Just Winging It (For Puck’s Sake 9) by Crea Reitan -review tour

šŸ’ššŸ’Just Winging It (For Puck’s Sake Book 9) by Crea Reitan -review touršŸ’ššŸ’

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date October 10, 2024

One weekend can change everything.

Caulder

Iā€™ve lived a very quiet life, keeping my deepest secrets close to my chest. I let no one in; not even my closest friends. When Iā€™m invited to participate in the All-Star Games, Iā€™m suddenly forced to share a hotel room, and a single bed, with a stranger. My carefully guarded world starts to come undone when he kisses me, and I canā€™t get enough.

Now one person shares my secret. Itā€™s a relief, really. But just as Iā€™m starting to fall for Lo Duvall, my world implodes. A woman in Philly claims that we hooked up in a club and sheā€™s carrying my baby. Are we over before we can even begin?

Lo

Anonymous hookups when Iā€™m on the road are how I manage to keep my personal life private. All I want is to play hockey and keep everything else out of the media. That gets more complicated when I meet the gorgeous Caulder Haines.

Three nights of unfiltered fuckeryā€”thatā€™s what we promise each other. Then weā€™ll go our separate ways. But by the end of the weekend, I havenā€™t had enough of this amazing defenseman, and donā€™t want to say goodbye.

Iā€™ve fallen in love with him.

When an aspiring content creator decides to throw a wrench in my very carefully crafted plans, I know I have to do something to save what Iā€™ve only just realized I want.

I canā€™t lose Caulder. I just found him. But what can I do to keep him?!

This is a LGBTQIA+ story with content not intended for those under 18 years of age due to graphic scenes and situations.

ā€¢ā€¢ā€¢ā€¢ā€¢ā€¢ā€¢

REVIEW: Another amazing story in this great series. Crea has created a world I want to live in. Her stories come alive and stay with you long after you read the last page.

Caulder Haines has been in previous books in this series, so I was excited to see where we would go in this story.

One bed, two strangers. Has the recipe for disaster or a delicious night or two of fun.

What with Caulder being a secret gay man (heā€™s not ashamed, but hockey is first and foremost, life will come after he retires) and Laurent ā€œLoā€ also being gay (his hook ups are very controlled) they donā€™t want anyone to find out and then it becomes a media circus.

A weekend of fun, that was all it was suppose to be. To be able to be themselves. But as the weekend ends, both know it was way more than that! But how can they be together, when they live so far apart? And neither have said they are gay, so thatā€™s something that would need to be said (and both are adamant that their gender preferences would remain quiet until they retired!)

I loved the hockey banter/the contest and catching up with some many previous characters (most have their own books) I also really liked how Lo never made Caulder feel uncomfortable, nor did he ever pressurise him into doing something he wasnā€™t comfortable with. I cheered as a hockey game was played (been a while since we had a game in the books) and could feel the cold on my cheeks (I do love a descriptive scene) šŸ˜Š

The spanner in the works happens around (65% into the book)

And it throws both Caulder and Lo into a tailspin! And there is a reason why I donā€™t believe it was Caulder (but itā€™s not my secret to tell šŸ¤)

But how will Caulder explain himself? How will Lo respond to his boyfriend being the father of a baby? I can tell you this, Iā€™d love to have Lo in my corner. Heā€™s so supportive, caring and downright hot (his possessive tone gave me shivers šŸ˜œ)

This one ranks as possibly my 2nd/3rd favourite in the series. And I absolutely loved it.

Canā€™t wait for the next book šŸ‘šŸ»

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
Shiver
Starting Line
Lucky Shot
The Crease
Wingman Score
Coach Stare Down
Stick Lessons
The Defending Goal

Copy supplied for review

šŸ¦‹ Reviewed by Julie B

Crea lives in upstate New York with her dog and husband. She has been writing since grade school, when her second grade teacher had her class keep writing journals. She has a habit of creating secondary, and often time tertiary, characters that take over her stories. All of her RH relationships end up being heavily polyamorous ā€“ meaning itā€™s not just all the men for one woman. Thereā€™s also some M/M action going on. When she canā€™t fall asleep at night, she thinks up new scenes for her characters to act out. This, of course, is how most of her meant-to-be-thrown-away characters tend to end up front and center ā€“ and utterly swoon-worthy! Donā€™t ask her how many book boyfriends she hasā€¦

When not writing, Crea is an avid reader. Her TBR pile is several hundred books high (donā€™t even look at her kindle wish list or the unread books on her tablet). Sometimes, she enjoys crafting; sometimes, exploring nature; sometimes, traveling. Mostly, she enjoys putting her characters on paper and breathing life into them. Oh, and sleeping. Crea loves to sleep!

Author Links:

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The Defending Goal (For Puck’s Sake 8)by Crea Reitan -review tour

šŸ§”The Defending Goal (For Puck’s Sake 8)by Crea Reitan -review touršŸ§”

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date August 15, 2024

Not only the net should be protected.

