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Scoring Chances #2
Save of the Game
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.
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.
200 pages, ebook
First published January 29, 2016
213 people are currently reading
2,011 people want to read
About the author
Avon Gale
26books1,330followersAvon Gale lives in a liberal Midwestern college town, where she spends her days getting heavily invested in everything from craft projects to video games. She likes road trips by car, rock concerts, thunderstorms, IPAs, Kentucky bourbon and tattoos. As a queer author, Avon is committed to providing happy endings for all and loves to tell stories that focus on found families, strong and open communication, and friendship. She loves writing about quirky people who might not be perfect, but always find a place where they belong. In her former life, Avon wrote fanfiction at her desk while ostensibly doing work in non-profit fundraising for public radio and women’s liberal arts education, and worked on her books in between haircuts and highlights as a stylist. Now she’s a full-time writer, delighted to be able to tell stories for a living.
Avon is represented by Courtney Miller-Callihan of Handspun Literary Agency.
Enjoy fantasy with a bit of a kinky, darker edge? Check out Avon's fantasy books, co-written with author Fae Loxley, under the pen name Iris Foxglove!
Avon is represented by Courtney Miller-Callihan of Handspun Literary Agency.
Enjoy fantasy with a bit of a kinky, darker edge? Check out Avon's fantasy books, co-written with author Fae Loxley, under the pen name Iris Foxglove!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 566 reviews
January 25, 2016
Q. Why did the chicken cross the road?
A. She was cranky to see a M/F scene in the middle of her M/M novel.
Yes, that happened at 12 percent. And I was so appalled, I slammed my Kindle shut. (Which wasn't nearly as satisfying as throwing a book across the room. But whatever.)
Authors, the majority of readers don't want to see one of the MCs fucking someone else, male or female, on page. STOP IT.
But, hey, I didn't let that ruin the book for me.
I do love me gay some hockey players, because who doesn't?
And Riley and Ethan are hot and adorable together. Riley drinks coconut water like it's going out of style and is all fit and bendy. Ethan prefers Pepsi and cigarettes. But they both love hockey and pizza and kissing.
Neither man has been with another man before, but they both realize they are bi (Ethan with a little prodding from Riley's Bad Game porn subfolder) and take to gay sex like a fish to water. Eventually.
And that was half the fun: watching the guys make out, then dry hump, then finally take each other's pants off.
I loved that their coming together was tentative and a little awkward. That made it all the more sexy, especially when Riley got all aggressive and forced Ethan to his knees.
But I digress.
Gale is an engaging writer, and I found myself laughing out loud more than once.
Even though I'm not a hockey fan, I was not bored by the sports talk; most of the games were summarized anyway.
I liked that two hockey players being together wasn't really a big deal. This is a low angst book, and there's no homophobia in sight.
Ethan gets mad at Riley once because Riley never mentions how rich he is, and Ethan doesn't like to depend on anyone, but they work it out in the most delicious way. Blow jobs are the best incentive.
Ethan's family gets all the stars. Riley's sister gets some too. The ending is a solid HEA, and the excerpt for book 3 made me greedy for more.
Final verdict: WIN!
Problem solved.
A. She was cranky to see a M/F scene in the middle of her M/M novel.
Yes, that happened at 12 percent. And I was so appalled, I slammed my Kindle shut. (Which wasn't nearly as satisfying as throwing a book across the room. But whatever.)
Authors, the majority of readers don't want to see one of the MCs fucking someone else, male or female, on page. STOP IT.
But, hey, I didn't let that ruin the book for me.
I do love me gay some hockey players, because who doesn't?
And Riley and Ethan are hot and adorable together. Riley drinks coconut water like it's going out of style and is all fit and bendy. Ethan prefers Pepsi and cigarettes. But they both love hockey and pizza and kissing.
Neither man has been with another man before, but they both realize they are bi (Ethan with a little prodding from Riley's Bad Game porn subfolder) and take to gay sex like a fish to water. Eventually.
And that was half the fun: watching the guys make out, then dry hump, then finally take each other's pants off.
I loved that their coming together was tentative and a little awkward. That made it all the more sexy, especially when Riley got all aggressive and forced Ethan to his knees.
But I digress.
Gale is an engaging writer, and I found myself laughing out loud more than once.
Even though I'm not a hockey fan, I was not bored by the sports talk; most of the games were summarized anyway.
I liked that two hockey players being together wasn't really a big deal. This is a low angst book, and there's no homophobia in sight.
Ethan gets mad at Riley once because Riley never mentions how rich he is, and Ethan doesn't like to depend on anyone, but they work it out in the most delicious way. Blow jobs are the best incentive.
Ethan's family gets all the stars. Riley's sister gets some too. The ending is a solid HEA, and the excerpt for book 3 made me greedy for more.
Final verdict: WIN!
Problem solved.
October 28, 2016
*4.5 stars*
is on FIRE with this series! Hot, sexy, sweet, entertaining, PLUS HOCKEY GUYS! I honestly couldn't ask for more.
was another excellent book in a series that is shaping up to be a favorite of mine. I think this author has helped convert me to a full-time hockey fan because hockey books are my new obsession!
I, again, listened to this as an audiobook, and I had the same reactions to the narrator, , as last time. There is something about his cadence that takes a little getting used to, but once I got used to his manner of speaking, I was HOOKED.
I love that Scott R. Smith does different voices for different characters and really puts his all into it. I'm from a NYC suburb, and though the accent for Ethan may seem a little over-the-top, it really isn't. I hear people talk similarly all the time. I loved how the narrator went for it. I also loved his mellow voice for Riley. Just a great narration, very well done.
I thought that this book was a very sweetly done bi-discovery story, with both Riley and Ethan experiencing their first time with another man (<--- you know I love this!!). It felt really real, not forced or fake, and I totally bought their attraction for one another.
In terms of sexuality, I think both men would consider themselves bisexual (they refer to themselves as such a few times), but I also was curious about Riley perhaps being demisexual (not confirmed, mind you). A few times in the book, Riley says that he isn't that attracted to people until he gets to know them well, and that is why he doesn't hook up much. I picked up on that, and I was excited to see some demisexuality represented.
The plot was lovely, a true friends-to-lovers story with surprisingly little angst. The book had a relaxed, light-hearted, earnest vibe that I really liked, and I smiled the entire time I was listening to it. These guys were smitten with each other and I was smitten with them.
I wouldn't call this book kinky, per se, but the sex was a little on the rougher side at times, and IT. WAS. HOT. I couldn't get enough of the sex scenes and the slow, natural way that Riley and Ethan got to know one another. Super hot, super well-done.
The hockey details, the family details, they all worked with the story. I liked both Riley and Ethan's personal journeys, and I though that Avon Gale did a great job of making the story cohesive.
I think my one complaint would be that parts of the story dragged on a tiny bit, but I really loved it overall. I absolutely can't wait to continue on in this awesome series! #seastormpride
*Audiobook ARC provided by the publisher*
April 21, 2016
Another win from Avon Gale! This is the second book in the hockey series. Gotta love that hockey action!
We met Riley Hunter in , a big, quiet goalie who is a bit confused about his sexuality. In we meet his new roommate, Ethan Kennedy, who is a brash New Yorker who loves the ladies.
Riley is a solitary man, who just so happens to be a billionaire. He grew up in a loveless home with servants being his only companions. Ethan is very sociable and comes from an incredibly loving, supportive family that includes a kick-ass mother and boisterous, successful, argumentative sisters. The sibling fights are especially endearing. About the only thing Ethan lacks in his life is money.
