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Off the Bench Duet #1
Hooking the Captain
In hockey and love, timing is everything …
Emmett “Coop” Cooper is the star captain of the Boston Bruins. But off the bench, he’s hiding a secret that could jeopardize everything he’s worked for. As a gay man and a virgin, he’s chosen to live his life in the closet, afraid of how the hockey world might react. However, one night, while visiting family out of town, everything changes when he meets a guy at a bar with a captivating smile he can’t ignore.
Ford Mahoney is a recent college graduate with a haunted past. After destroying his relationship with a fellow student, he escapes from Boston after graduation to mend his broken heart. A chance encounter with a famous hockey player sparks hope of a fresh start, but when Ford learns Coop is friends with his ex’s new man, he keeps Coop in the dark, leaving the fate of their relationship on thin ice.
With secrets buried deep, the excitement of a steamy summer fling provides a welcome distraction. But once they’re back home, Ford is forced to come clean, leaving him to wonder if he’ll ever break free from the chains of his past. And with a broken heart, Coop questions if love is worth the pain.
But maybe it’s true; time heals all wounds.
Hooking the Captain is book 1 in the Off the Bench Duet. Coop and Ford’s story concludes in Retaking the Shot, which is available to preorder now.
Emmett “Coop” Cooper is the star captain of the Boston Bruins. But off the bench, he’s hiding a secret that could jeopardize everything he’s worked for. As a gay man and a virgin, he’s chosen to live his life in the closet, afraid of how the hockey world might react. However, one night, while visiting family out of town, everything changes when he meets a guy at a bar with a captivating smile he can’t ignore.
Ford Mahoney is a recent college graduate with a haunted past. After destroying his relationship with a fellow student, he escapes from Boston after graduation to mend his broken heart. A chance encounter with a famous hockey player sparks hope of a fresh start, but when Ford learns Coop is friends with his ex’s new man, he keeps Coop in the dark, leaving the fate of their relationship on thin ice.
With secrets buried deep, the excitement of a steamy summer fling provides a welcome distraction. But once they’re back home, Ford is forced to come clean, leaving him to wonder if he’ll ever break free from the chains of his past. And with a broken heart, Coop questions if love is worth the pain.
But maybe it’s true; time heals all wounds.
Hooking the Captain is book 1 in the Off the Bench Duet. Coop and Ford’s story concludes in Retaking the Shot, which is available to preorder now.
184 pages, Paperback
Published January 15, 2024
568 people are currently reading
920 people want to read
About the author
Kimberly Knight
79 books3,016 followersKimberly Knight is a USA Today Bestselling author who lives in the Central Valley of California with her loving husband, who is a great research assistant, and young daughter, who keeps Kimberly on her toes. Kimberly writes in a variety of genres, including romantic suspense, contemporary romance, erotic romance, and paranormal romance. Her books will make you laugh, cry, swoon, and fall in love before she throws you curve balls you never see coming.
When Kimberly isn’t writing, you can find her watching her favorite reality TV shows, including cooking competitions, binge-watching true crime documentaries, and going to San Francisco Giants games. She’s also a two-time desmoid tumor/cancer fighter, which has made her stronger and an inspiration to her fans.
When Kimberly isn’t writing, you can find her watching her favorite reality TV shows, including cooking competitions, binge-watching true crime documentaries, and going to San Francisco Giants games. She’s also a two-time desmoid tumor/cancer fighter, which has made her stronger and an inspiration to her fans.
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June 5, 2025
Hooking the Captain is book one in the Off the Bench Duet by Kimberly Knight and Rachel Lyn Adams. I admit I waited for both books in this duet to be available because I knew going in that book one ended in a cliff hanger. But it’s fine because as soon as I’m finished with this review, I will be picking right up with book two, Retaking the Shot.
