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Caught Off Guard
Matthias Brandl always knew he wouldn’t spend his entire career with the same team. He does have two tiny problems with getting traded to Las Vegas, though. Number one: Matthias hooked up with their starting goalie Casey Wallace last summer. Number two: Casey totally hates his guts.
Now that Matthias has to be Casey’s backup whether he likes it or not, they have to find a way to work together. That’s when a third tiny problem appears: The more time they spend together, the more Matthias is drawn to Casey. If Matthias wants to help his team win the Cup, he can’t get distracted – but there’s nothing as distracting as Casey.
Now that Matthias has to be Casey’s backup whether he likes it or not, they have to find a way to work together. That’s when a third tiny problem appears: The more time they spend together, the more Matthias is drawn to Casey. If Matthias wants to help his team win the Cup, he can’t get distracted – but there’s nothing as distracting as Casey.
258 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 29, 2023
27 people are currently reading
1349 people want to read
About the author
Catherine Cloud
6 books257 followersCatherine Cloud writes queer sports fiction with a lot of kissing and Golden Retrievers. Yes, there's actual hockey in the books. And, yes, all those Golden Retrievers are totally necessary.
Free stories and extras are available via Tumblr (thesameoldstreets.tumblr.com)
Impressum: https://linktr.ee/thesameoldstreets
Free stories and extras are available via Tumblr (thesameoldstreets.tumblr.com)
Impressum: https://linktr.ee/thesameoldstreets
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 164 reviews
March 30, 2024
4.5 stars
This story is basically about playing hockey and hanging out with teammates, with a bit of romance on the side. And I loved it, which says a lot about the author's writing style. It drew me in from the very beginning – I loved the characters and their friendships, and every game they played had me mentally biting my nails, especially towards the end.
The relationship between Matthias and Casey develops super slowly and not in the way that is "typical" for this genre. Some might find it underwhelming, but I liked it that way. It felt more realistic and the sweet moments felt more precious.
I loved Matthias as the main character. I loved his personality. And I completely agree with what he said about wired earphones. 😅 We only get his POV and I think it really worked here, even though it would be interesting to see what Casey thinks in certain situations. I also really loved Ollie. A wonderful person and a wonderful friend.
There is one brief scene that I didn't like:
As for the ending,
Rating rounded up because of how invested I was in the characters and their story. I started missing them the moment I turned the last page.
******
Re-read 3/2024: Still a favourite.
This story is basically about playing hockey and hanging out with teammates, with a bit of romance on the side. And I loved it, which says a lot about the author's writing style. It drew me in from the very beginning – I loved the characters and their friendships, and every game they played had me mentally biting my nails, especially towards the end.
The relationship between Matthias and Casey develops super slowly and not in the way that is "typical" for this genre. Some might find it underwhelming, but I liked it that way. It felt more realistic and the sweet moments felt more precious.
I loved Matthias as the main character. I loved his personality. And I completely agree with what he said about wired earphones. 😅 We only get his POV and I think it really worked here, even though it would be interesting to see what Casey thinks in certain situations. I also really loved Ollie. A wonderful person and a wonderful friend.
There is one brief scene that I didn't like:
As for the ending,
Rating rounded up because of how invested I was in the characters and their story. I started missing them the moment I turned the last page.
******
Re-read 3/2024: Still a favourite.
December 27, 2025
Reread 12/2025
Another end-of-the-year comfort reread.
I love how Casey and Matthias are different from the author's other hockey player couples. They're BOTH confident and sure about their sexuality, even if they're not out.
Loved it.
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Reread 07/2025
Love it (and no-one is surprised).
--------------------------
Reread 01/2025.
I needed my Catherine Cloud - fix (sorry not sorry that you have her again on your timeline, lol).
Loved it (obviously).
Catherine Cloud's special brand of writing is made for me.
Many say it reminds them of Taylor Fitzpatrick's writing style, and I have to agree, they are similar, but I prefer CC's, I feel more when reading her books. There's more emotional depth in her characters in my opinion.
-----------------
Reread 11/2024
Still 5 stars.
I can't get enough of Catherine Cloud's writing.. it speaks to me, somehow.
-------------
Reread 03/2024
Love Matthias and Casey so much.. still 5 stars.
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Read 05/2023
5 stars.
This was a quiet, but amazing mm hockey romance told from one (Matthias's) pov.
Contrary to most mm hockey romances (with dual pov) this one is not all about sex. Although I love those other books a lot, this storyline was even better in my opinion, because it was unique and special to watch Matthias and Casey first just coexisting, then getting along and slowly getting closer to each other, not knowing for a long time how Casey really felt.
I love romances told from just one pov, because I don't get everything handed from the start and have to pay closer attention to nuances. Also, it feels much closer to real life where I have just my pov, too. The romances told in one pov seem to touch me more because they feel so much more realistic to me.
I loved Matthias. Loved his character, his insecurities in some areas and that he did his best to fit in with the team and do his part.
There was no drama, there was a lot of hockey, and there was always a, first subtle, then sweet, underlying romance-trope parallel to the hockey-trope.
I'm sure I'll read this again soon! And I'll have to check out the author's other books, too.
Another end-of-the-year comfort reread.
I love how Casey and Matthias are different from the author's other hockey player couples. They're BOTH confident and sure about their sexuality, even if they're not out.
Loved it.
------------------
Reread 07/2025
Love it (and no-one is surprised).
--------------------------
Reread 01/2025.
I needed my Catherine Cloud - fix (sorry not sorry that you have her again on your timeline, lol).
