An Ali Audiobook Review: Empty Net (Scoring Chances #4) by Avon Gale and Scott R. Smith (Narrator)

Rating 4.5 out of 5 stars

Spartanburg Spitfires’ goalie and captain Isaac Drake ended last season with an unexpected trip to the playoffs. He’s found a home and family with his coach and mentor, Misha Samarin, and he’s looking forward to making a serious run for the Kelly Cup. But things take an interesting turn when Isaac’s archnemesis, Laurent St. Savoy, is traded to the Spitfires. After Laurent’s despicable behavior in the playoffs last year, Isaac wants nothing to do with him – no matter how gorgeous he is. But that changes when Isaac discovers the reason for Laurent’s attitude.

Laurent St. Savoy grew up the only son of a legendary NHL goalie in a household rife with abuse, constantly treated like a disappointment on and off the ice. When a desperate attempt to escape his father’s tyranny sends him to the Spitfires, the last thing Laurent wants is to make friends. But there’s something about Isaac Drake that he can’t resist, and Laurent has an opportunity to explore his sexuality for the first time, but he’s cracking under end-of-the season pressures. When facing the playoffs and a rivalry turned personal vendetta, Isaac’s not sure he’s enough to hold Laurent—or their relationship—together.

Two of my favorite things in the world are hockey and books. When you combine them together I’m in heaven. This was the fourth book in my favorite hockey romance series. At the end of the last book there was a pretty ugly game between two rival teams and goalie Laurent St, Savoy crosses the line in a big way. The beginning of this story starts with Laurent being traded to the Spitfires and being expected to play with a bunch of guys (& coaches) who hate him.

Laurent is aware is behavior was deplorable but he has some serious issues and desperation made him act like he did. Issac Drake wants to ignore Laurent all season and just play the game but as team captain that’s kind of hard to do. When circumstances bring Laurent’s issues to Issac’s attention he finds he can’t turn his back on his new teammate.

Issac and Laurent become friends and Issac slowly convinces his other teammates and coaches to give Laurent a second chance. Much of the story is about Laurent learning to deal with his issues and stand up for himself. Over the course of the story the two young men fall in love and develop a relationship.

I really enjoyed this book. It’s my second favorite of the series. It tackles some pretty serious issues in a well thought out manner. The progression of Issac and Laurent’s relationship was realistic and I really loved them together. In addition to their relationship there were also some very touching moments between Issac and his coach/mentor Misha. Those ended up being some of my favorite scenes in the entire book.

As usual this author writes great hockey scenes and it’s apparent that she not only knows the rules and regulations of the game but her love for it jumps off every page at you. As a fellow hockey lover that means a lot to me. There’s nothing as exciting as the big games and/or the big wins in sports stories.

The three previous books in the series can be read as standalones and technically this one could too but I think you would get more out of this story if you read the previous book first. There is a lot of back story on Issac and his coaches that you should know.

This story was narrated by Scott R. Smith. I thought he did a good job with both of the MC’s as well as all of the side characters. I find that this narrator is consistently good with his books.

Again, I love this series and this was another great installment. This is a definite recommend from me and may be one of my most enjoyed audiobooks of the year.

Cover Artist: Aaron Anderson: I really like this cover. It’s a great cover for a story about two goalies.

Sales Links:

Audiobook Details:

6 hrs 38 mins

Audible Audio, 7 pages
Published January 10th 2017 by Dreamspinner Press (first published September 2nd 2016)
Original TitleEmpty Net
ASINB01N31AV7C
Edition LanguageEnglish
SeriesScoring Chances #4

An Ali Release Day Review: Whiskey Business (States of Love) by Avon Gale

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Ryder Waites will do anything to keep the tiny town of Gallows Grove, Kentucky, from vanishing off the map—even sell his family’s whiskey recipe to Bluegrass Bourbon in Lexington. Hopeful that the larger company can provide necessary improvements to the distillery, Ryder’s ultimate goal is to get Gallows Grove on the Bourbon Trail… and bring in much-needed tourism revenue. But to keep producing Hanged Man Bourbon in Gallows Grove, he’ll have to convince company liaison, unbearably stuffy and seriously hot Adam Keller, that he’s worth the investment.

