Something to Prove is another lovely sports college romance in Lane Hayesā Smithton Bears series, a sequel to the heartwarming older hockey romance series I adore, The Elmwood Stories- Small Town stories.
Same area as Elmwood but focuses on college hockey and college atmosphere with its situations, mostly. I enjoyed the flow from the first novel into this book, the use of characters and that pivotal plot to make these characters have their own dramatic moments.
Ty and Walker are both very relatable and engaging characters. Ty especially has a well written and fleshed out family and foundation as well as hockey team that grounds him realistically.
Walker has a background that makes him a more isolated person. A person whoās been raised by his uncle and his aunt, who donāt live locally, there isnāt much other than the occasional showing of a side character, Robin, to give him the full picture details that Ty has been crafted with. What gives Walker life are the moments when he (and Ty) share while interacting for Walkerās show. Love the warmth and funny energy that Hayes brings to this.
The ending is so satisfying and one that the reader can instantly picture. And the epilogue is a great way to see the couple in their lives, happily moving forward.
Another terrific story in this ongoing series. A winner!
Cover Design by Reese Dante
Smithton Bears – Small-Town, College Hockey Series
The hockey star, the influencer, and the deal of a lifetime.
Ty
Iām going to the pros, baby! Deal made, contract signed. Now all I have to do is finish out my final season at Smithton and stay out of trouble. I like to have a good time, but donāt worry, Iāll behave.
What I wonāt do is talk to that double-crossing influencer whoās been badgering me for an interview. No thanks.
I know Walkerās typeāsweet as pie on the outside, a shark on the inside.
Get thisā¦he wants to make a deal that sounds a lot like a bribe.
Not interested. No way.
But I am curious.
Walker
Iāve never worked so hard for an interview in my life. Ugh!
Look, I get that Ty doesnāt like me. As inā¦he wonāt return my calls and avoids me like the plague on campus.
Too bad. Iām not giving up.
I donāt want to beg, but Iām willing to barter. Every man has his priceāand something to prove.
Even Ty.
Something to Prove is a low-angst, geek-jock MM bisexual college hockey romance featuring a hockey star and the adorkable influencer whoās determined to win him overā¦
Man Advantage by L.A. Witt was a sweet trans m/m hockey romance from an author who writes excellent sports stories. I did enjoy the second chance, friends reunited elements here as well as the twins who figure greatly in this story.
The boys are well imagined children, believable at their ages and interactions with their parents and adults around them.
And Wittās hockey team and locker room dynamics are all real and grounded in the sports world and teamwork. Just a great example of Wittās understanding of hockey and how a teamās character unique culture works.
The romance was good and I enjoyed Camās and Trevās relationship although some aspects of it, especially those that were a part of their resolution of their issues didnāt make sense to me. And the way all the problems with Trevās ex started getting smoothed over with one āclearing the air ā semi-fight? Way too easy for all the obstacles that were involved here.
But it was made clear that therapy was needed and included for all of them, letting them move forward as a mixed family. Which was lovely.
I enjoyed this, and while not a favorite of Wittās hockey books, itās entertaining and sweet. Iām recommending it for everyone who wants a good romance story.
Trev Allen and his ex-husband had an amicable joint custody arrangement. During the hockey season, his ex took the twins whenever Trevās team was on the road. Easy peasy.
But now, just two weeks before training camp, Trevās ex gives him an ultimatumālock down reliable, full-time childcare for Trevās custody weeks before the start of the season, or his ex is pursuing full custody.
Trevās in a panic to keep his kids, but as luck would have it, an old friendāand old flameāis also in a jam.
Cam Wrightās ex didnāt just cheat, he kicked Cam out andgot him fired. Camās desperate and flailingā¦ until he receives a message from a man he hasnāt seen in years. Now he has hope of getting back on his feet, not to mention reconnecting with his friend and first love.
Camās not prepared for how much Trev has glowed up. Trev is stunned by how kind time and a fitness career have been to Cam. The intense attraction is both instantaneous and hotter than ever; living together, itās only a matter of time before passion ignites.