Loved it (obviously).
Catherine Cloud's special brand of writing is made for me.
Many say it reminds them of Taylor Fitzpatrick's writing style, and I have to agree, they are similar, but I prefer CC's, I feel more when reading her books. There's more emotional depth in her characters in my opinion.
-----------------
Reread 11/2024
Still 5 stars.
I can't get enough of Catherine Cloud's writing.. it speaks to me, somehow.
-------------
Reread 03/2024
Love Matthias and Casey so much.. still 5 stars.
------------
Read 05/2023
5 stars.
This was a quiet, but amazing mm hockey romance told from one (Matthias's) pov.
Contrary to most mm hockey romances (with dual pov) this one is not all about sex. Although I love those other books a lot, this storyline was even better in my opinion, because it was unique and special to watch Matthias and Casey first just coexisting, then getting along and slowly getting closer to each other, not knowing for a long time how Casey really felt.
I love romances told from just one pov, because I don't get everything handed from the start and have to pay closer attention to nuances. Also, it feels much closer to real life where I have just my pov, too. The romances told in one pov seem to touch me more because they feel so much more realistic to me.
I loved Matthias. Loved his character, his insecurities in some areas and that he did his best to fit in with the team and do his part.
There was no drama, there was a lot of hockey, and there was always a, first subtle, then sweet, underlying romance-trope parallel to the hockey-trope.
I'm sure I'll read this again soon! And I'll have to check out the author's other books, too.
June 18, 2025
Ehm, okay, excuse me, I might have found a new favourite here?
…is how I was going to start this review - right up until I hit the ending and my excitement came crashing down a bit.
But let’s start with the good stuff first, because there was so much good stuff.
Casey and Matthias are the grump/sunshine dynamic of my dreams, CC absolutely nailed it. Matthias, with his charm, adorableness, easygoing nature and sense of humour, had me from the first page - he’s exactly the kind of character I love to read about. And even though Casey was a bit of a dick for a good chunk of the book for no straightforward reason, he got me too, eventually, with his kindness and softness under the gruff exterior.
But while I loved the two MC’s, the side characters really made this book shine for me. Oliver was instantly loveable, and honestly, the whole team was such an utter delight. Such strong found-family vibes all around that gave me the warmest of heart fuzzies. I’d read an entire series just about the team hanging out and playing hockey, no plot required.
I also really adore Catherine Cloud’s writing - it has that effortless, emotionally resonant tone that reminded me a lot of E.L. Massey, partly because of the use of third person present tense. It made everything feel intimate and immediate. But because it reminded me of the no-steam Massey series, it completely caught me off guard (heheh see what I did there) that there was actual sex in this. And OH BOY, it was electric 😮💨 and I can’t even pinpoint why?! Maybe because I wasn’t expecting it? Or because the buildup was so exquisitely slow and charged with tension? Or because the scene itself was just so beautifully written - vivid, emotional, and so tender? Honestly: all of the above, probably.
It also reminded me of something I tend to forget: I’d take one deeply sensual, meaningful sex scene over pages and pages of constant steam any day.
BUT.
Yeah, there are two major buts here for me, sadly.
First, that random hookup at the 55% mark 😩 It genuinely hurt my feelings. It wasn’t unforgivable, but it did pull me out of the story emotionally, mostly because it felt so out of character for Matthias.
Now the second but… the ending.
sigh
I didn’t like it. It felt rushed and unresolved and read like the ending of book one in a duet, only there’s no second part in sight. Matthias doesn’t even tell Casey he loves him. There’s no real plan for how they’ll navigate their relationship moving forward. It’s the most tentative HFN I’ve ever read, and it left me genuinely unsure whether they’ll make it in the long run. And that’s not what I want at the end of my romance books. The whole thing left me with a lot of questions - about Casey’s past and personality, about Matthias’ hopes, about them as a couple. I wanted more clarity. More time. More emotional closure.
Im a bit sad honestly, because there’s so much (lost) potential here.
So yeah.
The first half was honestly one of the best things I’ve read in ages - giddy-making and full of spark, beautiful pining and butterflies.
Then the OW moment knocked me off balance.
And the ending left me more confused and disappointed than anything else.
Soo, I don’t know how to rate this. I think I’m sitting somewhere at 3.5 ⭐️, unsure whether I’m more grateful for what I got or sad about what felt missing. But I’ll round up because the joy this book brought me in the first half was so real 🥹
…is how I was going to start this review - right up until I hit the ending and my excitement came crashing down a bit.
But let’s start with the good stuff first, because there was so much good stuff.
Casey and Matthias are the grump/sunshine dynamic of my dreams, CC absolutely nailed it. Matthias, with his charm, adorableness, easygoing nature and sense of humour, had me from the first page - he’s exactly the kind of character I love to read about. And even though Casey was a bit of a dick for a good chunk of the book for no straightforward reason, he got me too, eventually, with his kindness and softness under the gruff exterior.
But while I loved the two MC’s, the side characters really made this book shine for me. Oliver was instantly loveable, and honestly, the whole team was such an utter delight. Such strong found-family vibes all around that gave me the warmest of heart fuzzies. I’d read an entire series just about the team hanging out and playing hockey, no plot required.
I also really adore Catherine Cloud’s writing - it has that effortless, emotionally resonant tone that reminded me a lot of E.L. Massey, partly because of the use of third person present tense. It made everything feel intimate and immediate. But because it reminded me of the no-steam Massey series, it completely caught me off guard (heheh see what I did there) that there was actual sex in this. And OH BOY, it was electric 😮💨 and I can’t even pinpoint why?! Maybe because I wasn’t expecting it? Or because the buildup was so exquisitely slow and charged with tension? Or because the scene itself was just so beautifully written - vivid, emotional, and so tender? Honestly: all of the above, probably.