Riley and Ethan find themselves attracted to one another. Not just sexually, but emotionally as well. They become great friends before anything sexual actually happens. This had one of the healthiest relationships I have read in a M/M romance in a really long time. They communicated, expressed their feeling to one another and never hid from anybody. Sometimes a healthy relationship is a M/M romance can be a death sentence for a book. Where is the drama? Where is the angst? Where is the conflict? But I am happy to say you will not miss ANY of that here. The angst between these two is minimal and resolved very quickly, the sex is HOT, we get to see big, buff men playing hockey with amped up testosterone levels and a sweet, loving romance with a sing-it-from-the-rooftops HEA.
WIN, WIN, WIN! Highly recommended.
Advanced review copy of provided by the author in exchange of an honest review.
This review is also posted at
We met Riley Hunter in , a big, quiet goalie who is a bit confused about his sexuality. In we meet his new roommate, Ethan Kennedy, who is a brash New Yorker who loves the ladies.
Riley is a solitary man, who just so happens to be a billionaire. He grew up in a loveless home with servants being his only companions. Ethan is very sociable and comes from an incredibly loving, supportive family that includes a kick-ass mother and boisterous, successful, argumentative sisters. The sibling fights are especially endearing. About the only thing Ethan lacks in his life is money.
Riley and Ethan find themselves attracted to one another. Not just sexually, but emotionally as well. They become great friends before anything sexual actually happens. This had one of the healthiest relationships I have read in a M/M romance in a really long time. They communicated, expressed their feeling to one another and never hid from anybody. Sometimes a healthy relationship is a M/M romance can be a death sentence for a book. Where is the drama? Where is the angst? Where is the conflict? But I am happy to say you will not miss ANY of that here. The angst between these two is minimal and resolved very quickly, the sex is HOT, we get to see big, buff men playing hockey with amped up testosterone levels and a sweet, loving romance with a sing-it-from-the-rooftops HEA.
WIN, WIN, WIN! Highly recommended.
Advanced review copy of provided by the author in exchange of an honest review.
This review is also posted at
July 2, 2017
While I liked this story a lot, it didn't seem to have quite the same *zing* that I got from book 1.
I liked both Riley and Ethan, seeing them get together, get over themselves, and growing a lot in the process; however, this one just felt more like a nice, slow, leisurely Sunday drive than a Friday night at the races, if that makes sense.
The parts of the book with Ethan's family, seeing how supportive and loving they all were to one another, were as uplifting as seeing how Riley's family was distant and seemingly-uncaring were depressing. I loved how the entire Kennedy clan basically adopted both Riley and his sister, Madison.
Honestly, I think the story could've benefitted from a bit more conflict in regards to Riley's family, maybe with Riley helping Madison deal with their mother after her Runaway Bride antics.
But instead, most of the 'major dilemmas' in the story turned out to either be non-events or were setting very quickly, possibly too quickly, for them to have been as impactful as they could've been.
The steamy bits were pretty hot, too, but I've gotta admit that the Dom'ish stuff wasn't really my thing. But I did like the fact that things turned out to be pretty give and take (literally) in the bedroom.
The story ends with the beginnings of a solid HEA and I'm really looking forward to the next book in the series.
I'd rate this one at around 3.5 stars, because I 'liked' the story, but it wasn't all out love for me.
Read
March 7, 2018review removed from GR
An ARC was provided in exchange for an honest review.
An ARC was provided in exchange for an honest review.
September 21, 2024
3.5 Stars
Um. Seriously? May I just say that these 2 are the most sexually open guys ever. With nary a hiccup or batting an eyelash, they explore their sexuality with hardly a doubt, insecurity, or worry. Well� that’s not the entire truth, but they sure surmount their questions and confusion with extreme ease, and do so quite sexily. That’s not a complaint, since angst is highly overrated right??
Riley - quiet, contemplative, steady as a rock. He’s so laid back that nothing really ruffles his feathers - that is, until his new roomie. He hasn’t thought of himself as a take charge kind of guy until he sees that Ethan needs some hardcore grounding. Riley simply just wants to help a friend out. Uh huh.
Ethan - gregarious, brash, a fount of endless energy. Mostly in an effort to not being “that� guy, he takes a chance on his curiosity and from then on, these two can’t not stop exploring each other, despite their previous straight status. Ethan never knew being taken care of could be so addictive.
Just like in the first book, this still consistently delivers humor (still leaning on the side of awkward), sexy/sweet, and the least angst ever in a sports related coming out story. Definitely the easiest, breeziest series of its kind I’ve come across. A solid win for this 2nd installment!
Um. Seriously? May I just say that these 2 are the most sexually open guys ever. With nary a hiccup or batting an eyelash, they explore their sexuality with hardly a doubt, insecurity, or worry. Well� that’s not the entire truth, but they sure surmount their questions and confusion with extreme ease, and do so quite sexily. That’s not a complaint, since angst is highly overrated right??
Riley - quiet, contemplative, steady as a rock. He’s so laid back that nothing really ruffles his feathers - that is, until his new roomie. He hasn’t thought of himself as a take charge kind of guy until he sees that Ethan needs some hardcore grounding. Riley simply just wants to help a friend out. Uh huh.
Ethan - gregarious, brash, a fount of endless energy. Mostly in an effort to not being “that� guy, he takes a chance on his curiosity and from then on, these two can’t not stop exploring each other, despite their previous straight status. Ethan never knew being taken care of could be so addictive.
Just like in the first book, this still consistently delivers humor (still leaning on the side of awkward), sexy/sweet, and the least angst ever in a sports related coming out story. Definitely the easiest, breeziest series of its kind I’ve come across. A solid win for this 2nd installment!
June 1, 2020
Audio - 5 Stars
Story - 4 Stars
After being unable to finish book 1, I thought I was one and done with this series. After reading a particular review, I had a change of heart.
I would have liked a little more on page relationship development instead of being told how much time had passed. It made the relationship feel rushed, but I loved the MCs, and did eventually feel their connection. It helped that they lived together, and were interacting a lot. I wish the story wasn't so sport heavy, but that's my problem. lol.
Off to book 3....
Story - 4 Stars
After being unable to finish book 1, I thought I was one and done with this series. After reading a particular review, I had a change of heart.
I would have liked a little more on page relationship development instead of being told how much time had passed. It made the relationship feel rushed, but I loved the MCs, and did eventually feel their connection. It helped that they lived together, and were interacting a lot. I wish the story wasn't so sport heavy, but that's my problem. lol.
Off to book 3....
February 1, 2022
DNF at 36%
This was so, so boring. I tried to keep going, but I’ve been bored since shortly after the beginning and this is as far as I can go in my attempt to give the book a fair chance.
I want to say it was a surprise, considering how much I liked the first book in the series, but it really wasn’t. I had already noticed in Breakaway that the plot and relationship development, the writing in general, didn’t offer anything new, but in that book Lane’s character made all the difference. Here, there’s just nothing to keep me interested, the only spark of interest I felt was when Riley called Lane on the phone. Riley and Ethan don’t feel like real people to me, they read as badly outlined characters in a book, their thought process and their interactions don’t always make sense () and while their dynamic in the bedroom should be right up my alley, I don’t feel any chemistry between them.
2 stars because I've read less than half the book and despite the which has me tempted to be less generous. At least it wasn't very graphic.
This was so, so boring. I tried to keep going, but I’ve been bored since shortly after the beginning and this is as far as I can go in my attempt to give the book a fair chance.
I want to say it was a surprise, considering how much I liked the first book in the series, but it really wasn’t. I had already noticed in Breakaway that the plot and relationship development, the writing in general, didn’t offer anything new, but in that book Lane’s character made all the difference. Here, there’s just nothing to keep me interested, the only spark of interest I felt was when Riley called Lane on the phone. Riley and Ethan don’t feel like real people to me, they read as badly outlined characters in a book, their thought process and their interactions don’t always make sense () and while their dynamic in the bedroom should be right up my alley, I don’t feel any chemistry between them.
2 stars because I've read less than half the book and despite the which has me tempted to be less generous. At least it wasn't very graphic.
