How To Quit Playing Hockey

Hockey #1

by Isa K.

Mac has never wanted to be out. He's not ashamed of his sexuality--especially after he started hooking up with his teammate, Fritzy. The lies are exhausting, but the risks that come with the truth are enough to convince him to keep his mouth shut.

Fritzy already has a reputation as a troublemaker. He's actually good enough to make to the major leagues ...if anyone will take him and being out and gay makes that even less likely. So, they have to stay quiet for now. Be hockey players today, be gay later. Mac has always felt that coming out was a personal decision, but this is clearly a business decision.

Unfortunately for him the business of hockey means a lot of homophobia passed off casually and thoughtlessly. His teammate aren't bad guys. His coaches aren't bad guys. The reporters, the fans, the scouts and agents--no one wants to be called a bigot, but nobody thinks about the things they say in jest. Just how much longer will Mac have to stick to business? How many more lies will he and Fritzy have to tell just to hold onto their dreams?

Publisher's book contains explicit sexual situations, graphic language, and material that some readers may find male/male sexual practices.

Genres: M M Romance, Sports, Contemporary, Hockey, Romance, M M Sports Romance, Queer

155 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 17, 2012

About the author

Isa K is a writer and techie currently residing in New York. Anything published under 'Isa K' is fantastic smut, anything under 'IsaKFT' is just fantastic ;)

Reviews

[Julio Genao · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was fun.

Isa K.'s voice is both self-assured and impertinent, which inspires confidence right away that you're in good hands until the ride comes to a full and complete stop.

I found Marc to be irritatingly neurotic, and then charmingly neurotic; there's a bit with a ukulele that more or less sealed the deal as far as my opinion of him was concerned. After all, it's not his fault he has a chronic and debilitating nervous condition, right?

Fritzy was adorable. And just when you think he's too perfect... POW! Side order of YO MAMA SAY WHUT?!

Well-researched, deftly-paced, and sneakily good-hearted.

Nicely done.

Also: Let's Go Rangers.

That is all.

[Mandapanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can't resist m/m hockey romance. When this well written story opens local league hockey pros Mac and Fritzy are enjoying the off season and their first time living together as a couple. But everything is in flux. They are teetering on the verge of committing, coming out, being promoted to the National Hockey League and being forced to retire.

The ups and downs of the out-for-you plot is grounded by a very sensuous love story. These two guys are always loyal and totally in to each other. The sex scenes are not only hot, but they are full of affection and humour. The shaving scene was a standout! What I liked most about this is that Mac and Fritzy didn't act like a couple of big girls. They weren't babyish about their prospects. It felt real, honest and sexy.

Duh! I just found out that There's Cock In This Book is the prequel to this story.

[Ami · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wholeheartedly agree with what my friend Emma said on her review...

I don't think that this is a classic romance fiction about Mac and Fritz. When the story starts, Mac and Fritz are already together. And I never have doubts regarding their love to one another -- even with slight miscommunication in the end. Sure, Mac is insecure about coming out as a hockey player and he also contemplates whether it is the right time to tell Fritz "I love you", but I feel that it has never really been the big issue.

Instead, I feel that the big question here is Mac's love for hockey, whether he has what it takes to stay in the game and keep loving it. While Fritz seems to get his big ticket, being drafted both ways to the A and N league, Mac is the one left behind. Mac struggles to figure out what to do, if he no longer has hockey in his life (and his lover is away doing NHL games)...

He didn’t know, but he could admit to himself that while they trained for the new season, he did have certain fantasies about retiring from hockey and taking up a new profession where his sexuality didn’t matter.

Gay plumber. Gay accountant. Gay used car salesman. (Chapter Five)

There's also the issue about Mac being one of the "veterans", even in his 24-years of age. There are younger people coming, and he doesn't know if he will stay in the team or being cut off. If he does, would coming out matters? Or should he come out now, and see whether the team's reaction will make it or break it for him.