Adam comes from an old-money family, but he’s determined to make his own way in the world. When he’s sent to Gallows Grove, he questions the life choices that led him to a rented room in a funeral home, in a town full of macabre-themed businesses. And he doesn’t know what to make of Ryder, the descendant of bootleggers who’s on a mission to save his strange town from extinction. When Adam and Ryder put aside their initial mistrust, the results are as smooth as good whiskey. But after Adam’s assignment ends, he’ll have to decide if small-town life and a future with Ryder is to his tastes.

What a fun and entertaining story this was. I was hooked from the moment these two met. They immediately dislike each other but are immediately physically attracted to each other and that’s a plotline that I love. They go back and forth making each other crazy. One minute they can’t stand each other and are bickering non-stop and then the next they’re struggling to keep from acting on their fantasies. The sexual tension and chemistry between the two jumps off of the pages. Once they give in to each other, it alternates between sweet scenes of them falling for each other, with steamy scenes that burn up the pages.

As a back drop there is this very quirky town and it’s very quirky inhabitants. It is so well done I could picture it all in mind. Complete with pun filled store names. I could also picture the creepy doll filled room and while I hate dolls, it did lead to some very entertaining scenes.

I really enjoyed this and don’t have any complaints about this book. I thought it was really well done and a fun, low angst read. Something I would definitely recommend.

Cover by Aaron Anderson: I like the cover a lot. It’s unique and it fits the plot perfectly.

Sales Links

Book Details:

ebook, 104 pages
Expected publication: December 28th 2016 by Dreamspinner Press
ISBN 1634778995 (ISBN13: 9781634778992)
Edition LanguageEnglish
SeriesStates of Love settingKentucky (United States)

An Ali Audiobook Review: Power Play (Scoring Chances #3) by Avon Gale and Scott R. Smith (Narrator)

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

A freak accident during the Stanley Cup Playoffs put an end to Max Ashford’s hockey career. Despite everything, Max gets back into the game he loves—only this time, behind the bench as an assistant coach of the Spartanburg Spitfires, the worst team in the entire league. But nothing prepares him for the shock when he learns the new head coach is Misha Samarin, the man who caused Max’s accident.

After spending years guilt ridden for his part in Max’s accident, Russian native Misha Samarin has no idea what to do when he’s confronted with Max’s presence. Max’s optimism plays havoc with Misha’s equilibrium—as does the fierce attraction that springs up between them.

Not only must they navigate Misha’s remorse and a past he’s spent a lifetime trying to forget, but also a sleazy GM who is determined to use their history as a marketing hook. But when an unwelcome visitor targets a player, Misha revisits his darkest days, and that might cost him and Max the beginning they’ve worked so hard to build.

When I read this the first time I enjoyed it but it was my least favorite book in the series. I had a hard time connecting with Misha. Since then I’ve read the next book in the series, Empty Net, and Misha played an important role in it. I loved him in that book and I think it had a positive influence on me and made this re-read a good thing. That combined with the fact that I was listening to it on audio made everything stand out more and I was completely invested in Max and Misha’s love story this time around.

I think this author does hockey stories better than any other author I’ve read in the hockey romance genre. She knows her game and her love for it comes through. If you’re not a fan the details aren’t overwhelming but if you are a fan there are all kinds of comments about teams/players etc that will make you smile. You know you’re reading something by a true fan. I loved the part of the story about the team and their journey from underdogs to a winning team. Those scenes were great. I especially love the game scenes on audio and I say this in every review, but it’s like listening to a hockey game on the radio. I love them and I find myself totally rooting for our guy’s teams.

This was narrated by Scott R. Smith (as is the rest of the series). He has an odd cadence to the way he speaks but once I get used to it each book I end up enjoying it. He does well on different voices and you never get confused as to which character is speaking. I enjoyed the narration a lot and I think it enhances the story.

Cover by Aaron Anderson: I really like the cover. It’s simple but striking at the suited figure is appropriate since this book focuses on the coaches not the players.

Sales Links

Audiobook Details:

Listening Length: 6 hours and 22 minutes

Audible Audio, 7 pages
Published October 11th 2016 by Dreamspinner Press LLC (first published May 9th 2016)
Original TitlePower Play
ASINB01M0DX4KX
Edition LanguageEnglish
SeriesScoring Chances #3 settingSouth Carolina (United States)

An Ali Audiobook Review: Save of the Game (Scoring Chances #2) by Avon Gale and Scott R. Smith (Narrator)

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

After last season’s heartbreaking loss to his hockey team’s archrival, Jacksonville Sea Storm goalie Riley Hunter is ready to let go of the past and focus on a winning season. His new roommate, Ethan Kennedy, is a loud New Yorker with a passion for social justice that matches his role as the team’s enforcer. The quieter Riley is attracted to Ethan and has no idea what to do about it.