February 5, 2017
I would have given this one 4.5 stars, but it ended so abruptly. I really thought it was missing a chapter or two. Other than that, I liked it better than book 1, which I quite enjoyed. I'll try to make time a bit later to write up more of a review.
March 7, 2016
Review originally posted at .
4.5 stars
Sometimes you just want a story that’s comforting and Save of the Game fits that bill perfectly. This is one of those stories where there is a focus on the relationship with no craziness, big drama or angst, but just two men moving from friends to lovers, discovering their bisexuality and building a fun, loving relationship while navigating their everyday lives. This is also a hockey series so they’re also trying to build on their team’s momentum from the last year (which was played out in Breakaway) to win a championship and dealing with their own wants and insecurities in both their personal and professional lives.
Although the two main characters grew up in completely different situations and have different personalities, they have the same underlying goals and values. Riley Hunter is the quiet and superstitious Sea Storm goalie. His family is filthy rich and he just wants to use his money to take care of and help his friends. Unfortunately his friends all seem to be rather stubborn and full of pride, so he has to be creative with his attempts. Riley has no real relationship with his family. There was no big falling out, he just wasn’t a priority to his parents who focused more on his siblings and their business while he was left to the care of drivers and housekeepers. He hasn’t spoken to his parents in three years, though they still fund everything in his life and have their staff send him a birthday card.
On the other hand, enforcer Ethan Kennedy can be loud and brash, but he is also all about family. He has a tight bond with his mother and two sisters, having grown up without a father, and they unconditionally and enthusiastically love and support each other no matter what. That loyalty and support filters through in Ethan’s dealings with his teammates as well. Ethan’s mother has instilled in him a sense that you take care of yourself and don’t rely on other people to do it for you. He is caring and supportive but can be a handful when he gets wound up or excited about something.
Ethan and Riley are again roommates and the more Riley learns about Ethan and his family, the more he just wants to make their lives easier whether it’s helping Ethan out with rent or trying to figure out how to bring Ethan’s family down for a game. Riley also has been having some very interesting thoughts and dreams about Ethan which he explores with the help of internet porn. Ethan finds out and begins considering his feelings about his roommate. One thing leads to another and things slowly heat up.
There is a nice build up to the relationship as neither character has had this sort of interest in another guy before. Their friendship and their banter, the open communication (even if it was sometimes helped along by a bit of liquid courage) and their willingness to try everything and have fun kept me happily reading. They really just go with the flow and explore their feelings while enjoying each other. They find they like it a little kinky and it’s not in the way their personalities would lead you to believe. The sex scenes were fun, believable and hot! Lane and Jared are also available to lend some advice or, in Lane’s case, attempt to before the next distracting thought comes along.
The story and the main characters had a different feel than , and though Ethan and Riley made appearances in that book, this one works just fine as a standalone. The joy Avon Gale obviously takes in writing her characters really comes through here, and not just in the main characters. Ethan’s family plays a big part in the story and each of them has a distinct personality. This really is a secondary relationship in the story and it portrays the kind of family anyone would be happy to have and gives insight into Ethan’s character. This was another good entry in the Scoring Chances series that I would absolutely recommend!
4.5 stars
Sometimes you just want a story that’s comforting and Save of the Game fits that bill perfectly. This is one of those stories where there is a focus on the relationship with no craziness, big drama or angst, but just two men moving from friends to lovers, discovering their bisexuality and building a fun, loving relationship while navigating their everyday lives. This is also a hockey series so they’re also trying to build on their team’s momentum from the last year (which was played out in Breakaway) to win a championship and dealing with their own wants and insecurities in both their personal and professional lives.
Although the two main characters grew up in completely different situations and have different personalities, they have the same underlying goals and values. Riley Hunter is the quiet and superstitious Sea Storm goalie. His family is filthy rich and he just wants to use his money to take care of and help his friends. Unfortunately his friends all seem to be rather stubborn and full of pride, so he has to be creative with his attempts. Riley has no real relationship with his family. There was no big falling out, he just wasn’t a priority to his parents who focused more on his siblings and their business while he was left to the care of drivers and housekeepers. He hasn’t spoken to his parents in three years, though they still fund everything in his life and have their staff send him a birthday card.
On the other hand, enforcer Ethan Kennedy can be loud and brash, but he is also all about family. He has a tight bond with his mother and two sisters, having grown up without a father, and they unconditionally and enthusiastically love and support each other no matter what. That loyalty and support filters through in Ethan’s dealings with his teammates as well. Ethan’s mother has instilled in him a sense that you take care of yourself and don’t rely on other people to do it for you. He is caring and supportive but can be a handful when he gets wound up or excited about something.
Ethan and Riley are again roommates and the more Riley learns about Ethan and his family, the more he just wants to make their lives easier whether it’s helping Ethan out with rent or trying to figure out how to bring Ethan’s family down for a game. Riley also has been having some very interesting thoughts and dreams about Ethan which he explores with the help of internet porn. Ethan finds out and begins considering his feelings about his roommate. One thing leads to another and things slowly heat up.
There is a nice build up to the relationship as neither character has had this sort of interest in another guy before. Their friendship and their banter, the open communication (even if it was sometimes helped along by a bit of liquid courage) and their willingness to try everything and have fun kept me happily reading. They really just go with the flow and explore their feelings while enjoying each other. They find they like it a little kinky and it’s not in the way their personalities would lead you to believe. The sex scenes were fun, believable and hot! Lane and Jared are also available to lend some advice or, in Lane’s case, attempt to before the next distracting thought comes along.
The story and the main characters had a different feel than , and though Ethan and Riley made appearances in that book, this one works just fine as a standalone. The joy Avon Gale obviously takes in writing her characters really comes through here, and not just in the main characters. Ethan’s family plays a big part in the story and each of them has a distinct personality. This really is a secondary relationship in the story and it portrays the kind of family anyone would be happy to have and gives insight into Ethan’s character. This was another good entry in the Scoring Chances series that I would absolutely recommend!
January 14, 2016
Save of the Game by Avon Gale was a sweet friends to lovers story. We have two hockey teammates whose friendship develops into more than just being roommates.
My highlights:
*The main characters. I thought Riley and Ethan were great characters who showed growth throughout the story.
*The suporting cast. To be honest, they almost overshadowed the main characters a bit. I fell in love with Ethan’s family.
*Humor
*The book had a nice, relaxed, feel good vibe.
That being said�
The story was missing something for me- some hmph. The story had minimal angst, and I wanted a little more conflict. Everything always got resolved fairly quick, so it slowed the pace of the story and started to lose me at around the 60% mark. At 200 pages the book is not too long, but it felt long to me. It started to feel repetitive. This caused me to “like� not “love� the book.
I think it all depends on what you’re in the mood for. If you’re in the mood for a sweet romance- give this one a go! I’d also recommend this one after a heartbreaking book. 3.5 Stars �
ARC kindly provided by Dreamspinner Press to for an honest review.
June 18, 2020
Audiobook 3x: June 2020
I still adore Ethan to death! This is one of my favorite comfort listen series. It’s fun, low angst & full of sexy and imperfect hockey players ❤️❤️❤️. Also: 🔥HOT🔥🔥!!
Original review: 2017 ⭐️4.5 ⭐️
Going in for a second comfort listen.....I just love this series and narrator! Just as good the second time around--I adore, simply adore Ethan!
I still adore Ethan to death! This is one of my favorite comfort listen series. It’s fun, low angst & full of sexy and imperfect hockey players ❤️❤️❤️. Also: 🔥HOT🔥🔥!!
Original review: 2017 ⭐️4.5 ⭐️
Going in for a second comfort listen.....I just love this series and narrator! Just as good the second time around--I adore, simply adore Ethan!
February 9, 2017
4.5 hearts!
What a wonderful surprise that story ended up being!