It also reminded me of something I tend to forget: I’d take one deeply sensual, meaningful sex scene over pages and pages of constant steam any day.
BUT.
Yeah, there are two major buts here for me, sadly.
First, that random hookup at the 55% mark 😩 It genuinely hurt my feelings. It wasn’t unforgivable, but it did pull me out of the story emotionally, mostly because it felt so out of character for Matthias.
Now the second but… the ending.
sigh
I didn’t like it. It felt rushed and unresolved and read like the ending of book one in a duet, only there’s no second part in sight. Matthias doesn’t even tell Casey he loves him. There’s no real plan for how they’ll navigate their relationship moving forward. It’s the most tentative HFN I’ve ever read, and it left me genuinely unsure whether they’ll make it in the long run. And that’s not what I want at the end of my romance books. The whole thing left me with a lot of questions - about Casey’s past and personality, about Matthias’ hopes, about them as a couple. I wanted more clarity. More time. More emotional closure.
Im a bit sad honestly, because there’s so much (lost) potential here.
So yeah.
The first half was honestly one of the best things I’ve read in ages - giddy-making and full of spark, beautiful pining and butterflies.
Then the OW moment knocked me off balance.
And the ending left me more confused and disappointed than anything else.
Soo, I don’t know how to rate this. I think I’m sitting somewhere at 3.5 ⭐️, unsure whether I’m more grateful for what I got or sad about what felt missing. But I’ll round up because the joy this book brought me in the first half was so real 🥹
October 13, 2025
*re-read October 2025. I still loved Matthias and Casey. I did, however, think their story deserved an epilogue. Since they were going to do the long distance thing and will be together’s opponents in the hockey seasons. I would have loved to get that glimpse into their future. And I truly did not like the female hook-up at about 50% 😭
But still, 5 shiny stars for their chemistry, the banter, Oliver and Coop and the hockey!
*original review*
I completely fell in love with Matthias! And even though it took me a little longer to have the same feelings for Casey, I did. They were so cute and sweet together! Because, I mean, under all that grumpiness and armoured exterior, Casey is just a caring, kind and loving guy. And Matthias, well, he was just the best.
I love how Catherine Cloud tells her stories and indeed her style reminds me of Taylor Fitzpatrick. But I’m a huge fan of her, and it truly pleases me to have found a similar author. I love the dimensional characters, the real life dialogues, the humour, the warm and fuzzy feelings, the hockey even puts me on the edge of my seat. This book is a great example of the things I look for in the books I read. I loved every minute I spent with Matthias and Casey and the secondary characters were so great, they found a permanent place in my heart as well (Oliver!)
I’m sure this is one of those books I will re-read and probably love even more the second time. Just putting on a tiny bit of hope that there will also be audios in the future.
Highly recommended!
But still, 5 shiny stars for their chemistry, the banter, Oliver and Coop and the hockey!
*original review*
I completely fell in love with Matthias! And even though it took me a little longer to have the same feelings for Casey, I did. They were so cute and sweet together! Because, I mean, under all that grumpiness and armoured exterior, Casey is just a caring, kind and loving guy. And Matthias, well, he was just the best.
I love how Catherine Cloud tells her stories and indeed her style reminds me of Taylor Fitzpatrick. But I’m a huge fan of her, and it truly pleases me to have found a similar author. I love the dimensional characters, the real life dialogues, the humour, the warm and fuzzy feelings, the hockey even puts me on the edge of my seat. This book is a great example of the things I look for in the books I read. I loved every minute I spent with Matthias and Casey and the secondary characters were so great, they found a permanent place in my heart as well (Oliver!)
I’m sure this is one of those books I will re-read and probably love even more the second time. Just putting on a tiny bit of hope that there will also be audios in the future.
Highly recommended!
May 31, 2023
Another cozy hockey book.
Two goalies on the same team.
Super low steam.
One of the hockey-est of the hockey books I have ever read. This is not really romance based, more “Matthias’s little hockey journey including finding love” based? Told in third person limited.
Matthias’s personality carries the book well and that’s important since his is the only POV you get.
I loved Casey’s quiet confidence. That boy is an enigma and I’m glad we don’t get his POV. Keeps the mystery. The boy is subtle so pay attention.
”You have no fucking idea how much I don’t want to think about you all the time.”
“Did you just insult me?” Matthias says, lips against Casey’s throat.
“How did you hear me say that and think insult? Seriously?”
“Say it again.”
“No.”
“You think about me,” Matthias says, pulling at Casey’s shirt until he can get his hands on warm, soft skin. “All the time.”
“Oh, so you did understand what I was saying.”
Slowest of the slow burns because again not really romance based. Bring your patience and go with it, it’s a pleasant ride.
Protect Oliver Kim-Reed at all cost! If he gets a book, I
will be there.
If you have read Catherine Cloud before, this is the same in tone and style as her other books. So you know what to expect. If you haven’t, then you will see the writing is quite different from other writers and a fun change from the same ol’.
I took off one star due to the ending not feeling super satisfying.
Two goalies on the same team.
Super low steam.
One of the hockey-est of the hockey books I have ever read. This is not really romance based, more “Matthias’s little hockey journey including finding love” based? Told in third person limited.