Ethan has no hesitations. As fearless as his position demands, he rushes into things without much thought for the consequences.Though they eventually warm to their passionate new bond, it doesn’t come without complications. While trying to financially help Ethan, Riley must hide his family’s wealth so as not to hurt Ethan’s immense pride. For their relationship to work, Ethan will need to learn when to keep the gloves on and let someone help him—and Riley will have to learn it’s okay to let someone past his defenses.

I loved this book just as much the second time around. I read this book when it first came out and then jumped at this chance to review the audio version. I’m glad to say it stood the test of time. This remains my favorite in this series for a couple of reasons. First off, there is very little angst in this book. Neither of the two guys has ever been with another guy before but there is no drama surrounding this. They discuss it like adults, determine they care about each other and want to see where it goes, and then they just get on with it. No internal or external angsting. I also enjoy the way the other characters in the book respond to them. Their friends accept their status with few questions and one of my favorite scenes in the entire book is when Ethan takes Riley home to meet his mother and to come out to her. It was a bit funny and a lot beautiful. In a genre that is filled with stereotypical evil mothers, it was a refreshing change to see a wonderful, accepting mom who just loves her son.

There are some other issues both of the guys are working on but again, it’s done through communication. Ethan’s storyline in particular was interesting too me. Usually in sports books the MC’s are completely obsessed with their sport and this was different. Ethan was able to say he really wasn’t as devoted as he needed to be and maybe he needed to look at some other options.

As usual with this author’s book you can tell through the writing that she is a hockey fan and her love of the game comes through in the writing. If you’re not a hockey fan though you will not be bogged down with facts and details and you’ll be able to enjoy the book without any problems.

This audiobook is narrated by Scott R. Smith and I felt like he did a really good job. He did both of the MC’s, including Ethan’s New Yorker accent, really well. He also did a good job on the side characters, including the females (which not all male narrators can do). Something about listening to these on audio makes the game scenes stand out more to me. It’s almost like listening to games on the radio (well, actually on my phone app). Listening to well done audios also make the romantic scenes seem even sweeter and the smexy scenes even hotter (& this book has both).

Overall this was a great read. I loved the plot and loved the narration and I highly recommend checking this out. This is the second book in a series but can be read as a standalone.

Cover by Aaron Anderson: I love this cover. It was one of my favorite covers of the year. It’s a great representation of both the game of hockey as well as the story. I also find it very visually appealing.

Sales Links

Audiobook Details:

6 hrs 22 mins

Audible Audio, 7 pages
Published September 12th 2016 by Dreamspinner Press, LLC (first published January 29th 2016)
Original TitleSave of the Game
ASINB01LTDEJWQ
Edition LanguageEnglishSeriesScoring Chances #2 settingJacksonville, Florida (United States)
New York (United States)

A Lila Audiobook Review: Let the Wrong Light In by Avon Gale and Derrick McClain (Narrator)

Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

let-the-wrong-light-in-audiobook Avery Hextall, a junior architect at a prestigious firm, is thrilled when his design is chosen for a new performing-arts center—even if it means working closely with his insufferably uptight project manager, Malin Lacroix. When a chance encounter in the boss’s office proves that Lacroix is anything but cold, Avery is determined to learn more about the real man beneath the aloof veneer.

Despite their growing attraction and their increasingly kinky encounters, the enigmatic Malin remains as emotionally distant as ever. Worse, Avery’s friends are convinced Malin thinks of Avery as a dirty secret and nothing more—a secret that might destroy both of their careers.

But the real secret is a single moment in time that haunts Malin and keeps him from committing to the life he wants with Avery. In order to move on, Avery must help Malin come to terms with the tragedy in his past before they can work on building a future together.

Let the Wrong Light In is a hard story to rate. This is my first Avon Gale book and I enjoyed it. The writing is good, well-paced, and the narration helps the feel of the story. The way the office works, the interactions between the characters, and how they work on the projects seems too convenient for the sake of the story.

It was hard to pinpoint Avery’s age and his real status within the company. Architecture is one of those professions, like medicine, in which practitioners tend to be older than average. For me, Avery read more as a young intern. He had too many layers protecting his heart, and there wasn’t enough time for them to be peel back. We get an idea of how good he can be when in a committed relationship, but not enough time to get invested in him/them.