That was gorgeously sweet and angst free. I absolutely fell in love with Riley and Ethan but it was Scott Smith’s voice as Ethan that left me surprisingly flawed and made me realise this is what listening to audiobooks is all about.
Riley and Ethan start off as roommate's and together discover the joys of bisexuality.
A highlight of the story was these boy’s sex scenes, they were actually the very cute, realistic fumblings of two men who are just learning how to touch another man. Then when they get their confidence up they start playing with some ropes and cock-choking and My God it is hot. The kink is very light and so very welcome.
These two are such a wonderful couple, they're a bit ‘opposites attract� and they compliment each other beautifully. There was also not an abundance of hockey talk which I very much appreciated.
Okay, onto the narration.
When I started this audiobook I didn’t really like it, well more specifically I didn’t like Ethan's voice (or maybe it was Ethan?). He has an old style New York gangster accent, which while super cool, takes some getting used. Also every one of his lines was virtually yelled due to his enthusiasm for life and overzealous nature. I think I was about half way through the book when Ethan’s more vulnerable moments occurred and I found myself feeling so deeply for him, it had crept up on me like a stealthy ninja. I had to stop and think, ‘when did I start caring about Ethan� and that's when I realised how perfectly Smith had embodied Ethan’s character.
Ethan is hyperactive and enthusiastic in a way I would have never have understood if I had simply read his lines. I’m a fairly quiet person and to comprehend that much energy is hard for me, Ethan would have come across as a loud and obnoxious man. I would have never understood or loved Ethan as much as I did if I hadn’t heard his passion and vulnerabilities first hand. And that right there is what makes a narrator incredible, when they can give you an experience you would not be able to have if you only had your own interpretation of the character.
My only complaint, which is so minor in comparison to how much I loved this, is Riley is a softly spoken character and I struggled to hear his dialogue at times.
Adored the story! It can be read as a standalone and I highly recommend it to anyone. The audiobook added an extra element to the story I wasn’t expecting and I think everyone should listen to it, but if you don't enjoy audiobooks, definitely still read this anyway.
What a wonderful surprise that story ended up being!
That was gorgeously sweet and angst free. I absolutely fell in love with Riley and Ethan but it was Scott Smith’s voice as Ethan that left me surprisingly flawed and made me realise this is what listening to audiobooks is all about.
Riley and Ethan start off as roommate's and together discover the joys of bisexuality.
A highlight of the story was these boy’s sex scenes, they were actually the very cute, realistic fumblings of two men who are just learning how to touch another man. Then when they get their confidence up they start playing with some ropes and cock-choking and My God it is hot. The kink is very light and so very welcome.
These two are such a wonderful couple, they're a bit ‘opposites attract� and they compliment each other beautifully. There was also not an abundance of hockey talk which I very much appreciated.
Okay, onto the narration.
When I started this audiobook I didn’t really like it, well more specifically I didn’t like Ethan's voice (or maybe it was Ethan?). He has an old style New York gangster accent, which while super cool, takes some getting used. Also every one of his lines was virtually yelled due to his enthusiasm for life and overzealous nature. I think I was about half way through the book when Ethan’s more vulnerable moments occurred and I found myself feeling so deeply for him, it had crept up on me like a stealthy ninja. I had to stop and think, ‘when did I start caring about Ethan� and that's when I realised how perfectly Smith had embodied Ethan’s character.
Ethan is hyperactive and enthusiastic in a way I would have never have understood if I had simply read his lines. I’m a fairly quiet person and to comprehend that much energy is hard for me, Ethan would have come across as a loud and obnoxious man. I would have never understood or loved Ethan as much as I did if I hadn’t heard his passion and vulnerabilities first hand. And that right there is what makes a narrator incredible, when they can give you an experience you would not be able to have if you only had your own interpretation of the character.
My only complaint, which is so minor in comparison to how much I loved this, is Riley is a softly spoken character and I struggled to hear his dialogue at times.
Adored the story! It can be read as a standalone and I highly recommend it to anyone. The audiobook added an extra element to the story I wasn’t expecting and I think everyone should listen to it, but if you don't enjoy audiobooks, definitely still read this anyway.
October 14, 2016
The sophomore story in any series, particularly one coming on the heels of a story I loved like Breakaway (the first book in the hockey series), well...it has a lot to live up to. I expect a lot from it. I expect humor, and romance, and smoking hot sexy times. AND THIS DELIVERS!
When I first met Riley Hunter in Breakaway, I fell a little bit in love with the quiet, introverted goalie who was hiding his ultra-rich billionaire background. In Riley gets a new roommate, Ethan Kennedy, the Sea Storm's chain smoking enforcer. And where Riley is quiet, Ethan is loud, brash, and utterly wonderful.
I absolutely love the background of the two guys, with Riley coming from a loveless home with distant parents and absent siblings and Ethan coming from a highly supportive, loving, loud family which includes his kick-ass mom and two wonderful sisters. Ethan and Riley complement each other so well. They fill in each other's holes, so it's not a real surprise when they find themselves attracted to one another.
I love how they grow from friends into lovers - the initial scene of them kissing is one of my many favorites in the story! I love that they communicate with one another, not letting little fights grow. I swear, I just love their relationship as a whole. If you like great romance, fantastic friendship, low angst and hot sex, look no further - this one is a KEEPER!
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
Advance Review Galley copy of provided by in exchange of an honest review.
This review has been cross-posted at .
When I first met Riley Hunter in Breakaway, I fell a little bit in love with the quiet, introverted goalie who was hiding his ultra-rich billionaire background. In Riley gets a new roommate, Ethan Kennedy, the Sea Storm's chain smoking enforcer. And where Riley is quiet, Ethan is loud, brash, and utterly wonderful.
I absolutely love the background of the two guys, with Riley coming from a loveless home with distant parents and absent siblings and Ethan coming from a highly supportive, loving, loud family which includes his kick-ass mom and two wonderful sisters. Ethan and Riley complement each other so well. They fill in each other's holes, so it's not a real surprise when they find themselves attracted to one another.
I love how they grow from friends into lovers - the initial scene of them kissing is one of my many favorites in the story! I love that they communicate with one another, not letting little fights grow. I swear, I just love their relationship as a whole. If you like great romance, fantastic friendship, low angst and hot sex, look no further - this one is a KEEPER!
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
Advance Review Galley copy of provided by in exchange of an honest review.
This review has been cross-posted at .
July 10, 2016
*A free copy of the book provided by the author in exchange for an honest review*
Aww...
This is now the 2nd Avon read for me and seriously, I just realized, this is what I want to do with these boys in this series,
We were first introduced to Riley and Ethan in , hockey players playing for the same team (pun intended:p). From roommates, it moved on to something more.
On the one hand, Riley and Ethan are quite opposite because of their upbringing. Riley is of the quieter, calmer kind. Whereas Ethan can be loud and quite expressive. Riley is one of those people born with a silver spoon without an ounce of ego to him. Whereas Ethan didn't grow up with much and only has his family as his greatest treasure. But on the other hand, they couldn't be more the same. Behind their persona are men with a lot of depth and comprehension.
Put them together, they're funny and oh so sweet! And oh so hot!*g* Being with each other is a new thing for both them, and watching them getting to know each other better and navigating their way around each other and their new relationship, it gave me lots of smiles and aww-moments. They're so considerate and supportive of each other. I love how they really got to understand each other in time. I love how the relationship progressed. There were no extreme highs or lows; things just flowed really naturally. *happy sigh*
And big bonus for me is getting a glimpse of Lane and Jared from the first book. Lane, I swear, I will love that kid always! I was laughing every time he was on. Gah!!! What can I say, Lane makes me happy! Avon, you make me happy!
Cannot wait for the third book!!!
Aww...
This is now the 2nd Avon read for me and seriously, I just realized, this is what I want to do with these boys in this series,
We were first introduced to Riley and Ethan in , hockey players playing for the same team (pun intended:p). From roommates, it moved on to something more.