Matthias’s personality carries the book well and that’s important since his is the only POV you get.
I loved Casey’s quiet confidence. That boy is an enigma and I’m glad we don’t get his POV. Keeps the mystery. The boy is subtle so pay attention.
”You have no fucking idea how much I don’t want to think about you all the time.”
“Did you just insult me?” Matthias says, lips against Casey’s throat.
“How did you hear me say that and think insult? Seriously?”
“Say it again.”
“No.”
“You think about me,” Matthias says, pulling at Casey’s shirt until he can get his hands on warm, soft skin. “All the time.”
“Oh, so you did understand what I was saying.”
Slowest of the slow burns because again not really romance based. Bring your patience and go with it, it’s a pleasant ride.
Protect Oliver Kim-Reed at all cost! If he gets a book, I
will be there.
If you have read Catherine Cloud before, this is the same in tone and style as her other books. So you know what to expect. If you haven’t, then you will see the writing is quite different from other writers and a fun change from the same ol’.
I took off one star due to the ending not feeling super satisfying.
January 2, 2025
This was fun. Cute guys, great writing, lots and lots of hockey. But the relationship development is once again all left at the last minute.
February 17, 2024
Loved this book, 4.5, it looses a star because the ending isn't entirely satisfying; it's a good ending but one that leaves you wanting.
Matthias the pov character is instantly engaging. Olly is an immediate burst of friendship and general adorability. But Casey 'the love intetest' is very closed off, getting his pov would change the dynamic but at times I was curious. You have to pay attention to read the cues.
The romance is not front and centre. It's Matthias gaining confidence as a player and personally, learning to read Casey. It's more them both yearning while Olly alternatively coos or despairs.
They're a hockey team, that's not background colour, I really wanted the team to win. Liked that Matthias was the backup, these books tend to feature the team stars. It made his victories mean more, and we see him develop.
There's a mf hookup quite late in the book. Matthias is bi, they're not together at that point. It's offpage.
It's not going to appeal to every romance reader, but it's slow, fairly subtle, and worked well for me. I left wanting more of them. Some more of Casey. I'd snap up a sequel but don't think there'll be one. Hopefully they'll appear in other books though.
Matthias the pov character is instantly engaging. Olly is an immediate burst of friendship and general adorability. But Casey 'the love intetest' is very closed off, getting his pov would change the dynamic but at times I was curious. You have to pay attention to read the cues.
The romance is not front and centre. It's Matthias gaining confidence as a player and personally, learning to read Casey. It's more them both yearning while Olly alternatively coos or despairs.
They're a hockey team, that's not background colour, I really wanted the team to win. Liked that Matthias was the backup, these books tend to feature the team stars. It made his victories mean more, and we see him develop.
There's a mf hookup quite late in the book. Matthias is bi, they're not together at that point. It's offpage.
It's not going to appeal to every romance reader, but it's slow, fairly subtle, and worked well for me. I left wanting more of them. Some more of Casey. I'd snap up a sequel but don't think there'll be one. Hopefully they'll appear in other books though.
August 14, 2023
I love this author. All while reading this I kept thinking...this is shaping up to be a 5 star read. But the weak ending ruined it once again.
April 8, 2023
I had high expectations for this book because I’d just binged all of Catherine Cloud’s back catalogue beforehand, and I’m happy to say it did not disappoint! Finished it in one sitting, and it is now one of my favourites from her.
Caught off Guard has all the elements I like from her previous works: a cute romance, fun teammate friendships, hockey, humour, (and dogs!) - yet still feels like a fresh story and not a repeat of any others. The backup goaltender/starting goaltender pairing was intriguing! There’s an underlying tension from that and from an earlier hookup between the two characters that made me keep flipping the pages till I got to the end.
What I liked most was the development of the relationship. The book is told from only one point of view, and sometimes it’s hard for me to get into the head of the non-POV love interest especially when they are the guarded, grumpy type, which is the case here. However, I found the author does a great job of showing how the feelings grow for both characters equally. There were some very sweet moments I’ve revisited since my first reading. All in all, the romance is more understated than anything dramatic, but personally I love that.
In summary, 5/5 stars, would recommend! I think this book will be great for fans of this author and new readers as well.
Book comes out April 29th
(Note: I read an advanced reader copy)
Caught off Guard has all the elements I like from her previous works: a cute romance, fun teammate friendships, hockey, humour, (and dogs!) - yet still feels like a fresh story and not a repeat of any others. The backup goaltender/starting goaltender pairing was intriguing! There’s an underlying tension from that and from an earlier hookup between the two characters that made me keep flipping the pages till I got to the end.
What I liked most was the development of the relationship. The book is told from only one point of view, and sometimes it’s hard for me to get into the head of the non-POV love interest especially when they are the guarded, grumpy type, which is the case here. However, I found the author does a great job of showing how the feelings grow for both characters equally. There were some very sweet moments I’ve revisited since my first reading. All in all, the romance is more understated than anything dramatic, but personally I love that.
In summary, 5/5 stars, would recommend! I think this book will be great for fans of this author and new readers as well.
Book comes out April 29th
(Note: I read an advanced reader copy)
September 23, 2025
3.75/5
i really thought i would end up loving this and i liked it a lot for the most part. unfortunately it fell into the trap of having more sport than the actual romance. it was developed yes but it felt more like a side plot to a hockey book if that makes sense. and as much as i love hockey i wanted a romance book.
i really thought i would end up loving this and i liked it a lot for the most part. unfortunately it fell into the trap of having more sport than the actual romance. it was developed yes but it felt more like a side plot to a hockey book if that makes sense. and as much as i love hockey i wanted a romance book.