But Cam is depending on Trev for stability. Trev is depending on Cam to keep joint custody of his kids. Like it or not, they need each other.
Which means if they stop wanting each other, their lives could come unraveled.
Man Advantage is a 99,000-word standalone Trans M/M hockey romance.
If you loved The Elmwood Stories then the Smithton Bear is just your thing. One-Time Shot: MM Small-Town College Hockey Romance (Smithton Bears Book 1) by Lane Hayes is such an adorable romance.
The two main characters are an absolute delight to read and I easily read this in one evening.
Jett, the college hockey player is layered, finding his year challenging, and his life full of unexpected stumbles. Malcolm, the science major who has a thesis and needs Jettās help to complete it, is fully realized and relatable. Heās so cute.
Together they are funny believable duo, learning from each other, walking around, figuring things out, within the context of their social groups and sports influence.
Hayes makes these two young men very honest and real in their issues and how they find their way to overcome the obstacles between them.
My pro hockey dreams are hanging by a thread. I need to have a great season and that means no partying, no distractions, no fun. The grad studentās science experiment is the definition of no fun, soā¦okay.
Pros and cons of agreeing to this deal:
Pros: Positive use of free time. (At least thatās what my agent says.)
Cons: Malcolm is bossy, clumsy, and he doesnāt know the first thing about hockey.
But heās also cute and heās got a great sense of humor andāoh no.
I cannot have a crush on the geek. No way. Not now.
Malcolm
Yes, Iām a serious student, but a hockey project is not serious. Who cares about big hunky hockey players zipping around a sheet of ice at warp speed? Not I.
However, according to my professor, the only way to attain the required data is to study the specimen in his natural habitat, AKA, the ice rink.
Pros: My thesis should lead to a bevy of job offers.
Cons: Jett. Heās impossibly big and gruff and handsome and disarmingly charming andā
Fine. Guilty. I like the jockā¦perhaps too much.
Lately, I find myself wondering if thereās such a thing as a one-time shot at forever.
One-Time Shot is a low-angst, geek-jock MM bisexual college hockey romance featuring a charismatic hockey star and an adorkable scientist.
Speed (Railers Legacy Book 1) by RJ Scott and V.L. Locey continues the Harrisburg Railers Hockey Team multi-series universe with a new addition, Railers Legacy. Once again, we see a character who the readers have become familiar with and love now grown up and preparing to play for the team his family played for.
Itās Noah Gunnarsson, son of the fabulous characters and NHL players, Eric Lyamin-Gunnarsson and husband, Stan Lyamin-Gunnarsson , still gloriously happy, retired with grown children and a house full of animals.
Noah, we see him selected at draft time, and then later when itās time for the rookies to show up and prepare to play.
Iāll say I wish there was more ice time and locker room dynamic. That makes a hockey team and a realistic romantic story. And these authors write great hockey. But itās downplayed so Noahās diabetes can become a stronger element, which it is. From Noah regulating the insulin and diet to his health regimen as an athlete and the factors that affect his performance as a diabetic. It makes Noah an extremely effective character and folds his diabetes in as a important factor.
Noah, and family are a great aspect of the story and come with an established fan base, because honestly, Stan? Still my favorite.
Brody and his multitude of issues donāt get that same energy or feel of being as well explored or resolved here. Heās got a controlling, abusive grandfather, severe medical problems, bi-awakening, fear of loss of control and direction. And his passion for driving and as a ex F1 driver? Not really established except for the beginning part of the book. The rest is verbiage.
For him to be a completely realized person, there should be more foundation to that race car driver essence of him. Instead the focus switches to his sexuality. Brody becomes instantly obsessed with a man he kisses on the ādownlowā, Noah. Someone he tracks down, āstalksā until heās part of an instant love story.A romance that has elements of ābisexual awakening ā, ācoming outā and immediate almost overnight partnership, tossed into his and their relationship that reads so quickly done that youāll be blinking and wondering where the foundation is.