On the one hand, Riley and Ethan are quite opposite because of their upbringing. Riley is of the quieter, calmer kind. Whereas Ethan can be loud and quite expressive. Riley is one of those people born with a silver spoon without an ounce of ego to him. Whereas Ethan didn't grow up with much and only has his family as his greatest treasure. But on the other hand, they couldn't be more the same. Behind their persona are men with a lot of depth and comprehension.
Put them together, they're funny and oh so sweet! And oh so hot!*g* Being with each other is a new thing for both them, and watching them getting to know each other better and navigating their way around each other and their new relationship, it gave me lots of smiles and aww-moments. They're so considerate and supportive of each other. I love how they really got to understand each other in time. I love how the relationship progressed. There were no extreme highs or lows; things just flowed really naturally. *happy sigh*
And big bonus for me is getting a glimpse of Lane and Jared from the first book. Lane, I swear, I will love that kid always! I was laughing every time he was on. Gah!!! What can I say, Lane makes me happy! Avon, you make me happy!
Cannot wait for the third book!!!
December 14, 2017
⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱*A forgettable story*⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱
I was hoping for a epilogue. I really wanted to see how the two characters did in the future. The book centers around Jacksonville Sea Storm goalie Riley ‘Riles� Hunter (how old?) and Jacksonville Sea Storm's enforcer Ethan Patrick Kennedy (24) who is also Riley's new roommate. Riley is trying to figure out how he feels; is he gay? While doing that, he and Ethan gets closer, and their friendship becomes more... Overall, the books was cute, fast forward and a easy read. There's nothing special about it, nor is it something to write home about. It's kinda just a ‘meh� story. But now I can say that I have read each book in this series. Yay me. Oh and I should probably say that I'm not fan of smokers, so it bothered me a bit that Ethan smoked a lot.
“Do you feel better now?�
Quick basic facts:
Genre: - (Adult?) Contemporary Romance (M/M)
Series: - Series, (Can Be Read As A Standalone), Book Two.
Love triangle? -
Cheating? -
HEA? -
Favorite character? - Riley ‘Riles� Hunter.
Would I read more by this author/or of series? - Sure.
Would I recommend this book/series? - Sure.
Will I read this again in the future? - No.
Rating - 2/2.5 stars.
December 8, 2018
4.5*
Still waters run deep�
� and at the bottom there's the devil, as we say in German. ;-)
Good grief! Who would have thought what's lurking beneath the surface of calm and collected Riley Hunter?
What do you do when you are totally clueless about something? You google it! At least that’s what I would do... ;-) So what does a guy when he feels attracted to his roommate and has no idea what to do about it? Exactly the same! And -God bless the Internet- what Riley learned in doing so and then subsequently put into action was hot!!! (Of course, you could just ask your best friend, but don't expect there to be any helpful advice, when your best friend is called Lane and is his usual weird self. ;-) This phone call was just hilarious and I had so much fun meeting Lane and Jared from the first book again.)
Lucky for Riley (and for me! ;-), Ethan Kennedy, old new defenseman of Riley's hockey team and said roommate, accidentally stumbles across Riley's desire and his attraction towards Ethan. Surprisingly, he discovers that he's totally on board with it. What starts as some kind of experimental exploration, turns soon into so much more and it was really cute to see how they took their time in spite of it all and reacted to each other's needs.
Both, Riley and Ethan, had negative experiences in their childhood.
Riley, the goalie, is a control-freak. He is the typical poor little rich kid and I don’t mean it contemptuous, rather the contrary because I really felt for him. Riley is coining in money, but there’s not enough money in the world to make you happy when the love of your parents is lacking. He tries to help others with his money, but this usually doesn't end up well, because either people try to use him or reject him, so he keeps his wealth rather a secret.
Ethan is exactly Riley’s counterpart. With his tattoos and shaved head, he looks like a punk, but beneath that rough exterior beats a heart of gold. Grown-up without a father, it was just him, his mother and his two sisters. They didn’t have it easy, because money was rather scarce, but they always had each other. Ethan's protective streak is constantly in overdrive, be it towards his teammates or his family and he discovers that sometimes you just need someone else to be in charge. And I must say... whew, I really liked his way of giving up control! ;-)
More often than not I have a favorite character in books, but not this time. I just loved both of them and the way they complemented each other.
Avon Gale's writing style is excellent, you can almost feel her love for this sport and she conveys it to such an extent that I really got excited during the games and rooted for the team. Loudly! *ahem* Especially near the end, when Ethan played an important part in the decisive game...
Overall I enjoyed this book as much as the first one. It's about valuing what you've got, which applies to all things in life. You just have to fight for it.
But it's also about trust. Trust in yourself, trust in the right decisions, and trust in someone you love.
Since I can't get enough of this series... right on to the next! ;-)
Still waters run deep�
� and at the bottom there's the devil, as we say in German. ;-)
Good grief! Who would have thought what's lurking beneath the surface of calm and collected Riley Hunter?
What do you do when you are totally clueless about something? You google it! At least that’s what I would do... ;-) So what does a guy when he feels attracted to his roommate and has no idea what to do about it? Exactly the same! And -God bless the Internet- what Riley learned in doing so and then subsequently put into action was hot!!! (Of course, you could just ask your best friend, but don't expect there to be any helpful advice, when your best friend is called Lane and is his usual weird self. ;-) This phone call was just hilarious and I had so much fun meeting Lane and Jared from the first book again.)
Lucky for Riley (and for me! ;-), Ethan Kennedy, old new defenseman of Riley's hockey team and said roommate, accidentally stumbles across Riley's desire and his attraction towards Ethan. Surprisingly, he discovers that he's totally on board with it. What starts as some kind of experimental exploration, turns soon into so much more and it was really cute to see how they took their time in spite of it all and reacted to each other's needs.
Both, Riley and Ethan, had negative experiences in their childhood.
Riley, the goalie, is a control-freak. He is the typical poor little rich kid and I don’t mean it contemptuous, rather the contrary because I really felt for him. Riley is coining in money, but there’s not enough money in the world to make you happy when the love of your parents is lacking. He tries to help others with his money, but this usually doesn't end up well, because either people try to use him or reject him, so he keeps his wealth rather a secret.
Ethan is exactly Riley’s counterpart. With his tattoos and shaved head, he looks like a punk, but beneath that rough exterior beats a heart of gold. Grown-up without a father, it was just him, his mother and his two sisters. They didn’t have it easy, because money was rather scarce, but they always had each other. Ethan's protective streak is constantly in overdrive, be it towards his teammates or his family and he discovers that sometimes you just need someone else to be in charge. And I must say... whew, I really liked his way of giving up control! ;-)
More often than not I have a favorite character in books, but not this time. I just loved both of them and the way they complemented each other.
Avon Gale's writing style is excellent, you can almost feel her love for this sport and she conveys it to such an extent that I really got excited during the games and rooted for the team. Loudly! *ahem* Especially near the end, when Ethan played an important part in the decisive game...
Overall I enjoyed this book as much as the first one. It's about valuing what you've got, which applies to all things in life. You just have to fight for it.
Things worth having don't come easy. That was true about the position he played, the championship he was celebrating, and the loudmouthed defenseman he'd fallen in love with.
But it's also about trust. Trust in yourself, trust in the right decisions, and trust in someone you love.
Ethan caught his hand with his own and laced their fingers together. He looked startingly vulnerable. More so than Riley had ever seen. “It's easier for me to say 'I love you' than to let you take care of me. You know that. Right?�
Since I can't get enough of this series... right on to the next! ;-)
February 29, 2016
I definitely enjoyed the second installment of Gale's hockey series much better than the first one due to one specific reason.