Malin screams Christian Grey–a broken man with a hidden golden heart; only reachable by a young, sweet, and rebellious young man. He has the perfect apartment, house, cars, life, etc. but nothing makes sense to him anymore. He even needed Avery to reconnect with his family and smile again.

The BDSM aspect was something else that didn’t work for me. Unless the story is label Erotica with dub-con or non-con, I prefer to stay away. I like my relationships to be SSC or RACK. And in this case, it was none. Yes, we get to see the concern from Avery’s friends because of this, and Avery’s internal thoughts about it, but Malin having a hard time dealing with people isn’t a valid reason to ignore simple basic standards.

The last part of the story, when we get away from the wild kink and the walls between the main characters, was sweet and gave the story the little boost it needed. I think we needed a little more of Malin’s story early on to wrap it up even better. And Avery’s friends were great too.

I enjoyed Derrick McClain’s narration. He did a good job giving each character a distinctive voice. From all the characters, I think Malin was my favorite. His personality went well with the performance.

The cover by Aaron Anderson shows Avery through glass panels, which plays an important part in the story. The top part has a city line sketch.

Sales Links

Audiobook Details:

Narrator: Derrick McClain
Length: 5 hours and 35 minutes

Published: August 25, 2016 (Audio Edition) by Dreamspinner Press
ASIN: B01KZNJCU0
Edition Language: English

An Alisa Audiobook Review: Breakaway (Scoring Chances #1) by Avon Gale and Scott R. Smith (Narrator)

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

breakaway-audiobook Drafted to play for the Jacksonville Sea Storm, an NHL affiliate, twenty-year-old Lane Courtnall’s future looks bright, apart from the awkwardness he feels as a gay man playing on a minor league hockey team. He’s put his foot in his mouth a few times and alienated his teammates. Then, during a rivalry game, Lane throws off his gloves against Jared Shore, enforcer for the Savannah Renegades. It’s a strange way to begin a relationship.

Jared’s been playing minor league hockey for most of his career. He’s bisexual and doesn’t care if anyone knows. But he’s determined to avoid another love affair after the last one left him devastated. Out of nowhere a one-nighter with rookie Lane Courtnall gives him second thoughts. Lane reminds Jared why he loves the game and why love might be worth the risk. In turn, Jared hopes to show Lane how to be comfortable with himself on and off the ice. But they’re at different points in their careers, and both men will have to decide what they value most.

This was a re-read for me and I have to say I enjoyed it just as much the second time around. The story follows socially awkward Lane as he starts his professional hockey career and experiences life away from home for the first time. Lane and Jared meet on the ice and then have what they think is going to be a one night stand. As it turns out they really like each other and the relationship ends up turning into something more. The story is partially about them falling in love but it is also about Lane learning to accept who he is and find his way as an adult. It’s also about Jared learning not only about falling in love with a person again, but also falling in love with the game again.

There are a lot of things I love about this book. Firstly it’s written really well. It has engaging characters with well done dialogue. There are some funny scenes and some smexy ones. All are done equally well. I also enjoy that there is no real angst or drama. It’s two adults who fall for each other, communicate in a mature manner and slowly build a relationship. My biggest joy in this book is this author actually knows hockey and her love of the game jumps out of every scene where they’re on the ice or in the locker room. Her writing is such that if you do not know or like hockey it will still all make sense and you won’t be over burdened with facts. But if you are a hockey fan you will catch a bunch of inside jokes and you’ll really appreciate the passion that goes into the game scenes. I really enjoyed the romance between these two but the part that brought tears to my eyes was certain events that happen to Jared as he plays.

The audiobook was narrated by Scott R. Smith and he did a good job with the story. Each of the voices was unique and I never had a problem telling who was talking. I really enjoyed the game scenes on audio. It was like listening to the games on the radio when I was a kid and on my phone app now. I’d find myself all caught up as if it was a real game going one. I enjoyed the audio as much as I did reading it when it first came out.

Cover Artist: Aaron Anderson.I love the cover. I think it’s gorgeous and it is a perfect representation of the story. One of my favorite covers of the year last year.