And the controlling, threatening grandfather just disappears completely here.
The story ends with a number of things unresolved in the story and relationship, and a clear picture of the next couple coming forward.
I was really happy to see Eric, Stan and some of the other people who Iāve known in my series show up. Noah is just lovely.
Read it for the connection to Stan and Eric, and the Railers. And this family as they were in the old novels.
Cover design by Meredith Russell, Edited by Sue Laybournā
Hockey is as natural as breathing for Noah Gunnarsson. Growing up with two famous hockey stars as his dads, Noah has always aspired to join the Railers to continue the Lyamin-Gunnarsson legacy. With his degree done, itās time to live that dream; the first step is getting a spot on the team his dads played for. The second step is to pull on that dusky blue-gray sweater and make his fathers proud. His rookie year is bound to be a season of incredible highs and lows, but one of the biggest highlights is meeting Brody Vance at a fundraiser. Brody is the living epitome of a bad boy hiding his pain behind a devil-may-care attitude. As Noah struggles to keep one eye on the puck and not on Brody, itās only a matter of time before love collides with sport in a chaotic splash of media attention.
Racing driver Brody Vance has spent his life chasing speed and glory and is only points away from his first world championship when a devastating crash ends his season. Determined to make a triumphant comeback, Brody is blindsided by a diagnosis that forces him off the track for good. With his world flipped upside down, and family and fans questioning why he left, Brody hides his pain by pushing the limits and refusing to let anyone see the cracks. But after a chance meeting with a sweet, sexy hockey player turns into an unforgettable one-night stand, fate keeps putting Noah in his path. With his heart on the line and his body racing against time,
Brody must decide if heās willing to risk it all for loveāor if heāll let fear and pride leave him in the dust. Speed is a steamy M/ M romance with a hockey rookie living his family legacy, a bad-boy racing driver with secrets, media attention that would break even the strongest of men, an unforgettable one-night stand, a love that means risking it all, and a hard-won happy ever after.ā
Possessive Puckboy is Connor Kikishkinās redemption story. Heās been a secondary character to his brothers books and a problematic one at that. One of the four Kiki hockey players, Connorās the one who has been the most controlling of his brothers lives, personal and professional. Heās come off as a bully and a bit of a homophobe.
It got to the point in the last book that his brother, Easton and his best friend, Knox, hid their relationship and Easton who plays on the same NHL team, Colorado, now wants a transfer out.
The beginning of Possessive Puckboy has a man who was horribly bullied in the same high school as the Kiki siblings by the football players buying the hockey team.
This is a true enemy to lovers, reformed bully, secret relationship, bi-awakening journey story. Thereās even more elements here packed into dense emotional baggage stated above. Deep family expectations, self awareness and realization, and one thing I thought should have been talked about more clearly, rage management.
But there was already a lot narratively on the table here for the authors to explore with their characters.
The relationship between gay IT billionaire/owner Parker Duchene, the man who was horribly bullied in high school, and the straight Connor Kikishkin, the jock who stood by and did nothing, is a very engaging one. Itās tough, hilarious in parts, emotional and smartly executed.
Connor is a mess. So to have him immediately improve is unlikely. And he doesnāt.
It messes with his head as well as his game. And his other relationships and team dynamics. As it should.
Parker too is slow to find his way as an owner, making plenty of mistakes.
All those aspects of the story really work together to bring a believable sense of a growing relationship.
What I missed was the authors exploring how Connor reached the stage where he was so rigid in his own life and outlook that he was drowning in it. That the lack of empathy and communication between him and his family, his parents who pushed him into the role and kept him there, and his siblings who didnāt talk to him enough to make him understand, none of that is really covered.
Instead itās a quick conversation and done. Which really removes an entire accountability and aspect of reality to his own redemption arc.
Anyway I enjoyed this, and itās onto Stubborn Puckboy , where a certain new Russian character we just met gets his own romance. Iām looking forward to seeing more of him!