Despite both MCs are practically bisexuals as well as gay virgins, but the idea of open relationship is toned down. Neither Riley or Ethan brought the idea of threesome or doing it with others as frequently as it was with Lane and Jared. Sure, Jennifer Lawrence's name is thrown into the mix, but I'm good with it. She's a celebrity -- not exactly one of the people in their life. So in that sense, I thought Riley and Ethan were more dedicated to each other, and I approved :)
I also loved Ethan's family -- they were fantastic. I loved the hockey teams. I even enjoyed the sex with the biting and a bit of D/s tone. This is an enjoyable, light, and angst free story. Plus . Loved that part so frickin' much.
Last thing, I needed to say this though...
Personal Note
I noticed several comments that disliked the M/F short sex scene on page. Well, since the MCs are bisexuals, I didn't really see anything wrong with it. Bisexual exists and that can mean sex with either gender. I can moan about it, I can feel uncomfortable about it. But I also don't want M/M authors to start writing only what they think majority of M/M readers like. I think authors should write anything that they feel suit the characters. Even if that means 'against' what the majority of M/M readers like in their romance.
Just my two cents. No hard feelings, kay? :)
Despite both MCs are practically bisexuals as well as gay virgins, but the idea of open relationship is toned down. Neither Riley or Ethan brought the idea of threesome or doing it with others as frequently as it was with Lane and Jared. Sure, Jennifer Lawrence's name is thrown into the mix, but I'm good with it. She's a celebrity -- not exactly one of the people in their life. So in that sense, I thought Riley and Ethan were more dedicated to each other, and I approved :)
I also loved Ethan's family -- they were fantastic. I loved the hockey teams. I even enjoyed the sex with the biting and a bit of D/s tone. This is an enjoyable, light, and angst free story. Plus . Loved that part so frickin' much.
Last thing, I needed to say this though...
Personal Note
I noticed several comments that disliked the M/F short sex scene on page. Well, since the MCs are bisexuals, I didn't really see anything wrong with it. Bisexual exists and that can mean sex with either gender. I can moan about it, I can feel uncomfortable about it. But I also don't want M/M authors to start writing only what they think majority of M/M readers like. I think authors should write anything that they feel suit the characters. Even if that means 'against' what the majority of M/M readers like in their romance.
Just my two cents. No hard feelings, kay? :)
May 26, 2016
4.25 stars
I loved this!
I love the GFY trope, but I sometimes have trouble with a double GFY story simply because there is so much awkwardness. I love awkwardness, but it can also take the sexy out of the sex. Or lead to massive amounts of insecurity for both guys.
But not here! I loved how both Ethan and Riley both spoke their minds. The sex scenes were very sexy but also quite hilarious.
“Is this� um? Weird?�
“You’re gonna put your fingers in my ass, dude,� Ethan said. “Of course it’s weird. That’s why you should still be distracting me by sucking my cock. See? This really isn’t that hard, boyfriend.�
I loved that there is no angst anywhere in this book. It’s not overly fluffy or sweet, but there were no obstacles in the way of these guys.
The one thing I could have gone without though was the sex scene with Ethan and some girl at the beginning. I have no idea why that was even in the book. It was a one-time thing and it wasn’t even to show that Ethan was a slut, because he wasn’t. It could be to show that Ethan was really bisexual, but it just really annoyed me.
But other than that this was an amazing book!
I loved this!
I love the GFY trope, but I sometimes have trouble with a double GFY story simply because there is so much awkwardness. I love awkwardness, but it can also take the sexy out of the sex. Or lead to massive amounts of insecurity for both guys.
But not here! I loved how both Ethan and Riley both spoke their minds. The sex scenes were very sexy but also quite hilarious.
“Is this� um? Weird?�
“You’re gonna put your fingers in my ass, dude,� Ethan said. “Of course it’s weird. That’s why you should still be distracting me by sucking my cock. See? This really isn’t that hard, boyfriend.�
I loved that there is no angst anywhere in this book. It’s not overly fluffy or sweet, but there were no obstacles in the way of these guys.
The one thing I could have gone without though was the sex scene with Ethan and some girl at the beginning. I have no idea why that was even in the book. It was a one-time thing and it wasn’t even to show that Ethan was a slut, because he wasn’t. It could be to show that Ethan was really bisexual, but it just really annoyed me.
But other than that this was an amazing book!
August 7, 2017
5 +++ stars
I loved it.
Riley and Ethan- a match made in hockey heavens. Loved their romance and the sex was so Hawt!
July 2016
wooow! this was a great read. I loved Riley and Ethan and enjoyed their relationship, their Kinky side was hooot. i loved their was low angst and more communication.
July 27, 2022
3.5 stars**
January 27, 2016
Another super cute, feelgood hockey romp from Avon Gale. I really enjoyed this. If you liked the first in the series, you'll like this too, and if you haven't read them yet and you like lighthearted hockey stories, then I suggest you check them out :)
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March 13, 2021
� 4 stars �
Riley and Ethan were soo cute!! I loved their friendship, that slowly led to them developing feelings for each other and, eventually, becoming a couple. I've said this in my past reviews but, as much as I adore the cutesy side of romance, there's something about an angst, emotional-filled one that tugs at my heartstrings that I can't help but be addicted to so my four star rating has nothing to do with the book itself. The book was perfect as it is, but I think I wanted a little more drama in their story and that's just a personal preference of mine. However, I'd still recommend this if you're in the mood for something cute, with not much angst but it still has great banters between the two MCs! <3
Riley and Ethan were soo cute!! I loved their friendship, that slowly led to them developing feelings for each other and, eventually, becoming a couple. I've said this in my past reviews but, as much as I adore the cutesy side of romance, there's something about an angst, emotional-filled one that tugs at my heartstrings that I can't help but be addicted to so my four star rating has nothing to do with the book itself. The book was perfect as it is, but I think I wanted a little more drama in their story and that's just a personal preference of mine. However, I'd still recommend this if you're in the mood for something cute, with not much angst but it still has great banters between the two MCs! <3
September 24, 2019
***narration review only***
I can only say that I truly hope that does the narration for the rest of the series.
I can only say that I truly hope that does the narration for the rest of the series.
March 17, 2018
Riley Hunter is used to no one caring about him. Sure, he has friends, but he never feels like he can really be himself around them, and his family has never been one to do much more than drop the occasional card in the mail. For all that his money makes life easier, it sure doesn’t make it happier. Especially when no one seems to understand just how much he wants to give back to those he is slowly growing to care about.
Ethan Kennedy has only had three people he could depend on in his life: his mother and his two sisters. And life may have never been easy, but he has never doubted that he is as important to them as they are to him. But trusting anyone outside his family is harder than quitting smoking (and that’s damn near impossible).
Riley and Ethan have lived two different lives, but when it comes down to it, they fit together. If only they’d let their edges rub up against each other enough to get that perfect fit.
I found this story so easy to get caught up in, despite the fact I’ve read it several times before. Scott R. Smith does a splendid job of bringing to life Avon Gale’s many characters, all the while keeping the fun and damn hot sexiness that worked so well in the books. And boy oh boy did he deliver on the sheer fucking hotness that is Ethan Kennedy’s accent.
As I said in my review for the audio book. I’m not going to go into a lot of the actual plot of this story since I’ve written a review of that previously (here). But needless to say, I will never stop loving how easy these stories are to enjoy all the while being so very well layered and filled with heart. This isn’t fluff, more like a large piece of chocolate raspberry cheesecake. So smooth and it hits the spot every time. There are not many books that I can claim to enjoy no matter how many times I’ve read them before, but this book–hell, this entire series–is just that. And not just because the idea of Ethan on his knees, tied up with hockey laces, really really does it for me.
If you didn’t think this book could get even hotter wait till you hear it in Scott R. Smith’s ridiculously spot-on voice acting. (I think when I hear him do Misha in the next story I might actually melt into a pile of goo.)