Sales Links

Audiobook Details:

Audible Audio, 8 pages, 7 hrs 33 mins
Published August 9th 2016 by Dreamspinner Press (first published November 27th 2015)
Original TitleBreakaway
ASINB01JVN8BIY
Edition LanguageEnglishSeriesScoring Chances #1 settingFlorida (United States)

A Barb Release Day Review: Empty Net (Scoring Chances #4) by Avon Gale

Rating: 5 stars out of 5

Laurent St. Savoy grew up the only son of a legendary NHL goalie in a household rife with abuse, constantly treated like a disappointment on and off the ice. When a desperate attempt to escape his father’s tyranny sends him to the Spitfires, the last thing Laurent wants is to make friends. But there’s something about Isaac Drake that he can’t resist, and Laurent has an opportunity to explore his sexuality for the first time, but he’s cracking under end-of-the season pressures. When facing the playoffs and a rivalry turned personal vendetta, Isaac’s not sure he’s enough to hold Laurent—or their relationship—together.

Please be advised: This book does contain some non-graphic references to past childhood physical/emotional abuse as well as issues relating to ED (bulimia and restricted eating, disordered thoughts about eating).

From the beginning, Laurent St. Savoy, the character I thought for sure I would hate, burrowed into my heart and found his home. Oh, that poor young man! My heart just bled for him. The author did an excellent job sketching his character immediately and then filling it in with details of his history of physical and emotional abuse at the hands of his father, famous hockey player and now coach of the Asheville team, Denis St. Savoy.

Laurent developed strong defense mechanisms in his early years and learned never to show his true feelings. We didn’t know last year, when he spit on Isaac in the playoffs, he was really dying about it on the inside. When he’s traded to the Spitfires as Isaac Drake’s backup goalie, the rivalry should be intense, but instead, after an early flare-up, Isaac discovers one of Laurent’s secrets. Laurent has scars—on his back and in his mind—scars that are not so easy to explain. But Isaac feels an innate need to comfort Laurent, and together they begin to explore what Laurent needs.

Along the way, his eating disorder is discovered, his emotional abuse at the hands of his father, and his hatred for hockey—all unexpected and all difficult to overcome, but not impossible to work through. With Isaac by his side, Laurent begins to make baby steps toward recovery.

This story has so much going for it, including a lot of air time for Misha and Matt, Isaac’s coaches and the men he boards with. We see new sides to Misha and to their relationship as well as being present for Laurent’s discovery of sex and that what was missing all along was an emotional bond with another person. The author explores disordered eating and provides information on therapeutic treatment, both in the story, and in the Afterword.

The road to emotional health is long for Laurent, and it’s a huge struggle to make the strides he makes over the course of this story. The author gives us a very easy-to-hate character in Denis St. Savoy, but she also gives us an opportunity for revenge as Laurent takes his final step to break his relationship with the man who treated him so despicably during his life.

To be honest, the whole series is amazing. Each book has brought unique characters in unique situations and a warm and satisfying ending. This one is no different in that way, but it is just so much more. It’s more intense, more emotional, and more memorable, IMHO. It’s certainly one I can easily recommend without any hesitation at all.

The cover by Aaron Anderson is also one of the most attractive I’ve seen all year. Blue-tinted, it depicts an empty hockey net surrounded by ice and with lightning strikes in the background. When I squint my eyes, I can see ghostlike outlines of players in the lines formed by the lightning—whether intentional or just my imagination, I’m not sure, but the overall effect is very impressive.

Sales Links

Book Details:

ebook, 200 pages
Published September 2nd 2016 by Dreamspinner Press
ISBN 1634775856 (ISBN13: 9781634775854)
Edition LanguageEnglish

SeriesScoring Chances #4

Its all Romance and Killers with ‘Conversation Hearts’ by Avon Gale (excerpt and giveaway)

Conversation Hearts by Avon Gale
Dreamspinner Press
Cover Artist Aaron Anderson

Release Date: February 10, 2016
Goodreads Link

Blurb

It’s Valentine’s Day, and grad student–and male escort–Levi Barron expects to spend his evening with a client who’s paying him for his services in bed… not an assassin who needs to borrow the view from his hotel room in the morning.

With nothing to do but endure the company of his unwanted guest, Levi and the assassin, Sinjin, spend some time bonding over HGTV, minibar beverages, Flannery O’Connor short stories, terrible Valentine’s candy, and the necessity of lying about their jobs.

Their evening takes an unexpected turn when they decide to indulge in their mutual attraction, and in the morning Levi doesn’t know if he’s spent the night with a hired killer or a hydraulic engineer with a very specific fantasy. Either way, the two have enough chemistry–in and out of bed–that Levi isn’t sure one night with Sinjin will be enough.

And a message left in candy suggests the feeling is mutual.