Finding out those closest to me donāt see me as the great guy I think I am not only kicks me in the gut, it makes me question everything.
Until that happened, I didnāt think I had many regrets in my life. Now, I have nothing but regrets. And when my NHL team is bought out, and the new owner makes his presence known, my existential crisis kicks up a notch. Because he might be my biggest regret of all.
Parker Duchene.
I made his life a living hell in high school, and now heās inserting himself into my career to repay the favor.
With everything in my personal life already on the line, I canāt risk hockey too. I need to figure out a way to play nice with the new owner.
Parker
I bought Coloradoās NHL team to honor my late father. I did. Only reason.
Emotionally playing with one of my many high school tormentors is a nice bonus though.
Connor Kikishkin may be the one who made me the target for years of name-calling, but Iāve always wondered if my hatred for him bordered too much on the obsessive side to truly be classified as hate.
Infatuation is probably the right word for it.
Now his whole life is in my hands, and I canāt wait to see him beg for my mercy. Seeing Mr. Popular find his humility will definitely ease the grief from losing my dad ā¦ right? Because right now, thatās all I have, and I need to hold on to it so I donāt crumble.
Itās fitting that Lane Hayes brings her heartwarming series, The Elmwood Stories, to a close with one of the boys who we met in the earlier books.
Now grown and playing in the NHL, Jake Milligan is one of the boys we met from the first Elmwood junior hockey camp, and along with Denny Mellon, whoās been a character weāve watched as their parents got their own romances in the early books.
So itās perfect that the series finale will have Jakeās own story and we get to see many other familiar faces in this book as Jakeās enemies to lovers story unfolds.
The āenemyā is hockey arch rival Mason Trinsky, a trash talking, exuberant player who has made their rivalry a media firestorm to Jakeās chagrin.
Elmwoodās Junior Hockey Camp is now a huge success, with famous players participating as coaches and thatās how both Trinsky and Jake end up as partners for a camp weekend.
Itās a terrific story that Lane manages to bring together elements of bi awakening, Trinkyās family members with special needs as well as his motherās history of addiction and recovery. That balances so well with the fears and need for control of Jakeās upbringing.
But we get juicy, sexy scenes of discovery, great characters, hockey, adorable kids in Eddie, Nathan, Ella and Charlotte. Truly a fabulous heartwarming story of love , family and finding your forever home.
Elmwood and its magical, small town places hold a special place in my heart. I know that Iāll be revisiting it and itās love stories.
Lane is going to bring us a new series based in the neighboring town, Wood Hollow, and hopefully we will see some crossovers in characters. Vermontās fictional Four Forest area has so much to offer and more towns to explore.
A highly recommended and heartwarming sendoff of a fantastic series. I love it. Read them in order and fall in love with this town and its people.
Favorite things and peeps: hockey, family, friends.
Least favorite person in the entire history of the universe: Mason Trinsky.
I have my reasons, but since youāre curious, Trinsky is a showboat and a loudmouth. Sure, heās a great athlete. Good for him. I accept that we have mutual friends, and I grudgingly accept that heāll be a coach at w this summerāhowever, I plan to keep my distance.
Of course, some wise guy pairs us up for a camping expedition, and everything that can go wrong does go wrong.
Guess who Iām stuck with?
Trinsky
Favorite things and peeps: hockey, surfing, and my kid brother
Least favorite person in the entire history of the universe: Jake Milligan
Look, I might be in the minority, but if you ask me, Jake is a nitpicking diva who wants everything his way. I hope my NHL team crushes his, and this summer, I want my campers to out-prank his. Childish? Nah, itās all in good fun.
Until it starts to feelā¦complicated. I shouldnāt care if heās happy, should I? I donāt want to be Jakeās friend. I donāt want to have feelings for him at all.
The only thing that matters is hockey. It’s all about the puck. Not love.
Or is it?