I think I’ll like the boys of the Scoring Chances series in whatever form they come in (be it book, audio, or preformed live for me in my living room) but I am so glad I have these on audio. I have a hard time not preferring the voices in my own head to the ones that are offered for sale, but sometimes what you pay for is better. It brings the story to life in ways you couldn’t imagine.
(Though, word to the wise: if you are listening to this aloud, you might wanna double check that you are not going to have family members walk into the room right in the middle of (listening to) an enthusiastic blow job. Which, for some reason, always seems to happen to me.)
I highly recommend you pick up this book in whatever form you can get your hands on.
This book was provided free in exchange for a fair and honest review for Love Bytes. Go there to check out other reviews, author interviews, and all those awesome giveaways. Click below.
Ethan Kennedy has only had three people he could depend on in his life: his mother and his two sisters. And life may have never been easy, but he has never doubted that he is as important to them as they are to him. But trusting anyone outside his family is harder than quitting smoking (and that’s damn near impossible).
Riley and Ethan have lived two different lives, but when it comes down to it, they fit together. If only they’d let their edges rub up against each other enough to get that perfect fit.
I found this story so easy to get caught up in, despite the fact I’ve read it several times before. Scott R. Smith does a splendid job of bringing to life Avon Gale’s many characters, all the while keeping the fun and damn hot sexiness that worked so well in the books. And boy oh boy did he deliver on the sheer fucking hotness that is Ethan Kennedy’s accent.
As I said in my review for the audio book. I’m not going to go into a lot of the actual plot of this story since I’ve written a review of that previously (here). But needless to say, I will never stop loving how easy these stories are to enjoy all the while being so very well layered and filled with heart. This isn’t fluff, more like a large piece of chocolate raspberry cheesecake. So smooth and it hits the spot every time. There are not many books that I can claim to enjoy no matter how many times I’ve read them before, but this book–hell, this entire series–is just that. And not just because the idea of Ethan on his knees, tied up with hockey laces, really really does it for me.
If you didn’t think this book could get even hotter wait till you hear it in Scott R. Smith’s ridiculously spot-on voice acting. (I think when I hear him do Misha in the next story I might actually melt into a pile of goo.)
I think I’ll like the boys of the Scoring Chances series in whatever form they come in (be it book, audio, or preformed live for me in my living room) but I am so glad I have these on audio. I have a hard time not preferring the voices in my own head to the ones that are offered for sale, but sometimes what you pay for is better. It brings the story to life in ways you couldn’t imagine.
(Though, word to the wise: if you are listening to this aloud, you might wanna double check that you are not going to have family members walk into the room right in the middle of (listening to) an enthusiastic blow job. Which, for some reason, always seems to happen to me.)
I highly recommend you pick up this book in whatever form you can get your hands on.
This book was provided free in exchange for a fair and honest review for Love Bytes. Go there to check out other reviews, author interviews, and all those awesome giveaways. Click below.
May 28, 2017
I've read the first book not too long ago and wasn't really wowed by it. Now this one..I liked way better.Riley and Ethan were awesome together, they were both very like-able characters !
They start the new hockey season as roommates. Both have a very different background. Ethan comes from a very loveable family. His mom and sisters adore him. The only things he doesn't have are a father who cares about him and money. So he really wants to make it playing hockey, because he wants to make his family proud. He's a real fighter...which is also what he does most on the ice...since he's an enforcer. He has some daddy issues, which result in him not wanting anybody taking care or pitty him in any way.
Riley comes from a very wealthy family, who doesn't give a shit about him. They only send him money and he hasn't seen them in three years. All he wants, is to do good things with his money and make his friends happy, but he tries to keep his wealth to himself, because things usually get complicated when people find out how rich he is.
Riley and Ethan become very good friends...who start to feel more for each other. This is a nice slow burn with very honest and open characters...I loved that about them. Both of them have only been with women..so this is a double gay for you...which is very yummy. It was very entertaining reading about these boys, discovering gay sex ;)
They were really hot together...but in such a sweet way, freaking adorable. The only thing that bothered me, was once their relationship developed more, emotionally and sexually, we got less and less steamy scenes. I really hate it when the steamfactor drops all of a sudden. I wanted to read more about them being intimate, after they got so emotionally involved.
There isn't a lot of angst in this one. They only issues they really have is money related.
Very sweet, sexy, romantic, double gfy story with a sports theme :))
August 10, 2017
3.5 stars
me @ all these reviewers getting mad that one of the leads has a one night stand with a girl IN A MIDDLE OF A M/M BOOK. Wow. What a tragic event for the human kind really. (it happens in the beginning, please forgive my dramatic style)
Ever heard of bisexuality, Susan?
But seriously the girl, Sierra, is literally such a BAMF, I wanted her to be a part of the story so bad. Sorry, angry ladies.
I loved Riley. I really loved Riley. I loved the family dynamics and I want to be adopted by Ethan's family, thank you very much. I feel like I would've liked the story more if there was more progress on the line of Riley's family because I wanted to know what the hell was happening with them. Ethan, in all honesty, got on my nerves constantly. That dude is a drama queen that overly complicates even the simplest of things. He was the male epitome of the manic pixie girl, I'm not even kidding. So, even though the story was interesting and I really liked Riley, I definitely wouldn't say that this is Avon Gale's best book, not even in this series. (Isaac and Laurent own my fucking ass.)
me @ all these reviewers getting mad that one of the leads has a one night stand with a girl IN A MIDDLE OF A M/M BOOK. Wow. What a tragic event for the human kind really. (it happens in the beginning, please forgive my dramatic style)
Ever heard of bisexuality, Susan?
But seriously the girl, Sierra, is literally such a BAMF, I wanted her to be a part of the story so bad. Sorry, angry ladies.
I loved Riley. I really loved Riley. I loved the family dynamics and I want to be adopted by Ethan's family, thank you very much. I feel like I would've liked the story more if there was more progress on the line of Riley's family because I wanted to know what the hell was happening with them. Ethan, in all honesty, got on my nerves constantly. That dude is a drama queen that overly complicates even the simplest of things. He was the male epitome of the manic pixie girl, I'm not even kidding. So, even though the story was interesting and I really liked Riley, I definitely wouldn't say that this is Avon Gale's best book, not even in this series. (Isaac and Laurent own my fucking ass.)
August 10, 2016
3.5 Stars
I enjoyed following the Jacksonville Sea Storm into another season of ice hockey. Even more, I enjoyed following Riley and Ethan on their sometimes awkward journey from friends-to-lovers. I appreciated that there was little angst here and that both guys were willing and eager to explore their newly realised bisexual status together without much drama. It was easy and it was fun.
Overall, I enjoyed this slightly more than the first book (), but there is something about this series and the characters, that I can't put my finger on, which continues to keep me in the "yeah, it was okay" enjoyment ranks, instead of the "holy shit, that was amazing" arena that most of my GR friends seem to occupy. Hopefully with time they'll grow on me a bit more because I'm definitely forging ahead to the next story (at some point).
I enjoyed following the Jacksonville Sea Storm into another season of ice hockey. Even more, I enjoyed following Riley and Ethan on their sometimes awkward journey from friends-to-lovers. I appreciated that there was little angst here and that both guys were willing and eager to explore their newly realised bisexual status together without much drama. It was easy and it was fun.
Overall, I enjoyed this slightly more than the first book (), but there is something about this series and the characters, that I can't put my finger on, which continues to keep me in the "yeah, it was okay" enjoyment ranks, instead of the "holy shit, that was amazing" arena that most of my GR friends seem to occupy. Hopefully with time they'll grow on me a bit more because I'm definitely forging ahead to the next story (at some point).
May 5, 2016
I’m beginning to think that books by Avon Gale have some type of super power. Like, not only does the mere fact that I’m going to read one of her books suddenly make all the books I happen to read around the same time like really awesome-–but they also have the power to make me forget (even if only for a little while) that I’m supposed to be feeling sick and miserable and extremely grumpy.