Felton

Iā€™m a disappointment, a failure, a shit show. Every decision is wrong. None of my accomplishments are good enough. I donā€™t do anything right.

This is what Iā€™ve been told my entire life.

For more than thirty years, no one knew. What the world sees is a lie. I do a good job of hiding it.

Until I donā€™t.

Ren

Sometimes, all it takes is a single moment to realize youā€™re needed somewhere and in that moment, your entire life changes. Felton has so many broken pieces that he can barely breathe.

But thatā€™s okay. Iā€™m going to show this man what love is. If he doesnā€™t have the capacity to protect himself, Iā€™ll do it for him. The abuse ends now.

ā€¢ā€¢ā€¢ā€¢

REVIEW: If I could reach into a book and hug/protect a character, then Felton would be it.

He may be a huge goalie, a mountain of a man , but heā€™s been belittled and terrorised all his life, and not by kids at school, no, far worse! By his own father!! His family, especially his mother didnā€™t really try to stop it! So Felton has no confidence at all, in fact when hearing his fathers voice, Felton goes into panic/shut down mode (his way of trying to protect himself!)

Then Feltonā€™s world falls apart! His career is on the line. And Felton begins to spiralā€¦..

Ren plays on the same team as Felton, they know each other, but not really friends. Ren has his own set of friends and a loving family. So when Ren begins to notice Felton, itā€™s firstly as a concerned team member. And the more Ren gets to know about Felton (the one behind the fake smile) the more Ren

Itā€™s a sloooowburn, but watching as Ren slowly comes to realise that Felton is it for him, has me not minding the spice scenes being missing. In fact, if theyā€™d gone at it from the get go, I think we would have lost a beautiful story.

Ren becomes Feltonā€™s friend/confidant/mentor and cheerleader. He becomes the wall that Felton needs against his father. And Ren shows him that family can love each other unconditionally. Felton hands over the reigns to Ren, and lets him make ALL of his decisions. Suddenly a huge weight is lifted, and Felton can finally breathe.

I squealed as a crossover character is mentioned. Puzzled to myself as to who will be in the next book. And sighed, as I close yet another emotional book. I love this series.

I like how the author builds the story and the characters. This one has less crossovers, but it does have a few hockey moments. (Which the last few have been lacking. This one is possibly another ā€œgay for youā€ as Ren has slept with women, and has never really looked at men ā€œthat wayā€, until Felton.

Felton and Ren are probably my second favourite couple in this series.

No need to read in order. You can dip in and out.

Another recommended read from me šŸ‘šŸ»

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
Shiver
Starting Line
Lucky Shot
The Crease
Wingman Score
Coach Stare Down
Stick Lessons

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Julie BšŸ¦‹

Crea lives in upstate New York with her dog and husband. She has been writing since grade school, when her second grade teacher had her class keep writing journals. She has a habit of creating secondary, and often time tertiary, characters that take over her stories. All of her RH relationships end up being heavily polyamorous ā€“ meaning itā€™s not just all the men for one woman. Thereā€™s also some M/M action going on. When she canā€™t fall asleep at night, she thinks up new scenes for her characters to act out. This, of course, is how most of her meant-to-be-thrown-away characters tend to end up front and center ā€“ and utterly swoon-worthy! Donā€™t ask her how many book boyfriends she hasā€¦

When not writing, Crea is an avid reader. Her TBR pile is several hundred books high (donā€™t even look at her kindle wish list or the unread books on her tablet). Sometimes, she enjoys crafting; sometimes, exploring nature; sometimes, traveling. Mostly, she enjoys putting her characters on paper and breathing life into them. Oh, and sleeping. Crea loves to sleep!

Author Links:

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Stick Lessons (For Puck’s Sake 7) by Crea Reitan -review tour

šŸ’Stick Lessons (For Puck’s Sake 7) by Crea Reitan -review touršŸ’

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date June 13, 2024

Everyone should learn how to handle a stick.

Atty

High school sweethearts, dream wedding, exotic honeymoon, white picket fence, two and a half kidsā€¦ thatā€™s the dream. My prescribed future. Except, I donā€™t want any of that. When me and my on/off girlfriend of fifteen years finally call it quits for good, I decide that Iā€™m ready for a new beginning.

I didnā€™t expect that new beginning to be a dude.

Toby

This man is perfectā€¦ he obeys like a marionette, lets me bend him and choke him until my heart’s content. He lets me dress him up, breed him, and refuse his pleasure as if he were built specifically for my needs.

But Atty isnā€™t who I thought he was and heā€™s struggling to find his new identity while Iā€™m freefalling for him off the face of a cliff. Iā€™m not used to needing a safety net in life so thereā€™s a very real chance Iā€™m going to hit the ground like a pancake.

Is love always this tragic?

ā€¢ā€¢ā€¢ā€¢ā€¢

REVIEW:Toby is a play acting knight. He puts on a show a couple of times a week, he enjoys it, but his real love is his platform on social media?! He predicts hockey scores, he also does reviews on the players (they arenā€™t always popular, but they are honest in his opinion) he also likes his sĀ£x a certain way! He makes no apologies and he certainly isnā€™t looking for long term commitments yet.