Buy Links:

Excerpt

IF GIVEN a choice, Levi Barron would definitely prefer to have been stood up, rather than have a gun pointed at his head.

His client for the evening was already two hours late, and just when it looked like Levi would be spending Valentine’s Day reading some poorly articulated thoughts of college freshmen about Truman Capote’s In Cold Blood, he heard the unmistakable sound of a door opening. Levi put a bit more Southern in his Georgia accent as he went to meet his client—only to find himself greeting the business end of a gun.

“Well,” the guy said, sighing. “This is awkward.”

Levi couldn’t seem to breathe. He’d heard stories about this kind of thing happening (and he’d maybe, once or twice, watched a few similar-yet-sexy versions of this exact scenario on RedTube), but the reason Levi’s agency rented a room in a luxury hotel in downtown Nashville wasn’t just for client comfort.

It was also so that Levi and his colleagues didn’t end up robbed or sold into sex slavery.

“I don’t have any money,” Levi said immediately, raising his hands even though the man hadn’t told him to do anything with them. “The agency handles all of the financial transactions. Even, uh, gratuity.”

That Levi was a poor graduate student in American Literature being robbed at gunpoint was sort of hilariously depressing.

The guy lowered the gun. “What? I’m not here to rob you, for fuck’s sake.”

Oh God. Suddenly being a sex slave didn’t sound as appealing as those videos implied it would be. “Are you going to kidnap me and sell me to a sex dungeon?”

Worst. Valentine’s. Day. Ever.

“Are those actually real? I thought they just existed on RedTube.” The gunman, dressed in black with equally dark hair and eyes, looked kind of like Edgar Allan Poe. Only without the creepy mustache.

Levi couldn’t believe this was really happening. At some point he expected cameras and a television reveal, followed in a few days by an uncomfortable meeting with the English department about his choice in part-time jobs.

“Are you going to kill me?”

The man grimaced. “I’d rather not. Look, I just need to borrow the window for a few minutes in the morning. No reason anyone has to die.” The man paused. “Anyone other than the… never mind.” He set something down on the ground. Either the guy was going to pull a violin out of there and serenade Levi, or it was a rifle case.

Rifle case. Windows. Gun. Shady guy dressed in black, skulking around and breaking into hotel rooms.

Levi’s uninvited guest was an assassin.

“You’re going to kill someone on Valentine’s Day?” Levi made a face, even as he backed away and glanced anxiously toward the window. “That’s awful. What are you, evil Cupid?”

“Technically I’m not going to kill anyone until tomorrow,” quoth the raven. His voice went flat and cold. “But if you keep asking me questions, I might change my mind. Now sit down and let me think.”

Levi sat.

About the Author

Avon Gale wrote her first story at the age of seven, about a “Space Hat” hanging on a rack and waiting for that special person to come along and purchase it — even if it was a bit weirder than the other, more normal hats. Like all of Avon’s characters, the space hat did get its happily ever after — though she’s pretty sure it was with a unicorn. She likes to think her vocabulary has improved since then, but the theme of quirky people waiting for their perfect match is still one of her favorites.

Avon grew up in the southern United States, and now lives with her very patient husband in a liberal midwestern college town. When she’s not writing, she’s either doing some kind of craft project that makes a huge mess, reading, watching horror movies, listening to music or yelling at her favorite hockey team to get it together, already. Avon is always up for a road trip, adores Kentucky bourbon, thinks nothing is as stress relieving as a good rock concert and will never say no to candy.

At one point, Avon was the mayor of both Jazzercise and Lollicup on Foursquare. This tells you basically all you need to know about her as a person.

Find Avon:

@Facebook|| @avongalewrites.com|| @twitter || bourbon and candy (avon’s mailing list)

Giveaway

Win a copy of Conversation Hearts! Must be 18 years of age or older to enter. Link and prizes provided by the author and Dreamspinner Press

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A VVivacious Review: Save of the Game (Scoring Chances #2) by Avon Gale

Rating: 4.5 Stars out of 5

Ethan and Riley find themselves as roommates, team mates and… boyfriends?

While Riley may have just discovered his interest in the same sex after a good look at Ethan, Ethan is still pretty clueless about the phenomenal change of perception he has undergone in Riley’s eyes. But a bit of good natured snooping in a sub folder leaves Ethan confused and a drunken haze later sees him lock lips with Riley. But is this kiss one of those never to be talked about moments or just the first of many.