Do you know how hard it is to be grumpy when you have a toppy goalie tying up a hot defenseman with hockey laces and making him suck the goalies� cock? It very very hard. Nearly impossible. No grumps to be found. At all.
Magic, I tell you. Fucking magic.
So, yeah. If you can’t tell, I really loved this book. No surprise since I basically adored book one in the series. I was a little worried that me feeling like puck left out in the sun too long was going to make it hard to really enjoy this story, but I guess I forgot how easily I can be distracted by a good book. And a good book it was.
We kinda met Riley and Ethan in , the first book of this series (and if you haven’t read it you really really oughtta even if it is not strictly required to get this book–it is just freaking awesome) and while I was seriously looking forward to meeting them again in this book I was not prepared for how freaking great they were going to be.
Goalies are my thing�-like chocolate covered pretzels only thousand times more fun to nibble on�-and Riley, oh sweet toppy if slightly insecure Riley was amazeballs. He has a lot of money but he really doesn’t want people to know because that is all they will see when they look at him. Which becomes a bit of a problem when Ethan, who has never really had much of anything but his family, moves in. And it does become a problem, just not in the ways you expect. I loved that Riley just wanted to use his money to help Ethan (and the other people he loves) and how frustrated he gets that no one seems to get that helping them is all Riley thinks his money is good for. It really made me like Riley-–and usually I have a hard time with really rich characters because being broke most of my life tends to leave a guy a bit jaded.
There is so much I love about this book. The characters are so much fun. The writing is witty and sarcastic and real enough to make me forget for a little while that I’m not actually a hockey player stuck in the south and playing for a team with a really pissed off water-tornado thing on my jersey. And forgetting to be me, yesterday, was what I really really needed.
This series so far has been great and I can’t wait for the next one. Avon Gale clearly knows how to write kickass hockey players without bowing down to every cliche in the book. From one hockey lover to the next, I must recommend them with the highest of praise.
(And I’m almost 100% positive that that isn’t just the drugs I am on speaking.)
This book was provided free in exchange for a fair and honest review for Love Bytes. Go there to check out other reviews, author interviews, and all those awesome giveaways. Click below.
Do you know how hard it is to be grumpy when you have a toppy goalie tying up a hot defenseman with hockey laces and making him suck the goalies� cock? It very very hard. Nearly impossible. No grumps to be found. At all.
Magic, I tell you. Fucking magic.
So, yeah. If you can’t tell, I really loved this book. No surprise since I basically adored book one in the series. I was a little worried that me feeling like puck left out in the sun too long was going to make it hard to really enjoy this story, but I guess I forgot how easily I can be distracted by a good book. And a good book it was.
We kinda met Riley and Ethan in , the first book of this series (and if you haven’t read it you really really oughtta even if it is not strictly required to get this book–it is just freaking awesome) and while I was seriously looking forward to meeting them again in this book I was not prepared for how freaking great they were going to be.
Goalies are my thing�-like chocolate covered pretzels only thousand times more fun to nibble on�-and Riley, oh sweet toppy if slightly insecure Riley was amazeballs. He has a lot of money but he really doesn’t want people to know because that is all they will see when they look at him. Which becomes a bit of a problem when Ethan, who has never really had much of anything but his family, moves in. And it does become a problem, just not in the ways you expect. I loved that Riley just wanted to use his money to help Ethan (and the other people he loves) and how frustrated he gets that no one seems to get that helping them is all Riley thinks his money is good for. It really made me like Riley-–and usually I have a hard time with really rich characters because being broke most of my life tends to leave a guy a bit jaded.
There is so much I love about this book. The characters are so much fun. The writing is witty and sarcastic and real enough to make me forget for a little while that I’m not actually a hockey player stuck in the south and playing for a team with a really pissed off water-tornado thing on my jersey. And forgetting to be me, yesterday, was what I really really needed.
This series so far has been great and I can’t wait for the next one. Avon Gale clearly knows how to write kickass hockey players without bowing down to every cliche in the book. From one hockey lover to the next, I must recommend them with the highest of praise.
(And I’m almost 100% positive that that isn’t just the drugs I am on speaking.)
This book was provided free in exchange for a fair and honest review for Love Bytes. Go there to check out other reviews, author interviews, and all those awesome giveaways. Click below.
January 29, 2016
4.5 stars
Review @
Yes!!!! Another winner by Avon Gale. She is rocking this series, and this was angst free. Her writing was spot on, and such a cohesive story line. I know next to nothing about Hockey, even live in a Hockey city, but I wasn't as confused as I was in book one. I adored this one a lot. Hockey isn't my thing, but guys are! Riley was everything. I really liked him as a character, and Ethan Kennedy wasn't to bad himself. Why did it have to end? I wanted to totally see Ethan in his next stage of life.
I liked that the romance was front runner in this for the guys. I enjoyed Ethan's determination to accept his bisexuality. He had these notions in his mind, and instead of ignoring them he got down to the bottom of it. Ethan's strong will determination was definitely appreciated by me. I'm sure when others read this book, they will definitely fall in love with his characters. I enjoyed his family, and that conversation between him and his mom was so lovely. She's such a strong and loving woman. It's no wonder how Ethan turned out.
Goodness, Riley. Ugh, I just want him. He was amazing, and a tad kinky. Loved that side of him. I liked his personality. He was so calmed, his thinking is what makes Riley attractive. His passion was in everything he did. His meeting of the Kennedy's as reserved as he was, I think he yearned for a family like. But I'm kinda glad he didn't get it, because he wouldn't be the person he is now. Loved seeing Lane & Jared, and some new faces.
Yowza!!! Two steamy gorgeous, strong, brilliantly hot guys. Lord these guys can definitely heat up a page. I mean from zero guy interest until eff it we are going big or go home. Man, seriously the mouth on these two left me feeling tingly in all the right places. I can't wait for more of this series. I would like to see more of these two though, even a one-off would be good enough for me. 2nd favorite book of the year! I'm on a winning streak!
**Special thanks to Dreamspinner Press for giving me this book in exchange for an honest review**
Review @
Yes!!!! Another winner by Avon Gale. She is rocking this series, and this was angst free. Her writing was spot on, and such a cohesive story line. I know next to nothing about Hockey, even live in a Hockey city, but I wasn't as confused as I was in book one. I adored this one a lot. Hockey isn't my thing, but guys are! Riley was everything. I really liked him as a character, and Ethan Kennedy wasn't to bad himself. Why did it have to end? I wanted to totally see Ethan in his next stage of life.
I liked that the romance was front runner in this for the guys. I enjoyed Ethan's determination to accept his bisexuality. He had these notions in his mind, and instead of ignoring them he got down to the bottom of it. Ethan's strong will determination was definitely appreciated by me. I'm sure when others read this book, they will definitely fall in love with his characters. I enjoyed his family, and that conversation between him and his mom was so lovely. She's such a strong and loving woman. It's no wonder how Ethan turned out.
Goodness, Riley. Ugh, I just want him. He was amazing, and a tad kinky. Loved that side of him. I liked his personality. He was so calmed, his thinking is what makes Riley attractive. His passion was in everything he did. His meeting of the Kennedy's as reserved as he was, I think he yearned for a family like. But I'm kinda glad he didn't get it, because he wouldn't be the person he is now. Loved seeing Lane & Jared, and some new faces.
Yowza!!! Two steamy gorgeous, strong, brilliantly hot guys. Lord these guys can definitely heat up a page. I mean from zero guy interest until eff it we are going big or go home. Man, seriously the mouth on these two left me feeling tingly in all the right places. I can't wait for more of this series. I would like to see more of these two though, even a one-off would be good enough for me. 2nd favorite book of the year! I'm on a winning streak!
**Special thanks to Dreamspinner Press for giving me this book in exchange for an honest review**
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