Hector Atlas (or Atty to friends and family) is an ice hockey player, not great, but certainly not in any danger of being transferred. Heā€™s stuck in a rut, heā€™s changed his appearance, stopped dating his on/off girlfriend, but nothing excites him anymore, that is until his friend takes him to a jousting event! And yup, you guessed itā€¦. Eyes meet across an arenaā€¦ and Toby and Atty end up going home together!!

Is Atty gay? He doesnā€™t think he is, and when heā€™s not around Toby heā€™s sure, and heā€™s not interested in other men. But when Toby calls, all bets are off! Atty just canā€™t get enough of this choke holding, throw me around and call me good girl time that he has with Toby!

This one did my head in! šŸ˜† but in a good way. I got a little confused with the ā€œgood girlā€ and ā€œbaby girlā€ I thought I was reading an M/F and then realised this was just Toby and his way.

Itā€™s funny how we give labels to male and female, and then rebel when the labels are turned. But I loved how the author made me think about these labels and how we need to change our way of thinking.

And then it hit meā€¦. Itā€™s Tobyā€¦ the guy who worked with Vulcan (who I still absolutely adore) he has a story that you need to read (For Your Forever) we see a completely different side to Toby in this book.

Anyway I digressā€¦.. Back to Toby and Atty (who I think has come to terms with his sexuality, heā€™s definitely only gay for Toby) Itā€™s becoming apparent to Tobyā€™s roommates that heā€™s spending more and more time with just one man, and the same man! Toby is certain it will wear off eventually, heā€™s not worried.

But when Toby finds out that Atty isnā€™t gay, and has only ever slept with one man, (that would be him!) it freaks him out a little. Heā€™s also freaked out that heā€™s sleeping with a hockey player and didnā€™t recognise him (heā€™s only ever seen Atty with long fair and a beard!) Heā€™s also aware that Atty is engaged to a woman!!

Atty is beginning to fall for Toby, and that has his slightly concerned. They havenā€™t talked about being a couple. They havenā€™t even gone out on a date! His friends and family are still assuming he will go back to his girlfriend at some point!

So where do they go from here? To find that out, youā€™ll need to read this book.

We also get to see other couples from this series. And possibly new couples that could happen šŸ˜‰

Still not what i would call a ā€œhockeyā€ story. Itā€™s jam packed with smut šŸ„µ šŸ˜œ but I thoroughly enjoyed it. šŸ¤ŒšŸ»

Canā€™t wait to read the next one in this series.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
Shiver
Starting Line
Lucky Shot
The Crease
Wingman Score
Coach Stare Down

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Julie BšŸ¦‹

Crea lives in upstate New York with her dog and husband. She has been writing since grade school, when her second grade teacher had her class keep writing journals. She has a habit of creating secondary, and often time tertiary, characters that take over her stories. All of her RH relationships end up being heavily polyamorous ā€“ meaning itā€™s not just all the men for one woman. Thereā€™s also some M/M action going on. When she canā€™t fall asleep at night, she thinks up new scenes for her characters to act out. This, of course, is how most of her meant-to-be-thrown-away characters tend to end up front and center ā€“ and utterly swoon-worthy! Donā€™t ask her how many book boyfriends she hasā€¦

When not writing, Crea is an avid reader. Her TBR pile is several hundred books high (donā€™t even look at her kindle wish list or the unread books on her tablet). Sometimes, she enjoys crafting; sometimes, exploring nature; sometimes, traveling. Mostly, she enjoys putting her characters on paper and breathing life into them. Oh, and sleeping. Crea loves to sleep!

Author Links:

Facebook GroupĀ /Ā FacebookĀ /Ā InstagramĀ /Ā TikTokĀ /Ā WebsiteĀ /

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Coach Stare Down (For Puck’s Sake 6) by Crea Reitan-review tour

Coach Stare Down (For Puck’s Sake 6) by Crea Reitan-review tour

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Don’t own a Kindle? Download the FREE Amazon Kindle App for your mobile device or pc

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date MAY 16, 2024

All it takes is just one look.

Adak

After a series of relationships where Iā€™ve been made to feel inadequate because of my asexuality, Iā€™ve made the sole focus of my life my coaching career. I love hockey – the chill of the ice, the fast paced, high stress game. I love the fans and the atmosphere. The energy. Now that Iā€™m coaching in the NHL, I feel a sense of serenity and comfort with life. All thatā€™s left is to get my team to The Stanley Cup.

A series of unfortunate injuries has riddled the Bobcats into a serious funk. The frustration that my boys feel echoes through me and after one of the most horrible plays Iā€™ve ever witnessed, I turn my back on the ice – only to catch his eyes. Suddenly, I know what Iā€™ve been missing. In a sea of over 15,000 faces, I found the one Iā€™ve been waiting my entire life for.