April 30, 2023
Matthias is a great POV character: His inner monologue is funny, dryly sarcastic, and self-effacing, and for all that sounds like a trope, he felt like a unique character and a real person to me. Cloud has definitely improved at writing characters (not that she was ever bad at it), and Matthias feels different from her previous characters despite having a lot in common with some of them. I’m glad the whole book is from his POV because the tension driving the story depends on Casey’s feelings not being obvious to Matthias or the reader. Both characters are written in a way where their inability to figure each other out feels natural instead of forced, and although they miscommunicate at times, it isn’t the eyerollingly obvious type of miscommunication that drags on implausibly long. Casey is also pretty well developed despite this being a single POV book, though at times I wish Cloud had given him more opportunities to speak instead of leaving so much to be read between the lines.
The ending of this book frustrated me because it’s very much a story from the fic genre and not the romance genre, meaning the entire story is about the characters not being together and there’s almost no resolution (or even discussion) of what it means for them to be together or why they misunderstood each other in the first place. I knew that going in, because I’ve read Cloud’s other works (both published and on AO3), so I can’t be too annoyed by it, but I really don’t understand how “we’re together now, okay bye!” is a satisfying ending (though obviously many people think it is, or else it wouldn’t be so incredibly prevalent in fic). At a minimum, I would have liked to hear from Casey exactly what he was thinking at the beginning of the story, because I can infer some of his reasoning but one of the things I enjoy most in romance is the catharsis that comes from the characters actually spilling their guts to each other. Here, any gut-spilling happens off-page and in the reader’s imagination.
Despite that, I really enjoyed this book because Matthias is such a great character and the book is paced very well (in particular, I never felt like the characters’ separation was dragged out just to make the reader suffer, and their relationship made steady progress even if it was slow). Be warned that because this comes from hockey fic land and not romance land, it’s very hockey-heavy, and Matthias’s relationship with his career and his teammates is as central to the story as his relationship with Casey. Be sure that’s your thing before reading!
The ending of this book frustrated me because it’s very much a story from the fic genre and not the romance genre, meaning the entire story is about the characters not being together and there’s almost no resolution (or even discussion) of what it means for them to be together or why they misunderstood each other in the first place. I knew that going in, because I’ve read Cloud’s other works (both published and on AO3), so I can’t be too annoyed by it, but I really don’t understand how “we’re together now, okay bye!” is a satisfying ending (though obviously many people think it is, or else it wouldn’t be so incredibly prevalent in fic). At a minimum, I would have liked to hear from Casey exactly what he was thinking at the beginning of the story, because I can infer some of his reasoning but one of the things I enjoy most in romance is the catharsis that comes from the characters actually spilling their guts to each other. Here, any gut-spilling happens off-page and in the reader’s imagination.
Despite that, I really enjoyed this book because Matthias is such a great character and the book is paced very well (in particular, I never felt like the characters’ separation was dragged out just to make the reader suffer, and their relationship made steady progress even if it was slow). Be warned that because this comes from hockey fic land and not romance land, it’s very hockey-heavy, and Matthias’s relationship with his career and his teammates is as central to the story as his relationship with Casey. Be sure that’s your thing before reading!
Want to read
October 28, 2024Thank you for the gift, Elvira Queen of the Darkness!
July 4, 2024
This is how you write an MC that's both down bad AND has a spine. Literally this!
MC 1 was an emotionally constipated mean grump to MC 2 for 99% of the book and when he finally unclenched enough to say his love declaration was asked... 'What the fuck is wrong with you?'
💀And MC 2 meant it too. Lol I was living for it. And it's not just that.
MC 2 is sooo into him from the jump but his spine is always in attendance and I loved that for him. Like sure, he liked him....really really liked him(in spite of everything) but he kept calling him out on his bullshit behavior.
Only 2 reasons why this wasn't a 5* read for me.
1. There wasn't enough angst. We didn't have two POVs but it was kinda clear why MC 1 was being standoffish. Though we don't get an explanation for his clenched so tight behavior, which IMO is a missed opportunity.
2. The love declaration is a bit random. Which is why I absolutely loved MC 2's reaction and solution to it. Like....he hardly knows this guy except for the fact that he huffs so much he'd give the big bad wolf a run for his money —oh...and that he takes it really well.
And, even more surprising, I loved the side plot. Imagine. Me. Hockey. And the side characters! Ollie really pulled off the put upon bestie caught in the middle really well.
Overall a very enjoyable read, honestly. Love an MC who lays down the law and means it.
MC 1 was an emotionally constipated mean grump to MC 2 for 99% of the book and when he finally unclenched enough to say his love declaration was asked... 'What the fuck is wrong with you?'
💀And MC 2 meant it too. Lol I was living for it. And it's not just that.
MC 2 is sooo into him from the jump but his spine is always in attendance and I loved that for him. Like sure, he liked him....really really liked him(in spite of everything) but he kept calling him out on his bullshit behavior.
Only 2 reasons why this wasn't a 5* read for me.
1. There wasn't enough angst. We didn't have two POVs but it was kinda clear why MC 1 was being standoffish. Though we don't get an explanation for his clenched so tight behavior, which IMO is a missed opportunity.
2. The love declaration is a bit random. Which is why I absolutely loved MC 2's reaction and solution to it. Like....he hardly knows this guy except for the fact that he huffs so much he'd give the big bad wolf a run for his money —oh...and that he takes it really well.