It's a wonderful and thoughtful read as I am reading Mac's journey towards accepting his love to the game and his love for his man, with every single consequences that come along with it. And Isa K. manages to insert great humor too. The ukulele scene in the end, I love that. I also particularly love this part, where Mac's imagining some melodramatic scenarios on why Fritz doesn't answer Mac's telephone call ...

Fritzy is crushed by his demotion. He has lost his will to live. He’s lying drunk under his kitchen table. He’s gone on a torrid downward spiral involving crack-addicted gay escorts. He has locked himself in his bedroom and is listening to the Cure while experimenting with eyeliner. (Chapter 11) *lol*

I love it -- a very good sport-related book, that is for sure.

PS: I agree that it is too bad Mac doesn't pursue friendship with Sarah the girl-plumber. I think they can make good friends indeed. Especially since Sarah is the only female secondary character in this book, and she's not at all whiny or bitchy or annoying. That' refreshing, people!

[Emma Sea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not an m/m romance; rather a classic bildungsroman with added hot gay sex. The author highlights the universality and currency of the genre by setting the story in the hypermasculine culture of professional hockey, and using Mac being gay as the societal conflict and opportunity for growth and maturity. A genuine affection for the sport and its men shines through the whole book. By the end I was completely hooked, both on Mac, and on hockey. Through the last 20% I couldn't look away from my e-reader.

It's a well-written story of small, cosily-domestic proportions, that leaves room for some great wit. I am off to enter my favourite quotes in GR.

[Lisa Henry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, I know nothing about hockey. Seriously nothing. But Isa K obviously loves the sport and I think I kind of do now as well. What I really loved about the depiction of the sport here is that the guys aren't major league. They don't spend their downtime buying sports cars and hot tubs which (rightly or wrongly) is how I imagine major league sports stars spend their days. Mac and Fritzy have Real Jobs. And by real jobs, I mean shitty dead end jobs that pay the bills off-season.

And how sad is Mac's story? He loves the game, but that's not enough. Not everyone can be in the majors, which leaves Mac facing a very uncertain future.

I loved both Mac and Fritzy. These are real men in a real relationship. No attach-penis-on-girly-character-and-turn-her-into-a-guy here. And there is not enough of that in m/m.

[Gigi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this because, duh, hockey! But also because it included an established relationship. I was disappointed at the fact that these two were separated for the vast majority of the book and it ended with an unsatisfying HEA. I looked for a sequel, but there isn't one. I would have read it.

[Teal]

*** 3.5 stars ***

I loved the rapport between Mac and Fritzy, who when the story begins are minor league hockey teammates and lovers. They're good to each other, and good for each other. It made me realize how rare that is in the m/m romance I've read, which often features angst and drama and intense emotion, but very rarely the genuine heartfelt affection these two guys shared.

The story was pretty laid-back, which is a plus or minus depending on what you have a taste for at the time. I was glad for it. The hockey side of things felt realistic to me (I'm a fan, but not an expert). I definitely want to read more by this author.

[Heller · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 [rounded up]

This had such authentic locker room feel to it. I really enjoy hockey stories and this for me was probably the best representation of what it's like to be a hockey player working your way between leagues.

You must read the free prequel There's Cock In This Book first. That's where we meet Mac D and Fritzy for the first time and they start their relationship. Fun stuff. Even if it has the most ridiculous title ever.

So here we meet the boys again. They're working away at lame summer jobs making ends meet until the hockey season starts again. Fritzy gets word he may be called up to the AHL and potentially the NHL. Good news for him but Mac's prospects aren't as good and he's wavering on the line of being cut from the team.

I really loved their relationship. Very much two young atheletes who are rough and ready but there's also a sweeter side to them. The story is told from Mac D's POV and think it falters a bit here because I really needed to know what was going on in Fritzy's head later on in the story:

It just didn't feel realistic that Fritzy would out himself in order to keep his position in the NHL. I was really surprised at his lack of confidence in his own skills and this seemed like a PR stunt and it didn't really impress me.