Thereā€™s sadness in his eyes thatā€™s only overcome with the fear behind it. Nothing will stop me from making Oren mine and giving him the life and love he deserves. Nothing.

Oren

My life is shit. Iā€™m the pariah of my family for hell knows why. All I want is to get away. But I tried once – at nineteen, I ran and my father with his buddies on the police force dragged me home. Iā€™ve since been dragged down into submission.

But then I meet his eyes and everything inside me justā€¦ shifts. Adak takes a chance on me and I think that perhaps my father has finally met a wall he canā€™t barrel through to keep control. That is, until he starts blasting his hate everywhere.

I wouldnā€™t blame Adak if he chooses to leave. This is his career on the line. His image and reputation. Am I worth it?

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REVIEW:I was hoping for a better story this time as I wasnā€™t too keen on the last one!

This one I loved, we got the hockey side (which I missed in the last one) we got a few little steamy moments. But it was the connection between Oren and Adak that I adored.

Adak is an ice hockey coach. Weā€™ve met him a couple of times in previous books. Itā€™s not necessary to read the previous ones as they all stand on their own. It was just great that he finally got a story.

He loves the game, his team and the fans that come out to support the team week in and week out.

But heā€™s lonely, he has a loving family, but he wants what his nephew has with his new husband. He wants a connection to another soulā€¦. Past partners have put pressure on Adak to bend to their needs and make him feel guilty when he doesnā€™t conform to what society thinks is normal.

I love meeting new characters, I like that itā€™s not always about the sā‚¬x. The author has shown us that love comes in many shapes and forms like humans do. Just because you love someone differently, doesnā€™t make it wrong.

Oren had me in the first page. His home life is horrid. A father that controls every aspect of his lifeā€¦. From the clothes he wears to the food he eats. From the job he should be doing (luckily Oren stuck to his principles on that one!) to the friends he should have. He was verbally beaten down, until Oren had nowhere or no one to turn to!! Even his brothers joined with the verbal beat down!! šŸ˜”

Fate, or whatever you want to call it put Oren in Adakā€™s sights. And from then on it gave Oren the strength to fight for what he wanted. It wasnā€™t easy, it wasnā€™t pretty, in fact reading parts of the struggle to gain his freedom had me in tears and shouting at my kindle!! His confidence was nonexistent, his self worth was at an all time low. He constantly questioned himself, and had nothing but anxiety when around his family.

It also gave Adak the partner he deserved. One who loved him just the way he was, didnā€™t expect anything but love/cuddles and understanding.

This book does have triggers. This book is hard going (but sooooo worth the effort) and this book is now my second favourite in the series (Rakesh and Egon will always have my number one position) I just loved how they grew stronger after each incident. I chuckled at the most inappropriate times, and smiled at all the cuddling within this book.

Slow burn ? šŸ¤” almost borders on the sweet side. But itā€™s a great read, and one Iā€™m highly recommending. šŸ«¶šŸ»šŸ‘ŒšŸ«¶šŸ»

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
Shiver
Starting Line
Lucky Shot
The Crease
Wingman Score

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Julie BšŸ¦‹

Crea lives in upstate New York with her dog and husband. She has been writing since grade school, when her second grade teacher had her class keep writing journals. She has a habit of creating secondary, and often time tertiary, characters that take over her stories. All of her RH relationships end up being heavily polyamorous ā€“ meaning itā€™s not just all the men for one woman. Thereā€™s also some M/M action going on. When she canā€™t fall asleep at night, she thinks up new scenes for her characters to act out. This, of course, is how most of her meant-to-be-thrown-away characters tend to end up front and center ā€“ and utterly swoon-worthy! Donā€™t ask her how many book boyfriends she hasā€¦

When not writing, Crea is an avid reader. Her TBR pile is several hundred books high (donā€™t even look at her kindle wish list or the unread books on her tablet). Sometimes, she enjoys crafting; sometimes, exploring nature; sometimes, traveling. Mostly, she enjoys putting her characters on paper and breathing life into them. Oh, and sleeping. Crea loves to sleep!

Author Links:

Facebook GroupĀ /Ā FacebookĀ /Ā InstagramĀ /Ā TikTokĀ /Ā WebsiteĀ /

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Wingman Score (For Puck’s Sake 5) by Crea Reitan-review tour

šŸ©µšŸ’Wingman Score (For Puck’s Sake 5) by Crea Reitan-review touršŸ©µšŸ’

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au /

Don’t own a Kindle? Download the FREE Amazon Kindle App for your mobile device or pc

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date April 18, 2024

Itā€™s time to score.

Zak

When you fight for so long, sometimes itā€™s just easier to give in. I want to give in to the god before me. Sent to me from the heavens, Owen is the very definition of divine perfection. But he doesnā€™t know my truth. If he did, heā€™d know that I donā€™t belong in his world.

The shame of seeing the disgust on his face when he figures it out keeps me running from him. Even though fate or destiny or something cruel keeps throwing us together. Maybe heā€™s the motivation I need to get my shit in order.