And, even more surprising, I loved the side plot. Imagine. Me. Hockey. And the side characters! Ollie really pulled off the put upon bestie caught in the middle really well.
Overall a very enjoyable read, honestly. Love an MC who lays down the law and means it.
June 2, 2024
4+
Ten komentarz to podsumowanie wszystkich książek Catherine Cloud, które przeczytałam do tej pory (całe cztery 😜) - tak wyszło 😉
Autorka zdecydowanie ma swój styl. Inny. Nie wszystkim on odpowiada - można znaleźć komentarze, że ona tylko "informuje/opowiada o czymś, co się wydarzyło". Ale to jest takie odświeżające 💙
Nie zawsze muszę wiedzieć, jak wyglądał czyjś dom/mieszkanie - łącznie z dokładnym opisem każdego pomieszczenia, pościeli, garnków, sztuki itd. Nie muszę wiedzieć w detalach, jak wyglądał ogród za domem czy podjazd przed nim. Nie zawsze mnie interesuje, jaki kto miał samochód i jak on wyglądał w środku. Nie zawszę chcę mieć informację o dokładnych krajobrazach, z którymi zetknęli się bohaterowie. Naprawdę nie interesuje mnie, jak ktoś był ubrany co do najmniejszego szczegółu - za każdym razem. Ani jak wyglądały osoby drugo-, trzecio- i siedemnastoplanowe. Jak przebiegał każdy mecz co do minuty. Każda jedna podróż z miasta do miasta. Nie muszę mieć dokładnego opisu każdego posiłku. Ani restauracji. Etc., etc.
Catherine Cloud potrafi w akapicie czy stronie przejść przez tydzień, miesiąc czy nawet kilka miesięcy. Życie takie bywa. Nie ma co opisywać, za wyjątkiem podstawowych faktów. U niej nigdy nie ma insta-love. To albo druga szansa - i nigdy nie jest to błyskawiczne, albo uczucie, które rozwija się przynajmniej miesiącami. Seks nie odgrywa praktycznie żadnej roli - w tym tomie autorka zaszalała, bo chyba ze dwa rozdziały go dotyczą 😂 Ważna jest przyjaźń. Ważni są kumple z drużyny. Bo nikt nie żyje w bańce, zwłaszcza, jak gra w drużynie.
W każdej jednej historii są cudne zwierzaki - tutaj wyjątkowo nie należą do jednego z MC, tylko do bardzo mocnego drugoplanowego bohatera. Moim faworytem jest Bear z Love & Other Inconveniences. Ale każdy jeden jest fantastyczny 💙
Jedyne, czego mi brakuje w książkach tej autorki, to porządnego zakończenia. Właściwie wszystkie to HFN, a nie HEA - choć to ostanie spokojnie można sobie wyobrazić. Brakuje epilogów i najczęściej jest tylko jeden POV - nie licząc Three Is the Luckiest Number, które dostało m. in. właśnie za to cała, wypasioną piąteczkę 😁
Ale tak bardzo mi się podoba styl Catherine Cloud, że dla niej poszłam na AO3 i będę czytać to, co jest tam dostępne (po raz pierwszy 😜) - nawet, jeżeli częściowo jest to FF, FM i MM. Co chyba duuuuuużo mówi o tym, jak niezmiernie mi się podobają historie tej autorki 😁
Ten komentarz to podsumowanie wszystkich książek Catherine Cloud, które przeczytałam do tej pory (całe cztery 😜) - tak wyszło 😉
Autorka zdecydowanie ma swój styl. Inny. Nie wszystkim on odpowiada - można znaleźć komentarze, że ona tylko "informuje/opowiada o czymś, co się wydarzyło". Ale to jest takie odświeżające 💙
Nie zawsze muszę wiedzieć, jak wyglądał czyjś dom/mieszkanie - łącznie z dokładnym opisem każdego pomieszczenia, pościeli, garnków, sztuki itd. Nie muszę wiedzieć w detalach, jak wyglądał ogród za domem czy podjazd przed nim. Nie zawsze mnie interesuje, jaki kto miał samochód i jak on wyglądał w środku. Nie zawszę chcę mieć informację o dokładnych krajobrazach, z którymi zetknęli się bohaterowie. Naprawdę nie interesuje mnie, jak ktoś był ubrany co do najmniejszego szczegółu - za każdym razem. Ani jak wyglądały osoby drugo-, trzecio- i siedemnastoplanowe. Jak przebiegał każdy mecz co do minuty. Każda jedna podróż z miasta do miasta. Nie muszę mieć dokładnego opisu każdego posiłku. Ani restauracji. Etc., etc.
Catherine Cloud potrafi w akapicie czy stronie przejść przez tydzień, miesiąc czy nawet kilka miesięcy. Życie takie bywa. Nie ma co opisywać, za wyjątkiem podstawowych faktów. U niej nigdy nie ma insta-love. To albo druga szansa - i nigdy nie jest to błyskawiczne, albo uczucie, które rozwija się przynajmniej miesiącami. Seks nie odgrywa praktycznie żadnej roli - w tym tomie autorka zaszalała, bo chyba ze dwa rozdziały go dotyczą 😂 Ważna jest przyjaźń. Ważni są kumple z drużyny. Bo nikt nie żyje w bańce, zwłaszcza, jak gra w drużynie.
