many of the other players tease him for being old and boring. Based on that, I was expecting someone serious and not someone who would fall head over heels so easily. But from the first time he walked into the juice bar and was all smiles for Kip, I knew I was very wrong about him. He was a total softie and had such a lovely heart. He may have come off as stoic to everyone else because he kept that side of him locked down so that no one could figure out he wasn’t straight. My heart ached for him over how truly lonely he was before Kip came into his life. He wanted so badly to give Kip the world but there was a lot on the line if the world found out and it took him a long time to find the courage to go public.

I never had a doubt how much Kip felt for Scott, he truly loved him, and I thought that his reactions to having to stay a secret and his feelings of inadequacy based on their very different social/financial statuses were valid and well depicted. There wasn’t any weird drama or miscommunication between these two but the very nature of their relationship provided enough angst all on its own. When they were in their little bubble of Scott’s apartment, things were so good. They had a lot of chemistry and there was no shortage of spice in this one! But it’ll tug at your heart how badly they both wished things could be different without knowing exactly how to make that happen. As I said earlier, I knew how it would all turn out based on the other books, but I still loved reading about it.

This book is very appropriately named, Scott was certainly a game-changer. I know this is a fictional universe and fictional characters but reflecting back you realize how important his coming out was for everyone who came after him. He opened the door for all those other guys to live their truth. I loved seeing in the other books how the other guys, each in their own way, reached out to sort of thank Scott for being brave enough to do that (even if they didn’t let him know at the time why it was so important to them). It was also fun seeing the world’s introduction to Ilya Rozanov! Since I read his book(s) first, he’s already won my heart but had I read this first, I would have been very intrigued to learn more about him!!

Anyway, I can’t believe I’ve only got one book left before I’m done with this series! I’ll be sad to see it go and I’m hopeful we’ll get more books someday. Eric Bennett is last up and I look forward to reading that one after meeting both him and Kyle in this one!