When the story begins, first we are introduced to Ford Mahoney. Ford is bi-sexual but out of fear that resulted from something in his past, he has kept this fact a secret from everyone. When Ford was in his last semester of college, he made a pretty big mistake and handled the fallout badly, hurting others as a result. Now graduated, he has gone to Hartford, Vermont for the summer to spend some time with his grandparents and to get his head on straight, while he waits for word on a potential job.
Emmett “Coop” Cooper is twenty seven or twenty eight years old, and is the team captain for the Bruins. Coop is gay but due to being a pro hockey player, he keeps this fact a secret. He has only ever told one person, his best friend, Hayden. It’s the off season so Coop always tries to spend some time with his family in Hartford. And it’s during a night out at the local bar that they meet. When Ford sits down next to him and that instant connection makes itself known.
Both men are in the closet but their chemistry can’t be denied. Feelings grow quickly and once they both return to Boston, they continue to grow. But Ford has kept a huge secret. A secret that connects him to Coop’s best friend. And once those secrets are revealed, the damage is done. Is there any way of getting past it or is it too much to forgive?
I do feel bad for Ford. He’s had some bad things happen to him and he’s made some pretty bad decisions. But as the story progresses, he does seem to grow. What really makes me feel bad for him is that it seems like every time he makes progress, though, something comes along to set him back. As far as Coop, he’s a few years older and more mature. As I said, there is a cliff hanger but I’m going right on to the final book. Side note: Coop’s best friend, Hayden and his boyfriend, Tyler’s story is told in the book, After Hours Lecture. I have read this and honestly, didn’t realize ahead of time that the two books were connected. But, it is definitely not necessary to have read it to enjoy this at all. But once you meet them, if you are interested, you can definitely grab it to experience their journey.
For more about this book and so many others, come and visit me at Carol's Crazy Bookish World.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Carol...
When the story begins, first we are introduced to Ford Mahoney. Ford is bi-sexual but out of fear that resulted from something in his past, he has kept this fact a secret from everyone. When Ford was in his last semester of college, he made a pretty big mistake and handled the fallout badly, hurting others as a result. Now graduated, he has gone to Hartford, Vermont for the summer to spend some time with his grandparents and to get his head on straight, while he waits for word on a potential job.
Emmett “Coop” Cooper is twenty seven or twenty eight years old, and is the team captain for the Bruins. Coop is gay but due to being a pro hockey player, he keeps this fact a secret. He has only ever told one person, his best friend, Hayden. It’s the off season so Coop always tries to spend some time with his family in Hartford. And it’s during a night out at the local bar that they meet. When Ford sits down next to him and that instant connection makes itself known.
Both men are in the closet but their chemistry can’t be denied. Feelings grow quickly and once they both return to Boston, they continue to grow. But Ford has kept a huge secret. A secret that connects him to Coop’s best friend. And once those secrets are revealed, the damage is done. Is there any way of getting past it or is it too much to forgive?
I do feel bad for Ford. He’s had some bad things happen to him and he’s made some pretty bad decisions. But as the story progresses, he does seem to grow. What really makes me feel bad for him is that it seems like every time he makes progress, though, something comes along to set him back. As far as Coop, he’s a few years older and more mature. As I said, there is a cliff hanger but I’m going right on to the final book. Side note: Coop’s best friend, Hayden and his boyfriend, Tyler’s story is told in the book, After Hours Lecture. I have read this and honestly, didn’t realize ahead of time that the two books were connected. But, it is definitely not necessary to have read it to enjoy this at all. But once you meet them, if you are interested, you can definitely grab it to experience their journey.
For more about this book and so many others, come and visit me at Carol's Crazy Bookish World.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Carol...
November 1, 2024
I don't think I've ever read such a WTF story in my reading career so far. No, scratch that, I have, I definitely have. This one goes for 2.5 - 2.75⭐, but I'm rounding it down, because this is even worse than After Hours Lectures.
Wow, holy shit, I had some serious expectations for this book. This is Ford's story, he's the guy Tyler from After Hours Lectures has been hooking up with, the guy that reported Tyler's middle aged Professor to the board for seeing a student. Which, let's be honest, pretty much anyone would.