W każdej jednej historii są cudne zwierzaki - tutaj wyjątkowo nie należą do jednego z MC, tylko do bardzo mocnego drugoplanowego bohatera. Moim faworytem jest Bear z Love & Other Inconveniences. Ale każdy jeden jest fantastyczny 💙
Jedyne, czego mi brakuje w książkach tej autorki, to porządnego zakończenia. Właściwie wszystkie to HFN, a nie HEA - choć to ostanie spokojnie można sobie wyobrazić. Brakuje epilogów i najczęściej jest tylko jeden POV - nie licząc Three Is the Luckiest Number, które dostało m. in. właśnie za to cała, wypasioną piąteczkę 😁
Ale tak bardzo mi się podoba styl Catherine Cloud, że dla niej poszłam na AO3 i będę czytać to, co jest tam dostępne (po raz pierwszy 😜) - nawet, jeżeli częściowo jest to FF, FM i MM. Co chyba duuuuuużo mówi o tym, jak niezmiernie mi się podobają historie tej autorki 😁
July 1, 2025
Why don't I see more people talking about this?! It's so damn good! It's everything you need, queer sports, great writing, and it's hella cute! I cannot wait to see what Catherine Cloud comes up with next. So exciting!
May 5, 2025
Goalie x goalie???! Say no more.
Catherine Cloud just knows how to punch me in the feels and this time we even got a real ending!
Catherine Cloud just knows how to punch me in the feels and this time we even got a real ending!
June 8, 2023
Okay having read three books by this author including this one in a week, I have developed the following ranking:
1. Love & Other Inconveniences
2. The first half of Caught Off Guard
3. The second half of Three Is the Luckiest Number
4. The first half of Three Is the Luckiest Number
5. The second half of Caught Off Guard.
Obviously the takeaway here is that soft mutual pining is a no for me. Angsty mutual pining due to debilitating emotional repression is the only way!
Yeah haha in other words this started strong for me - fun premise, fun vibes at the beginning - but the way the second half’s plot was jump-started through them hooking up occasionally again just didn’t make sense at all for Matthias’ character. And there were multiple other times in the second half where characters did things, clearly to move the plot along, that just didn’t make sense for their prior characterizations.
Also, because Casey wasn’t a POV character, his personal/family struggles seemed underdeveloped, like they were just thrown in to give him some additional traits. Idk this author clearly can write single POV where you still get a super clear idea of the love interest’s personality… I just don’t think that succeeded in this book.
Having complained about all that I will say reading these three books in a row has been the ideal palate cleanser, just a total system refresh for my reading brain which was very appreciated. So thanks to this author for that haha.
1. Love & Other Inconveniences
2. The first half of Caught Off Guard
3. The second half of Three Is the Luckiest Number
4. The first half of Three Is the Luckiest Number
5. The second half of Caught Off Guard.
Obviously the takeaway here is that soft mutual pining is a no for me. Angsty mutual pining due to debilitating emotional repression is the only way!
Yeah haha in other words this started strong for me - fun premise, fun vibes at the beginning - but the way the second half’s plot was jump-started through them hooking up occasionally again just didn’t make sense at all for Matthias’ character. And there were multiple other times in the second half where characters did things, clearly to move the plot along, that just didn’t make sense for their prior characterizations.
Also, because Casey wasn’t a POV character, his personal/family struggles seemed underdeveloped, like they were just thrown in to give him some additional traits. Idk this author clearly can write single POV where you still get a super clear idea of the love interest’s personality… I just don’t think that succeeded in this book.
Having complained about all that I will say reading these three books in a row has been the ideal palate cleanser, just a total system refresh for my reading brain which was very appreciated. So thanks to this author for that haha.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 5, 2023
***4.5. ❤️***
May 2, 2023
I’m some ways this book worked extremely well for me as it is a slow burn and is really just focused on the characters. The problem is that for me there didn’t really seem to be any growth. The mc gets better at hockey but I didn’t feel Ike there was any other growth and the romance also didn’t seem to progress.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 5, 2025
With a romance this slow-burn, there needs to be either more romance, or a more substantive plot than a play-by-play account of the Vipers' progress towards the Stanley Cup. Shame, because I quite liked the MCs.
October 8, 2024
Delicious hockfic
with pining, sex, goalie shit.
Terrific (queer) team.
with pining, sex, goalie shit.
Terrific (queer) team.
October 15, 2023
This isn’t a bad book at all - the overall story and characters are absolutely fantastic.
I hate the writing style though. I found it so boring and I’ve thought that of this author before so I think this will be my last book by them. I also hated the “big reveal” at the end so much, with one character acting out of character just to add two extra pages of drama. Blah.
I hate the writing style though. I found it so boring and I’ve thought that of this author before so I think this will be my last book by them. I also hated the “big reveal” at the end so much, with one character acting out of character just to add two extra pages of drama. Blah.
December 4, 2024
3.5 stars, rounded down. This was another, like, wholesome Catherine Cloud hockey romance. In it, we have Matthias, a young goalie traded to a team where he is the alternate goalie for Casey, a person he shared one hot night with in their past. Casey, for some reason, hates Matthias's guts when he first gets traded and spends quite a long time being a dick to him for no reason. They go from hook-up to enemies to friends to lovers in an ultra slow-burn kind of way with pretty well executed UST. The book is entirely from Matthias's perspective, so we hardly know what the hell is going on with Casey. And Matthias is kind of a sweet dummy at times, whereas Casey is all hard edges. I enjoyed the book, but I will say that it felt a lot more tell than show. Cloud loves to describe things that happened in past tense rather than showing us those things, I had forgotten this about her writing style, and found it pretty annoying. It was mild-to-moderate angst and pretty low steam. Not the greatest hockey romance, but a solid read all the same.