People who are thinking of reading this book should probably know that this is part of a series. I say this because I haven’t read the first part and I really didn’t think that me not having read the first book, would be a problem since the books followed different characters.

While having not read the first book didn’t lessen my enjoyment of it, it definitely would have brought a reduction in the number of head scratching moments. This book is pretty entrenched in the world of its predecessor. Like there are characters who have already been introduced and they come into this book with no introductions whatsoever so I had to take some time to figure out who was who but leaving that aside the book was awesome.

Ethan is the enforcer of his team, he is the tough looking guy with his tattooed exterior hiding a guy who loves just as ferociously as he fights. For Ethan family is priority. His family is who he fights and lives for. This also translates to his team who he loves but while Ethan fights for everyone no one has ever fought for him, no has ever fought his fights as their own. So he is used to fighting his own battles and looking after himself.

Riley is the product of absentee parents. Hockey is his life but there is a distinct lack of passion in his life. But when Ethan enters his life, Riley’s entire view on life undergoes a sea change. Riley is the level headed goalie, who never lets anyone score on him. He was the rock in their relationship while Ethan was the drama queen (not really but if you are comparing with Riley then definitely).

Riley and Ethan together are golden. All the issues that they had they solved in a really understanding way. As such personally their relationship just worked on so many levels, there was chemistry, there was understanding and I really liked the way they communicated. As such I guess the thing that had me convinced about these two was the way they overcame the obstacles to their relationship and just the way they handled life together be it family members, team members or just day to day living.

This book had that rare combo of excellent side characters. I loved the guys on the team by the end of the book they were like just another family to me, but anyone reading the first book would be familiar with them, especially Jared and Lane who keep popping up in cameo roles. But Ethan’s family really took the cake, I loved them so much his mother and sisters were just so family, like those really annoying characters you can’t live without who are a constant presence in your life and make life worth living. Also I loved the character of Benett Halley the guy who replaces Lane in the Jacksonville Sea Storm. He was just irritating enough to always be on the horizon but also contained enough to not be a complete asshole. I actually really liked his character maybe because usually such characters in books are irredeemable assholes but he surprisingly wasn’t.

Also this book has hockey in it. I don’t know why but I have come to love Hockey reading MM Romances, I am not a hockey fan but reading books featuring hockey has really got me trying to figure out the game. As such if you want to read this book you don’t need any working knowledge of Hockey, but it definitely added another dimension to the book.

This book is written as a slice of life fiction so the pace of things remains the same from the beginning to the end but it does tell a story in a fascinating way and ends it on a satisfying note, leaving you wanting more. I loved the book for its simplicity and its characters and the story, told in a very engaging and realistic way. Overall this book has me convinced to read the first book as well as the next one in this series.

Cover by Aaron Anderson. I liked the cover for the book but it is way too dramatic than the story what with the raging sea and the thundering storm but I guess the imagery is to accurately depict the “Sea Storm”.

Sales Links: Dreamspinner eBook | Amazon | ARe | Kobo

Book Details:

ebook, 200 pages
Published January 29th 2016 by Dreamspinner
ISBN 1627980474 (ISBN13: 9781627980470)
Edition LanguageEnglishSeries Scoring Chances:

Breakaway (Scoring Chances, #1)

Save of the Game (Scoring Chances #2)

Love Gets a Sporting Chance with ‘Save of the Game’ by Avon Gale (guest interview, excerpt and giveaway)

Save of the Game by Avon Gale
Release Date: January 29, 2016

Goodreads Link
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Cover Artist: Aaron Anderson

Today Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words is happy to have Avon Gale with us. Avon Gale is the author of Save of the Game, a story in her Scoring Chances series. Avon, would you share 10 things 10 things we didn’t know about you with our readers.

I have a master’s degree in ancient history, and studied Spartan military history.
I spent ten years after grad school working in fundraising for non-profits, including women’s liberal arts education and public radio.
I have a black belt in Taekwondo.
I have 11 tattoos.
I’m an only child.
I always seem to hate movies that everyone loves, like “A Christmas Story”, “Pretty Woman,” and “The Wizard of Oz.”
90% of the movies I watch are horror films (which might explain #6!)
My favorite TV show of all times is Mystery Science Theatre 3000
I was in a sorority in college.
I am physically incapable of snapping my fingers.

Thanks, Avon. MST3K just happens to be one of my all time favorites as well. Now more about Save of the Game.