But can I do it before he figures out Iā€™m nothing but a street rat?

Owen

The person who was made for me turns up at the New Yearā€™s Eve party I didnā€™t want to go to. Weā€™ve been serendipitously thrown together a handful of times since and though I know Zak wants me, he keeps walking out my door and refusing to call.

I canā€™t figure out why and itā€™s driving me insane. When I canā€™t take it anymore, I chance him thinking that Iā€™m a stalker and show up at the address I dropped him off at last. Zak doesnā€™t live there but I finally learn his secret.

Now all I have to do is figure out how to convince Zak that Iā€™ll give him the world if heā€™ll let me. Should be as easy as winning that elusive Stanley Cup.

ā€¢ā€¢ā€¢ā€¢ā€¢ā€¢

REVIEW:Reading the blurb had me wondering if this would be as good as the rest of the series. Let me tell you it was, it took me a little longer than usual to warm up to the characters, but as usual the author puts so much into these stories, itā€™s hard not to fall in love with them and their story.

Zak hasnā€™t got two cents to rub together, sleeping on his friends couch and ducking into parties that he canā€™t afford! Heā€™s not lazy, he wants a better life for himself, but as a struggling fashion designer, he knows heā€™s never going to make it big! He just needs motivation or a chanceā€¦.

Owen is a god amongst his peers (well thatā€™s what all the media says!) heā€™s loved and lived his best life to the fullest so far. But not having anyone to share it is becoming boring. But people are only usually nice to him because of his status.

Fate puts them in the right place. And are struck by how right they are together, but Zak canā€™t get past the fact they are from two different worlds ā€¦. Owen has money behind him, and Zak feels he just isnā€™t good enough to be with Owen! I loved Owen such a caregiver. He never let Zak think any less of himself. If he could he would have given him the world.

The angst comes mainly from Zak, his inability to let go of his inadequacies, not thinking more of himself. Owen never gives up, but it does get a little close at times!

And seeing Orson again šŸ˜Š that brings back happy memories, and a few of the other characters have books (look them up and give them a read, you wonā€™t be sorry šŸ˜‰)

So can Owen convince Zak to give them a chance? Or will Owen not be able to give his trust and love to the only man who will love him back unconditionally?

Again another original story that will have you thinking of Owen and Zak long after you put them down.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
Shiver
Starting Line
Lucky Shot
The Crease

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Julie BšŸ¦‹

Crea lives in upstate New York with her dog and husband. She has been writing since grade school, when her second grade teacher had her class keep writing journals. She has a habit of creating secondary, and often time tertiary, characters that take over her stories. All of her RH relationships end up being heavily polyamorous ā€“ meaning itā€™s not just all the men for one woman. Thereā€™s also some M/M action going on. When she canā€™t fall asleep at night, she thinks up new scenes for her characters to act out. This, of course, is how most of her meant-to-be-thrown-away characters tend to end up front and center ā€“ and utterly swoon-worthy! Donā€™t ask her how many book boyfriends she hasā€¦

When not writing, Crea is an avid reader. Her TBR pile is several hundred books high (donā€™t even look at her kindle wish list or the unread books on her tablet). Sometimes, she enjoys crafting; sometimes, exploring nature; sometimes, traveling. Mostly, she enjoys putting her characters on paper and breathing life into them. Oh, and sleeping. Crea loves to sleep!

Author Links:

Facebook GroupĀ /Ā FacebookĀ /Ā InstagramĀ /Ā TikTokĀ /Ā WebsiteĀ /

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The Crease (For Puck’s Sake 4) by Crea Reitan-review tour

?? The Crease (For Puck’s Sake 4) by Crea Reitan-review tour ??

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Don’t own a Kindle? Download the FREE Amazon Kindle App for your mobile device or pc

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date March 7, 2024

Always protect the heart of the ice.

Max

This wasnā€™t supposed to happen to me. Iā€™m supposed to be at the top of my career. Untouchable. Worshiped. Finally proving to all the jerks in my life that I made it. Iā€™m at the top.

Then a video that shouldn’t exist leaks and everything comes crashing down. Iā€™m about to lose it all and I canā€™t seem to get out of my own way. My agent banishes me to a place that technology canā€™t touch while he tries to salvage my career.

Iā€™m caught between rage and deep depression, lashing out at everyone and everything around me. I have myself to blame but right now, all I want is to drown in my misery. Even when something unexpected and good comes along, all I can do is push and push until Iā€™m once more drowning all alone.

Deryke

I donā€™t know whatā€™s come over me. Why does this disaster of a hockey player suddenly call to my heart and everything inside my body and mind? I mean, the world knows whatā€™s in his pants and Iā€™ve never been even slightly turned on by that! Why now? Why him?

Even when heā€™s bratting so hard I want to break him, I can see that he acts the way he does because heā€™s hurting somewhere deep inside. He wonā€™t let me in, but for some unknown reason, I canā€™t let Maximus Latham go.