I loved how things progressed for Mac in this story and how his future was being settled. Perfect solution. I also enjoyed how he really wanted to be out and in his relationship with Fritzy.

Lots of chemistry between the two of them. Sometimes hot, sometimes adorable and sometimes raunchy. It all felt right and really suited their personalities.

This is a great sports romance. It has a few moments that stretched believability for me but in the end the characters and storyline really won me over. Definitely recommended if you like hockey player romances!

[Hal Evergreen · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

I am a fan of romance and decidedly not a fan of sports, so I was surprised to find that my favorite parts of this book involve hockey culture and politics rather than the central relationship. Isa K.'s depiction of the unglamorous lifestyle of a minor league professional athlete is interesting, particularly since all the books I've previously read about athletes have featured major league players. It is actually a rather harrowing picture. Mac's love for the game is greater than his skill as a player, leaving him in the uncomfortable position of eventually being shut out of the only job he knows how to do. The book is aptly titled because it is, first and foremost, about Mac's struggle to figure out what to do with himself when he can no longer play hockey. Tied into that struggle is the fact that Mac is gay, closeted, and sorta-maybe-probably in love with a former teammate who has a shot at an NHL career.

My biggest problem with this book is Mac, himself. Mac is a passive character -- much too passive to make a satisfying point of view character. Almost every event in Mac's life is something that happens to Mac, even (or especially) coming out of the closet, not something Mac does for himself. The one time in the novel when Mac actually takes a stand for something he cares about, when he goes to confront Fritzy at the end -- serenading him with a ukelele, no less, it ends up feeling completely out of character for him.

When I finished the book, I was left wondering what I was supposed to take away from it. I haven't learned anything (except how to be grateful for my college education and boring desk job), and Mac doesn't seem to have learned anything (except maybe that if you stand around looking aimless long enough, other people will start making your major life decisions for you), and Fritzy hasn't learned anything except how to be gay and out for fun and profit, so where does that leave How to Quit Playing Hockey? Is this a coming-of-age story, a love letter to the sport, or just a book about imperfect people muddling through their lives as best they can -- a book that doesn't purport to offer any definitive answers to the various questions it raises? My money's on that last one. So I would recommend this book for people who want to read about the messy and awkward lives of ordinary people, not for anyone looking for a touching romance, a feel-good sports epic, or a triumphant "coming out" story.

[BevS · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well,this one will be the start of my Isa K. bookshelf, reviews are mixed, but I'm reviewing for me and no-one else, so 4 stars it is!

Mac and Fritzy are two ice hockey players [image error] who are obviously in the closet as far as their team-mates are concerned, and spend an idyllic summer together in the team house before the new season starts.

The problems start for the two of them when Fritzy is 'spotted', and moves away to a club from where he could have a shot at the NHL. Mac doesn't know what to do with himself, and things are made worse with some of the young rookies that start that season, one of whom Burgy is a real homophobic pig! (with apologies to pigs everywhere!). Mac gets made captain, and things start looking up when he breaks his leg, and decides he can't spend any more time away from Fritzy and drives up to see him. It brings home to both of them how lonely they are without each other, but they can't do anything about it - Fritzy deserves his chance at the big time, and Mac knows that sooner or later he is going to be kicked off the team, too old at the age of 24!! The coach offers to get him a start as a scout in New Jersey, and Mac accepts this, at least he'll still around the game of hockey.

We move on, and Fritzy is having a tough time of it, he seems to get the blame for everything that goes wrong, Mac is still finding it difficult to be without his lover, and the only person he can talk to about it is the plumber Sara. Mac feels that plumbing is something he ought to consider when he retires, if the scouting doesn't work out. Matters come to a head when Fritzy is demoted, and Mac imagines all sorts of untold horrors happening to him including crack-addicted gay escorts, and listening to the Cure [image error] while experimenting with eyeliner!!