🟡 Read After Hours Lectures before reading this book (I didn't like it)
🟣 Hockey player/college graduate
🟢 Age gap - 6 years 22/28
🔵 Gay/bisexual (none out)
🟡 Fast paced
🟣 Multiple hook-ups with other people (no cheating)
🔵 A lot of side characters
❗ Mentions of SA (rape), recording without consent (revenge porn), bullying (mmc's past)
🌶️ Some smut, first times, quite good; oral, penetrative; t/b
Ford and Coop start out promising when Coop goes back home to Hartford for his hockey off-season and sees Ford in a park and finds him very attractive, meets him in a bar and then hooks up with him.
They got me right up until Ford mentioned who he was in relation to Tyler, his ex. The story was somewhat engaging, Ford and Coop were hooking up, then dating, both closeted and hiding, but slowly coming out to their families. It started out as a very life-like story, but it went to shit when Ford admitted to Coop why he can't go to dinner to Coop's friend's Hayden's house.
Hayden is Coop's friend and the professor Tyler was seeing in After Hours Lectures. Ford dumped Tyler because he didn't want to be caught with a guy, but then wanted him back and when he found out Tyler was hooking up with a professor, he reported Hayden to the University.
Ford knew he should've said something to Coop about what happened, but he didn't want to jeopardize their relationship, they were also kind of new, so to me it's understandable he wasn't letting out all his secrets. I'm also taking into consideration that Ford was very closeted and 22 years old, so a college kid, who was also raped and bullied in the past, he didn't out Tyler or Hayden when he saw them together, just reported Hayden, that's it, so to me - not that big of a deal. Hurt feelings and pride, sure, but anyone could've done that if they saw them together.
But what bothered me was how Ford was portrayed as this complete villain solely because of this. When he lets Coop know what happened, Coop says if Ford knows what that could've costed Hayden, like his career, right? So then I'm wondering did Hayden know what dating a student could've costed him? How about some accountability? He's counting on another student to keep it quiet? Unbelievable.
Tyler and Hayden go on this tirade to a brokenhearted Coop about Ford, who's been nothing but real and authentic with Coop, not to mention they both fell in love, so there were some strong feelings involved.
“I’m sorry, but I have nothing good to say about him,” Tyler admitted. “He tried to ruin our lives.”
“Coop, we appreciate your honesty. But you need to understand the person Ford is. He’s manipulative, and he plays games that can hurt people. He’s not someone you want to be involved with.”
“We’re not blaming you, Coop. Ford is selfish and we’ve all learned the hard way.”
“And we’ll help you through it,” Hayden added. “But you need to cut ties with him. He’s toxic, and he’s only going to bring you more pain.”
Those guys don't even know Ford, Tyler just hooked up with him for a while and Hayden had never met him, so why the defamation of character? Are they all 12? What's the thinking here.
And Coop being an almost 30 year old man who's in love, was a virgin, had his firsts with Ford, then says to Ford he can't be with him because he hurt someone who's important to him? (Meaning Hayden.) Fuck, how is this real??
The second half of the book is again, fast paced and just talks about how Coop and Ford are in different parts of the world and they're hooking up with all these random people, and yes, the authors kept adding different side characters to the mix with tons of different developments, so of course the connection wasn't felt, at all. You can't feel it. Coop and Ford aren't the main topic. And because there's no strong connection, I wasn't invested in their happy ending.
I mean I kind of wanted Ford to get a better life, be successful when he moved to London and show these idiots he's better than them, but he's just too plagued by his own past unresolved trauma, so of course he moves back to Boston and he starts texting Coop again, so I'm thinking Coop is probably going to stroll in and save the day and then Ford will have to grovel to those idiots Tyler and Hayden to make it work with Coop.