He needs me. He needs someone to believe in him and not disappear the minute he messes up. He needs someone to love him for him, not for being the hockey god he is. Except Iā€™m not sure I can reach him in time before he self-destructs.

But damned if Iā€™m not going to try.

ā€¢ā€¢ā€¢ā€¢

REVIEW: Iā€™m hoping this series goes on forever. Another story smashed off the ice and into the back of the net ? this authors ice hockey/mm romance series has to be one of my all time favourites.

The characters are so 3 dimensional that I tend to forget they arenā€™t real. That the text messages that send to one another arenā€™t on my phone!! The books in this series hold not only a place in my heart, but also a place in my head.

This book focuses on the bad boy, the player, the trouble maker and his name is Maximus Latham (Max to friends)

Heā€™s popped up in a few books (but you donā€™t have to read them to understand his character,) and in all of them heā€™s acted up, played the fool and will do anything for attention! But this time it backfires spectacularly and Max is facing the horrifying threat of losing the only thing heā€™s good at ice hockey!

Taking himself off to a remote island sounds like a good idea, but Max suffers a boat load of self doubt and insecurities, and begins to withdraw from his surroundings and in fact life itself!

Itā€™s so sad reading how he slowly stops caring, how the voices in his head batter him about, until heā€™s just a husk, a shell of the man he once wasā€¦.

Deryke is on the same island as Max, but for different reasons. He comes to the island to visit friends and recharge before the start of the season (yes, Deryke is a hockey player too) ? Seeing Max in the bar on the island has Deryke approach him to say hi. They arenā€™t on the same team but they do recognise each other enough to say hello. But Deryke gets no response!

I love the whole idea of someone out there just for you. And although Deryke isnā€™t gay, and Max is bi (although probably prefers men to be honest) they just click. Deryke doesnā€™t really question why heā€™s attracted to Max, he just knows he is suppose to be there to care and support Max ?

And so starts the whole story of Deryke bringing Max back to life. Showing him that he is worth the time and effort. Maxā€™s backstory is a sad one, it certainly contributes to his mental health and the way he sees himselfā€¦.

This book is about redemption, recognition and caring for someone enough to put your own life on holdā€¦..But with the start of the hockey season, and Max still hasnā€™t heard from his manager or coach and Deryke is heading back to the mainland to start training how will Max cope on his own? Deryke is his lifeline!!

I liked how we get to see previous characters from previous books in this series. I liked how Deryke dealt with Max ? and I just wanted to wrap Max up and deal with all of his heartache.

Another highly recommended read from me.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
Shiver
Starting Line
Lucky Shot

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Julie B ?

 

Crea lives in upstate New York with her dog and husband. She has been writing since grade school, when her second grade teacher had her class keep writing journals. She has a habit of creating secondary, and often time tertiary, characters that take over her stories. All of her RH relationships end up being heavily polyamorous ā€“ meaning itā€™s not just all the men for one woman. Thereā€™s also some M/M action going on. When she canā€™t fall asleep at night, she thinks up new scenes for her characters to act out. This, of course, is how most of her meant-to-be-thrown-away characters tend to end up front and center ā€“ and utterly swoon-worthy! Donā€™t ask her how many book boyfriends she hasā€¦

When not writing, Crea is an avid reader. Her TBR pile is several hundred books high (donā€™t even look at her kindle wish list or the unread books on her tablet). Sometimes, she enjoys crafting; sometimes, exploring nature; sometimes, traveling. Mostly, she enjoys putting her characters on paper and breathing life into them. Oh, and sleeping. Crea loves to sleep!

Author Links:

Facebook GroupĀ /Ā FacebookĀ /Ā InstagramĀ /Ā TikTokĀ /Ā WebsiteĀ /

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Lucky Shot (For Puck’s Sake 3) by Crea Reitan -review tour

?? Lucky Shot (For Puck’s Sake 3) by Crea Reitan -review tour ??

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Don’t own a Kindle? Download the FREE Amazon Kindle App for your mobile device or pc

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date December 14, 2023

The entire game can be determined by a lucky shot.

PrettyInLace

Even a gay athlete has an appearance to uphold. There are a handful out in every sport and while every trashy magazine wants to get the scoop on what the gays are up to, looking for a scandal and a way to ruin us, every one of us is constantly on our best behavior. Acting a certain way; dressing a certain way; speaking a certain way.

If the world knew the real me, it’d shudder. Lace. Pearls. Dresses. Collars. All I want is to be someone’s pretty little doll that they dress up and tell me how pretty I am. I want to be loved for the real me; not the image I’m forced to show to the world just so I can keep my spot on the ice.

The only place I find that escape is in an online role playing game where I can be the sexy femme mage and get my flirt on. Find the man of my dreams.

And I do. He’s a big, hot druid ready to sweep me off my feet. Now if only I could find the courage to tell him who I am and trust that he won’t share it with the rest of the world. I’m not ready to end my career yet.