Finally, Fritzy 'comes out' in order to take the heat away from Mac, but Mac is unaware of this until Burgy and the morons on the team point it out to him, and they then understand that he and Fritzy were lovers. Once the truth is out, the guys ask all sorts of questions, and in fact are quite supportive of Mac and what he's going through, as Fritzy will no longer speak to him. Mac eventually drives to Buffalo to confront his lover, and things progress from there. Aw bless!

Well, I did enjoy the book. It certainly brought back memories of when I used to play hockey, obviously not the 'on ice' version, and loved to whack girls round the ankles if they got in my way, but not in a violent way of course!! I have to say though guys, I found the strangest part of the book to be the fact that they liked Jimmy Carr [image error] , I mean WTF?? Jimmy Carr - soo not cool guys, the Cure yes, but definitely not Jimmy Carr!

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Good m/m romance about two closeted minor league hockey players whose idyllic summer together ends with the start of the new season as one is sent up to the majors and the other faces the possibility of being cut from the team and trying to define a post-hockey life.

[⋆｡°✮ Lucy InTheSky ✮°｡⋆ · Rating 2 out of 5]

2⭐ rounded up for Fritzy alone

The prequel was a really sweet tease of what's to come for Mac and Fritzy, but this installment was very, very underwhelming.

I was excited about the MMCs, they had potential. Mac and Fritzy had good chemistry and the prequel ended on a sexy, promising note. The problem is the part where that ended and this book began is missing and a lot has happened in between. Their story did not continue how I thought it would.

🟣 Hockey - not a romance
🔵 MMCs still not out, but the way they come out is cringe, at best and not with the right intentions
🟢 Not romantic or sexy, basically this book isn't about Mac and Fritzy at all
🟡 Weird story/plot development
🟠 Promising MMCs flushed down the drain
🌶️ Some sex, didn't feel right

Yeah, those are my first impressions after reading this book and sleeping on it. My god, such a disappointment!

First of I'll say I absolutely loved Fritzy, don't like his nickname, I think Leo is better, but he's a tall, dark, scarred cuddly guy who's dangerous on the ice, but has a sweet, tender side to him. He's not mainstream attractive, but he's hot, addictive even, an amazing character who didn't live up to his full potential in this book.



A big chunk of Mac and Fritzy's budding relationship was left out completely, because this book begins with them already being together for a few months, living in the hockey house and living together. So - it would be simply amazing to know how they even got to this point. Really. Amazing.

"At first Mac didn’t know how he felt about the idea of playing house. He definitely wanted to spend the summer with Fritzy—especially if they had to go back to playing straight once training camp started—but he wasn’t sure how he felt about sleeping in the same bed."

Mac is constantly reluctant about anything pertaining to them being together and it's understandable considering the environment they're in, but Mac doesn't even know if he has any kind of feelings for Fritzy, at all. And those feelings don't evolve to something bigger or greater. Mac's falling in love with Fritzy down the line is far from believable.

Fritzy then gets a chance to play in the AHL/NHL and moves away, Mac and Fritzy don't see each other for 4 months and in all that time Mac is the one who goes to visit Fritzy once, with a broken leg.
Fritzy is not pleased with Mac visiting, he's not happy and the chemistry that was developing between them at the end of the prequel and the beginning of this book just wasn't there anymore.

I couldn't for the life of me get what were they even doing. They weren't official boyfriends, they didn't decide what will happen next, Mac wasn't sure about his feelings, they never saw each other and in the meantime they both had their completely separate lives, so there was no talk of their relationship during most of the book.

“No, I’m worried I don’t actually feel the same.”

“Ah.” Without another comment she went back to clanking up against the pipes.

“I mean the sex is great, but that’s part of the problem. I can’t help wondering if the way I feel is more about finally having someone who accepts me as me…with some lust mixed in, of course.”