Makes you really wonder reading all this - is it even worth it? Many things happening just don't make any sense. I'm not rooting for this couple.
dnf
February 18, 2025DNF @ 83%
The MCs break up mid story and then spend the second half living on opposite sides of the world, hooking up with/having actual relationships with other people. That’s a hard no from me. At this point, I wouldn’t want them to end up together anyway, so I’m bowing out. Pretty sure these authors just aren’t for me, but I gave it my best.
The MCs break up mid story and then spend the second half living on opposite sides of the world, hooking up with/having actual relationships with other people. That’s a hard no from me. At this point, I wouldn’t want them to end up together anyway, so I’m bowing out. Pretty sure these authors just aren’t for me, but I gave it my best.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 19, 2024
So I'm loving Coop so much but Ford I'm still mad at. His back story makes me so sad but he has a lot to make up for. I'm not going to go into many details but read After hours lectures before this one. You don't have to read it to read this book but it will get you more insight. Love these two ladies writing books together, please check their other ones. They are all great!
August 7, 2024
Żenada 🤦♀️
Coś nie mam szczęścia ostatnio 😞
Coś nie mam szczęścia ostatnio 😞
December 5, 2024
At first I thought 'Great. What should have been a summer romance that two MCs forced into a lifelong romance.' Wrong.
This one was a pleasant surprise. The first half seemed like a generic whirlwind romance. Ford and Coop were never going to last though. Not this time, anyway.
Both in the closet, Coop because he's captain of an NHL team and Ford because the last time he came out to someone (his high school best friend) he got raped —by the best friend.
Fast forward to currently. A series of unfortunate coincidences mean Ford is the guy who ratted out his ex's new boyfriend (Hayden-a professor) to the college dean for dating a student in an effort to get back his ex once they split.
Then Ford meets Coop, falls alarmingly fast in love, THEN discovers that Hayden is one of Coop's closest friends. Maximum drama (and epic breakup) ensues.
This is when I clocked back in for this story. I loved that Coop didn't just brush what Ford did under the rug(even though a student dating their professor isn't great optics, but they were both adults, and his motives for ratting Hayden out weren't altruistic) But Hayden's his closest friend, and Ford DID try to ruin his life.
To be fair, Ford HAD mentioned that he'd been up to some fuckery at college, but he didn't give Coop details, because who tells the person they JUST started dating (and are comically falling in love with rapidly) that 'Oh, btw, just before I met you, my ex dumped me and I kinda went psycho and then tried to get his new boyfriend fired because he's a professor and I thought that would make my ex take me back. But no worries! I'm totally NOT like that anymore even though this was like, last week. Oh, and that professor guy? Your closest friend. Hope this changes nothing! ❤️'
So, I highkey get why he didn't say it.
I know that some people hate seeing romance MCs dating people who aren't the other MC so if that's an issue, this duet will not be for you because once they break up, they both actively(romantically AND sexually) try to move on with other people.
And fail.
But on the bright side, we get to see Ford face Consequences™ for his fuckup(even though I'm personally not that bugged by it), and we get to see Coop struggle with his continued feelings for Ford(who moved to the UK after they broke up) even though his good friend professor Hayden(who dates students) and Hayden's boyfriend (who is also Ford's ex) remain in his ear about what a shit person Ford is.
Somehow by the time this ends, I'm left kinda sad for these two (who honestly probably would have found their way back to each other by now if it hadn't been for outside influences) and wondering WHEN they plan on saying fuck the noise.
Like Coop tells Hayden, "He may have done a bad thing, but that doesn't mean he's a bad person."
This one was a pleasant surprise. The first half seemed like a generic whirlwind romance. Ford and Coop were never going to last though. Not this time, anyway.
Both in the closet, Coop because he's captain of an NHL team and Ford because the last time he came out to someone (his high school best friend) he got raped —by the best friend.
Fast forward to currently. A series of unfortunate coincidences mean Ford is the guy who ratted out his ex's new boyfriend (Hayden-a professor) to the college dean for dating a student in an effort to get back his ex once they split.
Then Ford meets Coop, falls alarmingly fast in love, THEN discovers that Hayden is one of Coop's closest friends. Maximum drama (and epic breakup) ensues.