January 28, 2025
3.5 stars. I’ve seen the phrase ‘cozy hockey romance’ pop up recently in GR reviews (or maybe not so recent? I’m always behind on stuff) and although this is only my second book by CC, I feel like it describes her brand of hockey storytelling quite well. I love the vibe she conveys. Sweet, endearing, feel-good. Awesome characters who you just love getting to know, hanging out with, and reading about. Cozy indeed.
Okay, now that said, I do have a beef with this story. I very much like a hockey romance that actually depicts hockey being played and is clearly written by someone who knows the sport, as is the case with CC. With this story, though...it wasn’t that it had too much hockey. Rather, it had too little romance. The hockey was fantastic, nail-bitingly good. I enjoyed every second of it. It was Mattie and Casey’s relationship that frustrated me. It never seemed to evolve beyond a certain point. Yes, we get a declaration of love from Casey but it wasn’t until like 98% and I didn’t feel like Casey demonstrated that love. It would’ve helped if the author had given us his POV. He was so extremely closed off and bristly throughout the book and felt so unknown to me, from beginning to end. I would’ve loved a peek inside his head and think the book would’ve felt a lot more well-rounded had we gotten his perspective. I liked Mattie so much and constantly felt like he deserved more than he got from Casey. I wanted Casey to be more invested and present and above all, communicative. I mean, never once did I feel like they had a single truly meaningful conversation between them because Casey was continuously closed off. His character seemed to be on a constant plateau instead of developing into someone more open and giving.
Despite all that, I enjoyed the story plenty. I really liked Ollie. He struck me as a bit soft and fem for a hockey player (was that just me?) but he was so perceptive and supportive. I was thrilled he found someone too. I loved the writing, the hockey, the authenticity of the characters. I do wish Casey and Mattie had been more settled at book’s end but they're two young hockey players in their prime so...At least CC kept it real there.
Even though I was a let down and frustrated on the romance front, I enjoyed this read. I’ve got at least two more CCs queued up on my Kindle and am looking forward to some more cozy hockey romance time ☺️
Okay, now that said, I do have a beef with this story. I very much like a hockey romance that actually depicts hockey being played and is clearly written by someone who knows the sport, as is the case with CC. With this story, though...it wasn’t that it had too much hockey. Rather, it had too little romance. The hockey was fantastic, nail-bitingly good. I enjoyed every second of it. It was Mattie and Casey’s relationship that frustrated me. It never seemed to evolve beyond a certain point. Yes, we get a declaration of love from Casey but it wasn’t until like 98% and I didn’t feel like Casey demonstrated that love. It would’ve helped if the author had given us his POV. He was so extremely closed off and bristly throughout the book and felt so unknown to me, from beginning to end. I would’ve loved a peek inside his head and think the book would’ve felt a lot more well-rounded had we gotten his perspective. I liked Mattie so much and constantly felt like he deserved more than he got from Casey. I wanted Casey to be more invested and present and above all, communicative. I mean, never once did I feel like they had a single truly meaningful conversation between them because Casey was continuously closed off. His character seemed to be on a constant plateau instead of developing into someone more open and giving.
Despite all that, I enjoyed the story plenty. I really liked Ollie. He struck me as a bit soft and fem for a hockey player (was that just me?) but he was so perceptive and supportive. I was thrilled he found someone too. I loved the writing, the hockey, the authenticity of the characters. I do wish Casey and Mattie had been more settled at book’s end but they're two young hockey players in their prime so...At least CC kept it real there.
Even though I was a let down and frustrated on the romance front, I enjoyed this read. I’ve got at least two more CCs queued up on my Kindle and am looking forward to some more cozy hockey romance time ☺️
July 1, 2023
If you enjoy this author's prose, you'll probably enjoy this novel.
It is told all from the new goalie's point of view, and although the author is a hockey fan, not heavy on the mechanics or details of the game. It's got some typical romance tropes, but done well. I loved the prose in this novel, along with the author's choices for what to leave out, and all the characters, and the evolution of this relationship over the course of an entire season. For me, it's as perfect as a novel ever gets.
It is told all from the new goalie's point of view, and although the author is a hockey fan, not heavy on the mechanics or details of the game. It's got some typical romance tropes, but done well. I loved the prose in this novel, along with the author's choices for what to leave out, and all the characters, and the evolution of this relationship over the course of an entire season. For me, it's as perfect as a novel ever gets.
March 13, 2023
rep: bi mc, gay li, achillean side characters
fairly cute but lowkey underwhelming
fairly cute but lowkey underwhelming
August 4, 2023
Oh, the painful slow burn ✨
Get ready for:
🏒 MM romance
🏒 sport romance
🏒 slow burn
🏒 lovers-to-enemies-to-lovers
🏒 little steam 🧖🏽♀️
Get ready for:
🏒 MM romance
🏒 sport romance
🏒 slow burn
🏒 lovers-to-enemies-to-lovers
🏒 little steam 🧖🏽♀️
June 9, 2024
3.5 stars - happy pride y'all
April 29, 2023
Maybe 3.5? I liked this well enough, but somehow I didn’t really care about the main characters all that much. It also felt like there were few interactions between them, not enough progress in their relationship. Instead there was a lot of hockey. I like the hockey, but I like it better when it has some impact on the MCs relationship, at least some of the time.
August 9, 2023
Most of this author's books have very similar vibes, they are nice books, with pretty good interactions, but in 3 months I'm not gonna remember one thing about it
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