So - why even keep something like that long distance? I get the author wanted to show us how Mac's feelings are slowly developing, but it wasn't believable. These guys are 24 years old. Fritzy tried to make it happen with Mac and it didn't work. In reality - considering this book is very realistic and deals with not overly romanticised notion of love - Fritzy would simply leave Mac and get on with his life. They had absolutely nothing holding them together besides some good sex. The feelings part wasn't convincing.

🟢 The female side character.

Completely unnecessary. Completely.

“I’m not a fucking girl. I don’t need you to hold me.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about. This is a completely heterosexual bro-hug that I offer in a totally nongay way to all my hockey brothers. You guys forget I never get to join in on the group hugs when someone scores a goal. I want to know what I’m missing.”



The coming out part connected to this character and the NHL was one big cringefest. What was that?? What the hell was that.

This book is a mess, it had absolutely no emphasis on relationship development, it sure did include plenty of completely unnecessary side characters and most of the developments just didn't make sense.

The ending was a one big ridiculous whatever and I had no idea what was even going on anymore, this was not a good story and two good main characters with a potentially amazing love story were flushed down to the sewers.

Disappointing.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes my ebook reader can be so cruel. I'm reading along and all of a sudden I turned the page and The End was all that was there. I wasn't ready for it!

I read the story of when these two got together so I was so glad when I saw that their story was going to continue a bit longer. So many things to love about this one. :)

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

While I finished this in pretty much sitting, I did find it hard going.
I did not feel the connection between the characters and found there was no tension or build up.

They're in a relationship right from the get go and I guess the whole plot line is about them coming to terms with being gay and being out as sportsmen in the public eye.

However, for me reading this as a romance novel, I wanted romance complete with hot sexy times, some passion and feelings. Fritzy was just too stoic, too bland and gave nothing at all away. Mac was ok, but had some rather over the top moments that seemed a little out of character. I wanted to be a little more uplifted too, and some of the plot left me feeling pretty sad and a bit depressed.

I finished it and it ends pretty well, but as a whole the book just didn't do it for me.

[SueM · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can't quite decide how I feel about this novel.

It was good in that I felt the two men - Mac and Fritzy - had a solid and loyal relationship, with the only issue causing them hesitation was whether they should be out or not, especially as Fritzy had a chance to make the big leagues.

But I admit, I didn't really enjoy the story as much as I could have, because for a large section of the novel, the two men were not actually together; they were forced into a long distance relationship, leaving us only to see what was happening in Mac's life. And for me, some of the details of his life seemed over-explored, to the extent that I found myself wanting to skip a few pages ahead. I don't know for sure, but I think I might have enjoyed it more if it had been balanced with more details about Fritzy.

All I do know though, is that it just missed hitting the right spot for me.

[Smith Barney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm such the suck-up for a sport-themed plot..with or without the balls.

Short but packs a potent punch and fortunate for me..well-received.

[Chris, the Dalek King · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don’t get very many chances to read romance stories where the couple are already together (well, outside sequels anyways). Which is a pity because they’re some of my favourite kind. I like the idea that the coming together is not the end of the story, or that sometimes it takes years to get to the point of being ready to say I love you. Much like Mac and Fritzy, in this story, the romance isn’t so much in the ‘will they fall in love?’ but in the ‘what are they willing to sacrifice for that love?’

There are two love stories going on in the book.

One–-the most obvious–-is the relationship between Mac and Fritzy. They have already got together when this story begins, and are in a mostly happy spot in their lives. Mostly happy because they feel that they can not have both hockey and each other openly, and because their careers are in a precarious place at the moment. Frizzy is facing his first real shot at attaining his dream of professional hockey–-with all the doubts and uncertainties that come with it. Mac, however, is seeing the end of his hockey-playing days–-far sooner than he would like.