This is when I clocked back in for this story. I loved that Coop didn't just brush what Ford did under the rug(even though a student dating their professor isn't great optics, but they were both adults, and his motives for ratting Hayden out weren't altruistic) But Hayden's his closest friend, and Ford DID try to ruin his life.
To be fair, Ford HAD mentioned that he'd been up to some fuckery at college, but he didn't give Coop details, because who tells the person they JUST started dating (and are comically falling in love with rapidly) that 'Oh, btw, just before I met you, my ex dumped me and I kinda went psycho and then tried to get his new boyfriend fired because he's a professor and I thought that would make my ex take me back. But no worries! I'm totally NOT like that anymore even though this was like, last week. Oh, and that professor guy? Your closest friend. Hope this changes nothing! ❤️'
So, I highkey get why he didn't say it.
I know that some people hate seeing romance MCs dating people who aren't the other MC so if that's an issue, this duet will not be for you because once they break up, they both actively(romantically AND sexually) try to move on with other people.
And fail.
But on the bright side, we get to see Ford face Consequences™ for his fuckup(even though I'm personally not that bugged by it), and we get to see Coop struggle with his continued feelings for Ford(who moved to the UK after they broke up) even though his good friend professor Hayden(who dates students) and Hayden's boyfriend (who is also Ford's ex) remain in his ear about what a shit person Ford is.
Somehow by the time this ends, I'm left kinda sad for these two (who honestly probably would have found their way back to each other by now if it hadn't been for outside influences) and wondering WHEN they plan on saying fuck the noise.
Like Coop tells Hayden, "He may have done a bad thing, but that doesn't mean he's a bad person."
January 20, 2024
One dimensional characters, flat dialogue
February 25, 2024
Ford and Coop are perfect for one another. They have an instant connection, but due to Ford's past, it is a constant lingering presence within their relationship. I admire Ford's willingness to learn, adapt, and change to atone for his past horrible actions. He has a huge heart and I love seeing characters learn from their past and become better for one another.
Overall I loved this story, it had such a great emotional arc and left me anxiously anticipating the concluding entry to their story. Cannot wait for what happens next for these two.
Overall I loved this story, it had such a great emotional arc and left me anxiously anticipating the concluding entry to their story. Cannot wait for what happens next for these two.
March 15, 2024
The only part of this I didn’t like was it finishing and not having an answer to the ending till March! What a great story! I am so surprised how much I liked Ford. These two authors will never disappoint! Now I’m gonna reread After hours Lectures which was in my top 3 of last year.
reread this in time for retaking the shot i highly recommend this series 🏒🔥
reread this in time for retaking the shot i highly recommend this series 🏒🔥
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 10, 2024
its like a half finished poorly written fan fiction
Read
February 2, 2024After nearly destroying his ex's relationship with a professor, Ford is looking to get away from his troubles over the summer. At his grandparents' place, he meets Coop, who is also getting away from being a secretly gay hockey player.
Even after not enjoying the first of these, I kept going with this one, and I would say that all the problems in the first one return here.
-Flat characterization, lack of emotional depth to the mains and their interactions
-Why have a main character be a never-been-kissed virgin and then just kind of...never mention again that his sexual encounters with the other main might have been meaningful to him for that reason alone?
-There are a lot of awkward time jumps, sometimes spanning months and other relationships. This could have used way more depth and way more detail to provide some sort of emotional insight to the characters beyond "Ford is drinking a lot and it is bad"
-The sex scenes are slightly less repetitive but they are still very bare bones "then I did X and he did Y"
-Extremely OTT drama; Ford's backstory is awful but he explains it to other characters like it's just a thing that happened. It's also never put together that maybe that is what influenced him to behave the way he did in After Hours Lecture.
-Not to backseat edit too much, but that would have been a chance to actually address the fact that Hayden and Tyler's relationship wasn't exactly above board, and that an outsider wouldn't know it was consensual, and that an outsider with Ford's backstory might more easily leap to conclusions. Instead, Hayden and Tyler warn Coop off because they are "the wronged parties" and it's just kind of patronizing.