DemiDefenseKip

I’m known for my defensive plays. Aggressive. Precise. Quick. Strong. On the ice, I’m an icon that the world loves to put on a pedestal and worship. I’ve carefully cultivated everything about my public appearance to capitalize on my short career. Considering I’m a noted ‘queer athlete’ – a title that never strays too far from any article – I’m truly living a charmed life.

What the world doesn’t know is that it’s not just my sexuality that makes having a relationship in the spotlight difficult. It’s also because I’m demisexual. Finding someone interested in me and not my jersey or bank balance has proven especially challenging.

So how does someone with a recognizable face the world over find love? If you figure it out, let me know.

***

This is a LGBT+ story with content not intended for those under 18 years of age due to graphic scenes and situations.

ā€¢ā€¢ā€¢ā€¢ā€¢ā€¢ā€¢ā€¢

REVIEW:You think youā€™ve read your favourite book by this author. Then she throws another contender into the ring.

I absolutely loved this one, and didnā€™t put it down until I finished itā€¦.

Noah and Elixon (Lix) have known each other for a few years. A nod or a ā€œhow are you?ā€ have really been their only form of communication.Noah is a great hockey player, but sometimes feels like they only see his face! Heā€™s tired of being called ā€œprettyā€ he is well aware of what he looks like, he just wants someone to notice him, and to dress him upā€¦.. Noah really wants to be someoneā€™s treasured possession, for someone to see past his face and to get to know the real himā€¦. And so far no luck!

Elixon (Lix to friends and family) might be a gay hockey player, but he hates the fact that people assume heā€™s always up for a one night stand! Heā€™s selective in who he spends time with, but unless he makes an emotional connection with someone, Elixon just isnā€™t interested. So if Elixon and Noah know of each other through their sport, why havenā€™t they hooked up before? And this is where this book is different from the rest of the hockey romances Iā€™ve been reading recently.

They meet onlineā€¦. Nope, not a dating app, but a Role Playing Game. You create a character, do challenges and basically have fun and do stuff you wouldnā€™t do in the real world. They meet, they hang out, they accept and do challenges together, and along the way find out about one another, whilst remaining anonymous.

Both Noah and Elixon spend every waking hour in this pretend world, they are both drawn to one another and tell each other their hopes/dreams and darkest desires. Whilst in the real world not having a clue theyā€™ve just spent time with one another (there are moments in the book that will have you laughing) The role playing game leads them to exchanging phone numbers, that lead to texting one another, that lead them into phoning each other. Until a date with a FaceTime meeting changes their whole relationshipā€¦..

Over the few months theyā€™ve grown to love one another, and both Noah and Lix canā€™t wait to finally see each overā€¦.. So can you imagine their shock and surprise that theyā€™ve literally known one another and not known who they were interacting with! So meeting up is just a matter of a plane flight away. But Noah canā€™t get his head around it, and is worried it will all fall apart once the hockey season begins again!

Can Lix convince Noah that what he feels for Noah is real, and it wonā€™t go away?

I loved both Noah and Lix for different reasons. Their characters were so different from both one another and from characters Iā€™ve read about. This author brings to life their struggles that happen in the real world. I got so excited when they finally saw each other for the first albeit over a FaceTime. And couldnā€™t wait for them to meet in person. The airport scene was so touching.

So another fantastic read from one of my favourite MM authors.

A highly recommended read from me.

Reading Order and Previous Reviews
Shiver
Starting Line

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Julie B ?

Crea lives in upstate New York with her dog and husband. She has been writing since grade school, when her second grade teacher had her class keep writing journals. She has a habit of creating secondary, and often time tertiary, characters that take over her stories. All of her RH relationships end up being heavily polyamorous ā€“ meaning itā€™s not just all the men for one woman. Thereā€™s also some M/M action going on. When she canā€™t fall asleep at night, she thinks up new scenes for her characters to act out. This, of course, is how most of her meant-to-be-thrown-away characters tend to end up front and center ā€“ and utterly swoon-worthy! Donā€™t ask her how many book boyfriends she hasā€¦

When not writing, Crea is an avid reader. Her TBR pile is several hundred books high (donā€™t even look at her kindle wish list or the unread books on her tablet). Sometimes, she enjoys crafting; sometimes, exploring nature; sometimes, traveling. Mostly, she enjoys putting her characters on paper and breathing life into them. Oh, and sleeping. Crea loves to sleep!

Author Links:

Facebook GroupĀ /Ā FacebookĀ /Ā InstagramĀ /Ā TikTokĀ /Ā WebsiteĀ /

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Starting Line (For Puck’s Sake 2) by Crea Reitan-review tour

??Starting Line (For Puck’s Sake 2) by Crea Reitan-review tour??

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au /

Don’t own a Kindle? Download the FREE Amazon Kindle App for your mobile device or pc

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date November 9,2023

Every game begins with a good starting line.