Puck Love is an MM bisexual, small-town romance featuring hockeyās hottest rivals, a hiking trip gone wrong, and a shot at foreverā¦
Making Best of Lists has always been problematic for me, especially when it comes to books and series. Thatās such a broad range of categories, tropes, themes, and spectrums of characters to whittle it down to a favorable few for such a long time period.
Thereās so much I love about many genres and read so different tropes and authors, so many characters and stories that to reflect and refine them down to those that I have taken to heart during this year is close to impossible.
I always forget about the ones early on in the year or even smaller series that had a couple of books to them instead of an ongoing collection. And this year Iām adding some books I have found so beautiful and memorable but not necessarily that fall under the LGBT umbrella. Iām including them in my year in lists here because they are now forever comfort reads or books that will remain near my bedside for re-reading.
Among them is the magnificently written novel, The Women by Kristin Hannah, along with a fantastic dragonrider series that has some LGBT characters but not the main characters. Thatās The Empyrean series by Rebecca Yarros. And a book that I read and then immediately read again, as it resonates with me so. Thatās the incredible Whiskey and Warfare: The Team Huntress Flights by E. M. Hamill.
Then there are series that had finale stories and series that have just begun. With the exception of the multiple authors series, all series listed here are ones whose books should be read in the order they were written. No matter was some descriptions said. Just no.
These arenāt in any kind of order btw when listed under certain categories. Chaos is my name here. Enjoy and let me know what books and series you recommend.
I own these books in several formats, including hardback. Thatās the impression they have made on me. I wanted them permanently in my library. And now I do.
Fantastic 5 Star Series /Stories
Paranormal , some dark fantasy with horror elements, some humor:
š·Beyond the Veil by K. M. Avery
(In particular for this year, Turning of the Tables and Badger in his Burrow-amazing )
š¹Why Did The Alien Cross The Galaxy? To Find a Fake Boyfriend and Befriend a Vacuum Cleaner by A. M. Rose (yes, 2023 but I found it this year and wheezed laughed the entire book)
Terrific Multi-Author Collections ( Iām still working on the larger collections)
There were several books I wanted to include here from the beginning of the year but when I went to check out the links I found that they werenāt available, anywhere. Even the small press that had published them was no longer in business. And these were remarkable first books for the authors. Iād lost track because I read so many.
Itās a hard reminder of how hard it is for these incredible authors to keep writing and keep publishing stories that we love to read and hold dear. And every book and authorās voice lost is a lessening of the rich narrative fabric that they bring to us daily. One that lets us escape or become more thoughtful and aware or just more.
Iām so thankful for the authors and books Iāve read this year. Those listed and those who are not but still held dear. You have made and continue to make a difference in my life. You are treasured.
š«¶
Happy New Year and Happy Reading from Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words
V. L. Loceyās Watkins Glen Gladiators series is such a special warmhearted group of stories and characters. Loceyās gift of being able to bring a fully immersive universe such as the Watkins Glen Gladiators AHL team to life, then fill it up with characters that a reader will find endlessly fascinating, entertaining (looking at you,Greck),amazingly diverse, and always endearing,thatās what makes it so lovely.
Her stories are humorous, realistic, and filled with people stumbling through life as best they can, a HFN on their way to a HEA. Filled with cats, and as here, a pack of rescue dogs as real as their owner, and locations weāve come to know as well.
The slow paced romantic relationship between 38 year old Tanner āFossieā LaBrie of the Watkins Glen Gladiators and Keyshaun Williams, successful gym owner, is low angst, supported by both their families in a way we get to really enjoy the family dynamics and interactions, and understand the true nature of the men themselves.
Thereās no real drama. Between them that is. Itās on the ice as the Gladiatorās go for the Cup in exciting scenes and memorable plays. Without the recuperating Fossie who has to watch from the sidelines. Thatās the reality too.
Locey doesnāt make a mistake here. Not on or off the ice. Itās a relationship thatās still very much in play but going forward in the right direction. I love this. Realistic expectations and grounded.
Plus we get a very special wedding and vows. Thatās the ice on the Cup!