Even after not enjoying the first of these, I kept going with this one, and I would say that all the problems in the first one return here.
-Flat characterization, lack of emotional depth to the mains and their interactions
-Why have a main character be a never-been-kissed virgin and then just kind of...never mention again that his sexual encounters with the other main might have been meaningful to him for that reason alone?
-There are a lot of awkward time jumps, sometimes spanning months and other relationships. This could have used way more depth and way more detail to provide some sort of emotional insight to the characters beyond "Ford is drinking a lot and it is bad"
-The sex scenes are slightly less repetitive but they are still very bare bones "then I did X and he did Y"
-Extremely OTT drama; Ford's backstory is awful but he explains it to other characters like it's just a thing that happened. It's also never put together that maybe that is what influenced him to behave the way he did in After Hours Lecture.
-Not to backseat edit too much, but that would have been a chance to actually address the fact that Hayden and Tyler's relationship wasn't exactly above board, and that an outsider wouldn't know it was consensual, and that an outsider with Ford's backstory might more easily leap to conclusions. Instead, Hayden and Tyler warn Coop off because they are "the wronged parties" and it's just kind of patronizing.
January 19, 2024
4.5 Stars
What a great story, the secrets, the past that has a chance to derail the present. Coop and Ford have a great story. Both men have come to Virginia for different reasons, and neither is looking for anything but time away. A chance meeting in a bar, a hot kiss, and a vacation neither wants to end.
Be prepared for a rollercoaster and an ending that leaves us hanging. The next book in the duet can not get here fast enough.
Thank you to the Author for the advanced copy; this is my voluntary review.
What a great story, the secrets, the past that has a chance to derail the present. Coop and Ford have a great story. Both men have come to Virginia for different reasons, and neither is looking for anything but time away. A chance meeting in a bar, a hot kiss, and a vacation neither wants to end.
Be prepared for a rollercoaster and an ending that leaves us hanging. The next book in the duet can not get here fast enough.
Thank you to the Author for the advanced copy; this is my voluntary review.
January 16, 2024
Hooking the Captain is the first book in the Off the Bench duet by Kimberly Knight and Rachel Lyn Adams. If you read their book, After Hours Lecture then you have meet Ford (Tyler’s ex) and Coop (Hayden’s friend) and in a twist of fate, they meet each other.
After everything that happened during Ford’s senior year of college he needed to get away for the summer. Away from Boston so he went to visit his grandparents in Virginia. He was there to mend a broken heart and try to move on from the mistakes he made over the last six months. What he didn’t expect was to meet a man who would make him feel alive. To feel like himself again. He knew who the man was but also knew that Coop was in this bar to be himself too. Not Emmett Cooper, the captain and star player for the Bruins. After one hot kiss and Ford wanted more.
Coop was in Virginia visiting his parents for a few weeks during the off-season. After those few weeks were up, he wasn’t ready to leave. He loved hanging out the new man in his life and he didn’t want it to end. They both lived in Boston but with reality approaching could they make it work while he went back on the ice and Ford went to work?
The real question was… What will happen if Ford’s secrets come to light?
Wow! What a roller coaster ride and I am here for it and can’t wait for the next book. I hated Ford after what he did to Tyler and Hayden but now I was rooting for him. I want to give him a big hug! I want to give Coop a big hug too.
P.S. Make sure to grab the free novella at the end of the book.
After everything that happened during Ford’s senior year of college he needed to get away for the summer. Away from Boston so he went to visit his grandparents in Virginia. He was there to mend a broken heart and try to move on from the mistakes he made over the last six months. What he didn’t expect was to meet a man who would make him feel alive. To feel like himself again. He knew who the man was but also knew that Coop was in this bar to be himself too. Not Emmett Cooper, the captain and star player for the Bruins. After one hot kiss and Ford wanted more.