Ethan

Iā€™ve been secretly married for eight years. Why is it a secret? Because having an open marriage splashed all over headlines isnā€™t a good look. Weā€™d constantly be under the spotlight; our lives and relationships judged. Thatā€™s not the kind of hockey player I want to be known for. Especially because we play for different teams.

Although most of my relationships outside of my marriage are passing, Iā€™ve been pining over my best friend and teammate for years. YEARS! Just as I decide that maybe itā€™s time to see where this leads, management throws an unexpected play in our faces.

It might be over before it begins and Iā€™m not sure what to do about it.

Creed

Since the day I was swapped to Buffalo, Iā€™ve been in love with Ethan Wilder. Heā€™s an intense player, breaking records every year. But heā€™s also fun, sweet, thoughtful, and gorgeous. Heā€™s everyoneā€™s perfect dream.

When he tells me he wants to be more than friends, I almost jump him right there in the locker room. Things between us heat up quickly and Iā€™ve never been happier. Everything is perfect.

Except our starting line. Weā€™ve been through four right wingmen in the last three seasons but no matter who management brings on board, they just donā€™t gel with me and Ethan. Now theyā€™ve thrown us a trick play that Iā€™m not sure weā€™re going to be able to work around – on the ice or off.

Itā€™s not just the starting line we need to worry about. In fact, this complication could put the entire team – and our new relationship – on ice.

ā€¢ā€¢ā€¢ā€¢ā€¢ā€¢

REVIEW: Yay, one of my favourite authors has another book out. Itā€™s an MMM read and another book to add to her ā€œFor Puckā€™s Sakeā€ series. You donā€™t need to read book one to get this story. (But itā€™s my favourite so far, so if you havenā€™t read ā€œShiverā€ and you like this type of book, then go grab it, you wonā€™t be sorry)

Ethan doesnā€™t hide who he is, and thatā€™s a gay man playing ice hockey. Heā€™s good at his sport. Heā€™s also known in the press as a bit of a player, always with a new manā€¦..
But Ethan has a secret, and if it ever got outā€¦. Well it could be bad news for anyone associated with himā€¦..

But since meeting and playing with his teammate Creed, Ethan hadnā€™t looked at another manā€¦. He wants Creed, but dating a teammate can get messy and Ethan feels if he lets go then his feelings for Creed could turn into something more!

Creed has crushed and loved his teammate Ethan almost as long as heā€™s known him. He knows his feelings would be reciprocated, but something is hold Ethan back. He just wants a change at a happiness he never had as a young man. Will Ethan ever love him back?

And the third person in this story ā€¦. Jakub. Also a hockey player, and Ethanā€™s secret husband! Heā€™s the caregiver in this long distance relationship, he loves Ethan with every molecule in his body. Heā€™s also aware of Ethanā€™s attraction to Creed.

Creed has known about Jakub, and vice versa. Ethan is the center of both their world. But as the book continues, you get the sense that Jakub would spoil and care for Creed as well.

I loved how the three of these wonderful characters held each other up. I liked how vastly different they are, but gel so well when they are together. The chemistry between Ethan and Creed is strong and fierce, between Ethan and Jakub itā€™s loving and a power exchange. And even between Creed and Jakub there is a tentative relationship growing. I loved how understanding Jakub was with Ethan. A long distance secret relationship couldnā€™t have been easy on them, but you get the intensity of their love for one another clearly coming across the pages.

Then the sh!t hits the fan!! And the unthinkable happens!! It pops their bubble and has the potential to tear their worlds apart!! Can they really be together, or will the media/family and friends pull them apart?

I loved this story. I also liked the explanation given in this book by the author. itā€™s a little heavy on the politics of gender and sexuality. But you can see where the author is going, they are her views, and I might not agree with everything, they are still out out there and not rammed down your throat.

I adored Ethan and Creedā€™s teammates, and hope they all get a story ?

If you like sports romance, MMM romance and a tangled love story then grab it now.

Click HERE for Julie’s review of book one SHIVER

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Julie B ?

Crea lives in upstate New York with her dog and husband. She has been writing since grade school, when her second grade teacher had her class keep writing journals. She has a habit of creating secondary, and often time tertiary, characters that take over her stories. All of her RH relationships end up being heavily polyamorous ā€“ meaning itā€™s not just all the men for one woman. Thereā€™s also some M/M action going on. When she canā€™t fall asleep at night, she thinks up new scenes for her characters to act out. This, of course, is how most of her meant-to-be-thrown-away characters tend to end up front and center ā€“ and utterly swoon-worthy! Donā€™t ask her how many book boyfriends she hasā€¦

When not writing, Crea is an avid reader. Her TBR pile is several hundred books high (donā€™t even look at her kindle wish list or the unread books on her tablet). Sometimes, she enjoys crafting; sometimes, exploring nature; sometimes, traveling. Mostly, she enjoys putting her characters on paper and breathing life into them. Oh, and sleeping. Crea loves to sleep!

Author Links:

Facebook GroupĀ /Ā FacebookĀ /Ā InstagramĀ /Ā TikTokĀ /Ā WebsiteĀ /

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