A highly anticipated story in a lovely series hit the goals and more.
If only getting back into playing shape were as easy as falling in loveā¦
Tanner LaBrieāaka Fossie to his teammatesāis feeling every bit of his thirty-eight years. His shoulder aches when itās cold, his arms need to be longer to see the crossword puzzle app on his phone, and his knees are incredibly unhappy about the abuse theyāve taken. During one of the final games of the regular season, one of his weary joints decides to give way. The need for surgery is not a surprising one for Tanner. Heās been putting it off for years, but escaping the knife is not an option now. Post-surgery rehab is a son-of-a-gun, but if Tanner is anything, itās stubborn. Just ask any of his ex-boyfriends. So when his therapist suggests finding a local yoga group, he scoffs at first. Unsure of how he would fit in with the gals in leotards, he nonetheless signs up for a class at his local gym where the teacher is not at all the person listed on the signup form. Not that Fossie is complaining when Keyshaun Williams, the enigmatic and sexy gym owner, shows up with a floral exercise mat, some whale song CDs, and a smile that nearly erases how out of place the defenseman feels.
Keyshaun Williams is living the life he has always dreamed ofā¦for the most part. His new business is a huge success, his family is happy and healthy, and his sisterāthe only somewhat straight tripletāis a few weeks away from giving birth to twins while his brother is about to open a franchise of Williams Wellness in Buffalo. Yep, life is looking pretty darn great for the former Army dietician/Golden Gloves boxer. Great aside from the quiet house he goes home to every night. Being a few years on the other side of thirty has him seeking someone to settle down with, raise a family, maybe adopt some dogs or raise some goats. Heck, maybe dogs and goats. A man could dream, right? And yes, dreamy would describe the towering, mature, stunningly attractive D-man for the local hockey team who has, it seems, signed up for a senior yoga class that Keyshaun is leading as his sister nests and eats far too many chocolate-covered jalapenos. Tanner LaBrie ticks all his boxes as well as a few he didnāt even know he had. Maybe those long looks the hockey player has been shooting his way for months means Tanner is interested in more than achieving the perfect camel pose?
Playing the Man is a low-angst, small-town, queer hockey romance starring a rehabbing hockey player, a personable gym owner, a fitness center filled with snoopy seniors, meddling but well-meaning siblings, rescue dogs, tons of namaste, and one barktastic happy ever after.
Forbidden Puckboy is exactly why I love this series so. It contains all the elements that makes this series so special and the coupleās journey a story Iām so excited to be a part of.
Saxon James and Eden Finley included everything that I adore about hockey romance and this series in Forbidden Puckboy. It has all the Collective (the LGBTQIA NHL hockey franchise players group weāve gotten to know), itās got great hockey humor and one the ice scenes that shows the authors love and knowledge of the game. The book has, near and dear to my heart, communication within the characters about their relationship, introspection about their own experiences and behaviors, and well defined character development.
Love this!
Thereās also no immediate happy ending or solution for the characters and couple. They, instead have to work, realistically, to keep the relationship going, given their careers.
Everything about the book, even the quick timeline, makes sense while being sexy, realistic, compelling, and true.
I adored Easton and Knox but older brother Conner too who was such a well written character, with layers that slowly revealed themselves.
Kudos to the authors on an outstanding performance in a long held series. Great job all around.
Iām looking forward to seeing what the next book brings.
You know whatās the worst feeling in the world? Being in love with someone since you were twelve years old, knowing they only see you as a little brother type.
Not even becoming an NHL star has made him realize Iām all grown up now.
All of that changes when I ask my brotherās best friend to ref a charity match and we spend an entire week in each otherās pocket.
Being close to him is torture, but for the first time since my adolescent crush started, I begin to feel hope. I swear Knox looks at me the same way I look at him. Or so I think. When I throw myself at him and get utterly rejected, I never want to see him again.
Yet, shaking him is impossible, because he and Connor are always around, and my older brother is suffocatingly protective. Every time I look at Knox, Iām reminded of how he turned me down.