Which leads us to the second love story of How to Quit Playing Hockey: Mac’s love for the sport. Frizzy is also in love with what he does, but being as the story is told from Mac’s povs, it only effects the story tangentially. Mac is faced with the quite scary prospect that his hockey career is probably no longer numbered in years, but in months. He has no clue what to do with that info, though. Faced with the prospect of losing something he has loved all his life, he starts to wonder if all the sacrifices he made for that love were worth it. Especially those sacrifices made in connection to Fritzy.

With the possibility that he could lose one, or both, Mac has some hard choices to make. Not all of them are great, but when you are scrambling to hold onto something, sometimes you make an ass of yourself. Sometimes it is worth it. Even when ukuleles are involved.

This story has a lot going for it. I especially loved the secondary characters–even Burgy the Ass, in the end. The look at hockey thru both the lenses of going up, and coming down, made the story heartfelt if a little sad on Mac’s part. And I loved Fritzy’s choice…no matter why he did it. I like that it wasn’t what Mac thought it was, even if it kinda was in the end.

This book went some interesting directions and I have to say I enjoyed all of them. I’m usually satisfied with anything hockey, but the fact that it also had all this other stuff going for it, made it all the better. And something I would recommend hockey lovers (or just love-lovers) pick up.

4.5 stars


This book was provided free in exchange for a fair and honest review for Love Bytes. Go there to check out other reviews, author interviews, and all those awesome giveaways. Click below.

[Madison Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full review at www.madisonparklove.com.

Mac and Fritzy are hockey players in the junior leagues. Although they're both in their early twenties, Mac is approaching the end of his playing career, whereas Fritzy is on his way up to the big leagues. Neither wants to come out for fear of what it would mean to their futures in hockey. Because they live together in a large dwelling that houses all the single guys on the team, they have to be extra careful not to arouse suspicion. Although they're inseparable, they hope the guys just see them as best buds.

Although Mac loves Fritzy and wants to confess his feelings to him, Mac's fears and insecurities hold him back. He knows Fritzy returns those feelings, but neither man will come right out and say it. As Mac watches Fritzy leave home to move up to the AHL and then the NHL, those insecurities grow.

The story is told entirely from Mac's point-of-view. His character is well developed, and I enjoyed being inside his head. His feelings for Fritzy, his fears of what the future might hold in terms of his hockey career, and his insecurities regarding the state of their relationship all felt genuine.

The team's reaction to learning the truth about Mac and Fritzy's ongoing relationship was not what I expected, but I loved it. I also really liked the secondary characters, Sarah and Stammer. I appreciated the ambiguity surrounding Sarah's orientation. It emphasized the fact that stereotypes are not always true. Just because she's a plumber, doesn't necessarily mean she's a lesbian. Maybe she is; maybe not. I liked her and felt she was a strong character.

I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a good romance about two macho guys who love hockey and, despite the odds, love each other.

[Trix · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this story. I was immersed into Mac's thinking and rationalisation as well as get a feel for the world of hockey.

I understood Mac's reluctance to come out to his team and everyone else. The author made it easy to understand the dynamic of such a testosterone driven world and what difficulties one needs to face to continue in such a world while being different. I liked that Mac admits to being able to compartmentalise his attraction for the same gender and his role as hockey player that he isn't driven mad with lust whenever hitting the showers with the team.

However, it did feel a bit romantic and easy going towards the end when everyone was so on board with Mac's sexuality and both his and Fritzy's fears turned out to be exaggerated.

Other than that small thing, I really enjoyed reading the book. Mac didn't end up being a superstar and live happily ever after with Fritzy. There was no fairytale feel to the characters. Mac had fears and regrets for focusing solely on hockey when it became apparent he would not excel at it and worried where to head to next, once his career was over. He admitted of wanting to be brave enough to confess his feelings for Fritzy (both to the man and to everyone else) but found he lacked the courage to go through with it. Fritzy had to struggle to earn his position in the NHL, finally resorting to outting him and Mac in the hopes of garnering the attention needed to keep him in the team.