Blurb

Ethan has no hesitations. As fearless as his position demands, he rushes into things without much thought for the consequences. Though they eventually warm to their passionate new bond, it doesn’t come without complications. While trying to financially help Ethan, Riley must hide his family’s wealth so as not to hurt Ethan’s immense pride. For their relationship to work, Ethan will need to learn when to keep the gloves on and let someone help him—and Riley will have to learn it’s okay to let someone past his defenses.

Pages or Words: 200 pages
Categories: Bisexual, Contemporary, Fiction, Gay Fiction, Sports, Hockey

Series: Scoring Chances
This book is a ‘Scoring Chances’ novel. It can be read as a standalone.

Excerpt

His phone beeped, alerting him that he had a new text message. It was from Ethan Kennedy, the defenseman the Storm had acquired before the trade deadline last spring. The rowdy Kennedy, who had a heavy New York accent and was a huge fan of the New York Rangers—a team Riley hated, by virtue of being a New Jersey Devils fan—had bunked with him for a few weeks during the finals. He’d gone back to New York after the Storm lost in the playoffs. Riley hadn’t been sure if he was coming back or not, but the text message indicated he’d just gotten back to town, and would Riley mind picking him up from the airport?

And oh, he got a cheaper rate by flying into Tampa, which was three hours away. Was that a problem? And one last thing. Riley didn’t need a roommate by any chance. Did he?

Riley looked around his apartment, which was nice and clean and quiet. Just like it always was, except for those few weeks last spring when Ethan was there. He was loud and messy and always in Riley’s space, left half-full cans of Pepsi everywhere, drank whiskeys with dubious-sounding names, and smoked like a chimney.

be there in 3 hrs, Riley texted and grabbed a few boxes of coconut water out of his fridge. The idea of coming home alone after games reminded him of those car rides in Wyoming, and he was getting tired of the silence.

Buy the book

Dreamspinner eBook | Amazon | ARe | Kobo

Meet the Author

Avon Gale was once the mayor on Foursquare of Jazzercise and Lollicup, which should tell you all you need to know about her as a person. She likes road trips, rock concerts, drinking Kentucky bourbon and yelling at hockey. She’s a displaced southerner living in a liberal midwestern college town, and when she’s not writing you can find her at the salon, making her clients look and feel fabulous. She never gets tired of people and their stories — either real or the ones she makes up in her head.

Where to find the author:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/avongalewrites
Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/authoravongale
Twitter: @avongalewrites
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/avongalewrites/
Other: (join my mailing list) http://eepurl.com/bGLSrD

Tour Dates & Stops:

29-Jan

Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, Two Chicks Obsessed With Books and Eye Candy, Posy Roberts, Book Lovers 4Ever, Mikky’s World of Books, Jessie G. Books, Gay Book Reviews

1-Feb

Boy Meets Boy Reviews, Kirsty Loves Books, Love Bytes, Elisa – My Reviews and Ramblings, Divine Magazine, Hearts on Fire, Open Skye Book Reviews

2-Feb

Wicked Faerie’s Tales and Reviews, Inked Rainbow Reads, V’s Reads, Nautical Star Books, Foxylutely Book Reviews, Fangirl Moments and My Two Cents, BFD Book Blog

3-Feb

Bayou Book Junkie, Alpha Book Club, Molly Lolly, Happily Ever Chapter, Unquietly Me, MM Good Book Reviews, 3 Chicks After Dark

4-Feb

The Novel Approach, Boys on the Brink Reviews, Three Books Over The Rainbow, Carly’s Book Reviews, The Hat Party

Giveaway

Enter to win a Rafflecopter Prize: 2 copies of ‘Save of the Game’ by Avon Gale. Link and prizes provided by the author and Pride Promotions. Must be 18 years of age or older to enter.

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Conversation Hearts by Avon Gale Dreamspinner Press Cover Artist Aaron Anderson

Release Date: February 10, 2016 Goodreads Link

Blurb

Excerpt

About the Author

Giveaway

Share this:

Share this:

Save of the Game by Avon Gale Release Date: January 29, 2016

Goodreads Link Publisher: Dreamspinner Press Cover Artist: Aaron Anderson

Giveaway

Share this:

Conversation Hearts by Avon Gale
Dreamspinner Press
Cover Artist Aaron Anderson

Release Date: February 10, 2016
Goodreads Link

Save of the Game by Avon Gale
Release Date: January 29, 2016

Goodreads Link
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Cover Artist: Aaron Anderson