Canāt I just die of embarrassment in peace?
Knox
The Kiki brothers are legendary in the NHL world. Thick as thieves, unstoppable on the ice, and the kind of family nothing can come between. Or so I thought.
For the last ten years, Iāve successfully hidden my feelings for the middle Kiki brother. Easton is snarky, determined, and the prettiest guy Iāve met. Ever since we stumbled across each other on a gay dating app and shared our secrets, Iāve felt a connection to him that I havenāt had with anything else.
But Connor is my best friend and when it comes to his little brothers, āprotectiveā doesnāt cover it. Iām determined to take my feelings for Easton to the grave, but after a week in close proximity to him, my willpower is ready to break.
All it takes is one charity hockey match, a drunken night out, and a forbidden kiss for me to know that Easton Kikishkin is it for me.
And unless I want to lose Connor, Easton will never be mine.
Vaughn ends the series with line center Dominic Olson, who came out to two of his teammates in the last story. The Blame Game picks up with those events, giving the reader insight into exactly how secretive Dom is about his private life, his sexuality and how shut off heās become from his those around him.
Determined to keep his interactions with others at a superficial level, dramatic moments at the beginning of The Blame Game start to implode this mentality of his. It begins with his relationship with Sawyer Barnett aka Shea, the man heās been paying to be his stylist as well as his escort.
Only Shea has his own secrets, plus a new sports physiotherapist day job. Heās got his own decisions to make.
I admit I found this relationship and story a bit frustrating and long. As a finale book Iām sure the author wanted to bring in all the other couples (and did), tie up loose arc plot threads, and give this team a rousing send off. Yes to that ending, absolutely. That takes a certain amount of length to execute the plot and characters.
But that long slog to an acknowledged relationship, outside of the fake boyfriend scenario, just wasnāt as satisfying as the other couples that came before. Itās a 2 person POV so we get that itās a lopsided affair from the start. Shea has always loved him, even when itās been a transactional relationship.
Maybe itās that Dom is just written as spectacularly closed off and damaged but the reasons behind it are so to be revealed and his own actions in the narrative make it hard to connect with him.
Bright spots will always be Dustin and Charlie from The Husband Game, my favorite of the series. I love seeing them together and the important roles they play here. Actually it fantastic seeing all of the couples come together to share their experiences to support Dom and Shea through this process of finding a HEA.
For me, all of them were the best and that last game was everything!
This maybe leaving this team but another is set to arrive! Iām definitely looking forward for this series and that relationship which is set up here. Should be drama on the ice!
Fiery Rescue: Fisher Cats Player Heating Up the Sheets with Handsome Stranger?
Fourth line center, Dominic Olson, was spotted with an unidentified man following a fire at the High Park Towers building in Liberty Village late last night.
The fire was contained to the fifth floor whereāaccording to firefighters from Toronto Fire Station 346āit began in one of the condoās kitchens. Thankfully, only minor injuries were reported.
After being treated by paramedics, Olson escorted the mystery man to a black SUV and helped him inside. Although they left together, their destination is also unknown.
Traded to Toronto from the Los Angeles Suns, Olson was a major player in the teamās 2013 Stanley Cup win.
However, itās become obvious in recent years that the aging forward is no longer the superstar he once was.
But what exactly was Olson doing at High Park Towers in the wee hours of the morning with a strange man? āJust friends,ā or something more?
Though Olson has been notoriously tight-lipped about his personal life, rarely choosing to attend events with a plus one, we all know the old adage: where thereās smoke, thereās fire.
CONTENT/TRIGGER WARNINGS:
The Blame Game contains scenes with an apartment fire, parental neglect/estrangement, mild internalized homophobia, accidental mixing of medication leading to a health scare, and two short scenes with sexual harassment from a side character.
This romance also includes found family, fake relationship, out for you, and he falls first/he falls harder tropes, along with a positive attitude toward escort work as a career (MCs are only with each other in the book).
Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words 