Both men were flawed and hindered by distance and lack of proper communication. And their HEA was not perfectly arranged. But it showed them working out their differences and problems, both of them wanting to be together. That made it all the more real and likable to read this.

[yazaleea · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.75 stars, was okay but kinda stressful? Then, I always find hockey books about players struggling in the lower leagues super stressful

[Judy & Marianne from Long and Short Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally posted at: http://www.longandshortreviews.com/bo...

Hockey has always fascinated me, and the way that the author peppered facts into this story seamlessly just caused that fascination to grow. Fritz and Mac are both hockey players and both in their late twenties so they’re on the downward slide of their careers. Being openly gay in Hockey could hurt their career, so they both work hard to keep their love a secret.

This story simmers and builds up slowly with every second very realistic and believable. I don’t often come across a MM novel where the main characters are hiding in the closet and both of them agree with the decision. Mac has insecurities that being in the closet only seemed to multiply, and it’s interesting to see his thought process. When the status quo changes and they have to fight to make their relationship last I really felt for them.

The scenes between Fritz and Mac are hot, but this isn’t just a wild sex romp, there is real emotion and plot being built up over time. The language used by the team could be offensive at times if it didn’t illustrate the way I imagine most hockey teams are with each other. I’m going to be reading more hockey stories in the future because Ms. K has given me even more insight to the game.

If you love hockey, stories with heart, and hot men in tight pants you need to read this.

[Pjm12 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Totally loved this. Loved Mac's voice. Loved the trusting relationship between he and Fritz.

Fritz himself was a lovely mess of contradictions: at times arrogent & powerful yet others humble and insecure. And all that lovely blushing. Not getting to spend any time in his head made me feel much admiration for Mac and the way he totally believed that Fritz was his.

The obstacles they faced were realistic. I would have liked Sarah to have been fleshed out a little more, but I did enjoy the characters of Stammer and even Burgy.

And it was funny, and sexy and the sexy was sometimes funny. And the grand gesture, although not overly grand, was suitably and adorably cute.

[Helen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good book, but I think I liked the prequel better. It felt like Mac and Fritzy spent too much of the book apart, which meant we did not get much in the way of sexy goodness. Just a couple scenes. The whole story is told from Mac's perspective and I wish we could have gotten Fritzy's perspective too. There were so many times that I wish I knew what Fritzy was thinking. I think what saved this book for me was that I really like Mac and Fritzy as a couple, I just wish we could have gotten a little more of them together. Overall this is an enjoyable read, but it isn't outstanding.

[Snowtulip · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

This book was yumminess with Mac and Fritzy front and center. I love sports stories and the complexities that come with working in that industry while in the closet. This story explores that hardship of love associated with the dream career and the dream of freedom to be who you are.

Mac does a lot of maturing throughout the story and I am a complete sucker for Mac and Fritzy's relationship...love them together.

[Nichole (DirrtyH) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three star book with some four star moments.

[Yue · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is not only sweet, but very romantic. When was the last time I've read a romantic MM? Hockey players, in an established relationship, who are also best of friends. Mac is a sweetheart and a bit paranoid. His bf Fritzy is nice and honest. After having living together for the summer, Fritzy goes to play for the big league, while Mac stays in his town, fearing he would lose his job since he is already old for the little league standard. He doesn't need to worry about it, he gets the C, but since he is still in the closet, he has to play along with his teammates in their homophobic jokes. Thank Heavens they are mostly men-jokes, nothing than you don't hear in sports, but it worries Mac than they will "see" he is gay.

I liked everything about this book. Burgy is an ass but not an evil ass and once they all know Mac is gay, they behave all wonderfully, if not a bit awkwardly. I like that Mac gets a girl friend, not all chummy-chummy, but he confides in her and she is not meddlesome at all. Sarah was a wonderful female character.

There are no misunderstandings (ok, there may be a little one at the end, but it was for a good ending), Mac and Fritzy really loved each other in spite of not telling each other those three words (Mac was afraid, Fritzy didn't want to scare him). They have a long distance relationship, and although they have not played all their cards, they never doubted each other. In fact, being far away is what made their relationship stronger <3 So for people who complain that there isn't much of sexy times, that is precisely why I think this book was so romantic, because you can read Mac's thoughts and insecurities about hockey but never about their relationship, except only when it is to make it public or not. And how cute and without any awkwardness nor stiffness were their calls?

I loved when Mac went to see Fritzy after weeks of not hearing from him, to fight for them. I loved that he did this little show with the ukelele, isn't it adorable? I wish there was a 2nd book, because I feel like they have a HFN instead of a HEA. Still, I know they'll make it work XD

[Valentina Heart · Rating 3 out of 5]

This review was originally written for The Romance Reviews and can also be found there.

I've discovered my love for hockey stories quite a while ago, but nothing tops those focused on a gay couple. I guess it just rocks my boat and the first story I've read by this author concerning the subject set up a high standard that just wasn't reached by this one.

I got a different impression about the characters and what might have been a plus in the short THERE'S COCK IN THIS STORY than in this lengthier book that I struggled with it.

Mac is having trouble with his slowly dying hockey career. He's never made it to professionals and is getting too old to stay in the sport and make a living with it. Fritzy got his big break and they are now making it work long term, facing the trials that keep on coming -- alone, and keeping their secret.

There might have been ‘cock' in the first story, but there was way more sex in this one. Too much in fact and instead of letting me get closer to the characters it created a certain distance where I just needed the story to move on. I especially felt that with Fritzy while Mac kept changing his mind and overall attitude. One minute he would be super closeted and the next he would have these bouts of need for public affection. Then he would go back to hiding.

Fritzy's reasons were somewhat understood, to me anyway, and while I do appreciate the general fear, what annoyed me was the hot and cold displays that frankly really made for inconsistent personalities. I did like the hockey theme as well as the bits and pieces of romance which seemed really sweet. But most of their relationship consisted of pieces of humorous banter and sex. Not much to pull it all together into a solid whole.

I would still recommend this to those who like to read about sports in books and those who do want to revisit Mac and Fritzy, but I did expect more from this story and will think about taking on another potential book in this series.

[Dumbledore11214 · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to read this book because I have read Guttersnipe by the same author and while I had some issues with it, I thought it was anything but boring and plot wise at least quite creative. Guttersnipe was anything but traditional romance and I wanted to see how this author handles traditional romance and when friend offered to loan it I jumped at the chance.

Basically I was bored out of my mind for most part of the story. Maybe it is because I have read so many "sports players coming out" stories which had romantic storylines, but I kept thinking that I have read much more intense and better paced stories with that basic storyline.

More importantly I never connected to the guys, I have not felt any emotions from them till almost the very end and by the time I did, it was too late.

Remember Sarah? She was awesome, although she was a very supporting character. Two stars for Sarah.

[Vallie · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

Meh. Not bad but I wasn't blown away either. It didn't read like a romance to be honest. It was more about the MCs dealing with the future of being professional hockey players, being in the closet, dealing with homophobic team-players, and maintaining their "non-relationship." There was steam, and there were some sweet moments, but towards the end I started skimming because I was getting bored.

I would still recommend it for a light read to pass the time but don't expect to be impressed. I am sure I won't remember much other than the fact it was about hockey players pretty soon.

[Rhode PVD · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think you have to love a book that has "Six-pack-of-beer, cheese-in-a-can foreplay" in it.

This is totally NA although the two leads are in their mid-20s. It feels more real than the rest of the hockey romances out there. It's not dumb or too fluffy, nobody has millions of dollars because it mainly takes place in the extreme minor leagues. There's some angst, but it's a fairly short book, so you're not wading through it for 100s of pages.

My favorite part were the younger player's confused reactions when they were confronted with a gay teammate who didn't seem like what they thought a gay guy would be.