Coop was in Virginia visiting his parents for a few weeks during the off-season. After those few weeks were up, he wasn’t ready to leave. He loved hanging out the new man in his life and he didn’t want it to end. They both lived in Boston but with reality approaching could they make it work while he went back on the ice and Ford went to work?
The real question was… What will happen if Ford’s secrets come to light?
Wow! What a roller coaster ride and I am here for it and can’t wait for the next book. I hated Ford after what he did to Tyler and Hayden but now I was rooting for him. I want to give him a big hug! I want to give Coop a big hug too.
P.S. Make sure to grab the free novella at the end of the book.
April 13, 2024
I'm torn on this one. I really liked it for the first half, but then when Coop found out about Tyler and Haden, it went downhill for me. How do you say you love someone, spend as much time as you did with them, getting to know them, to not even think that they could've changed??? And then the rest of the book is them hooking up with other people...ugh.
The cliffhanger has me immediately opening the next book, but I'm a little pissed with this one.
The cliffhanger has me immediately opening the next book, but I'm a little pissed with this one.
December 27, 2023
What an amazing story! The cliffhanger doesn’t even take away the brilliance of this book. Coop and Ford have an incredible story and I’m so excited for the next book. I seriously can’t wait for everyone to read it. It deserves 10 stars 🌟
January 6, 2024
I knew from the beginning that Kimberly said the book ends on a cliffhanger but OMG! I’m gutted. I need the second book asap. I was not ready for that. So very far from ready. I loved seeing Ford getting a chance to redeem himself after his traumatic high school experience and rough break up in college. I loved seeing Coop finally getting a chance to be his real self. Finally getting to show love to someone. It broke my heart when Ford was forced to tell Coop the truth. From there to the end of the book I was a twisted ball of emotions. I just need book 2 now please so I can see their HEA. Please!
January 29, 2024
The idea behind this story was fine (though not super interesting), but the execution wasn’t great.
The dialogue and interactions between the characters weren’t really believable or realistic. The characters weren’t interesting or relatable, and while it might look like a “sports romance”, the sport isn’t really an integrated part of the story. The characters’ issues and trauma aren’t explored in a satisfying way.
The story ends on a bit of a cliffhanger, but I don’t think I’m really fussed about what happens next.
The dialogue and interactions between the characters weren’t really believable or realistic. The characters weren’t interesting or relatable, and while it might look like a “sports romance”, the sport isn’t really an integrated part of the story. The characters’ issues and trauma aren’t explored in a satisfying way.
The story ends on a bit of a cliffhanger, but I don’t think I’m really fussed about what happens next.
January 24, 2024
This writing style came across as really bad acting and the chemistry between the characters just wasn't there. There were so many things happening that the characters never had time to actually go through their issues.
December 31, 2024
3.5⭐️ 3🌶️ 3.5🎧
January 6, 2024
Once this hit my kindle, I devoured it one sitting. “Hooking the Captain” is a heartfelt, steamy and incredible MM hockey story that has me counting down the days until the second book comes out.
Cooper is the captain of his NHL team and is home for the summer visiting his parents. While out one night, he meets Ford, who is in town visiting his grandparents. There is a spark between the two from the first moment they meet. But Cooper has come out to a couple friends but is still in the closet because of his career. The two start a casual relationship which leads to more since both live in Boston. But as their relationship grows, a mutual connection that they have comes to light and rocks their relationship.
I loved Cooper and Ford so much and I can’t wait to read the next book. We have met these characters in past books and I was so excited to read their story. Cooper is a swoony hockey player and I loved him finding Ford. He had been single too long and hiding who he was. Ford is a good guy even if he did some things in college that wasn’t the nicest thing. I loved the connection to a past book and it was nice to check in with those characters. Cooper and Ford have a great chemistry and I enjoyed reading about them. The added plot twist and cliffhanger had me gasping and I can’t wait to find out what happens in the next book.
Cooper is the captain of his NHL team and is home for the summer visiting his parents. While out one night, he meets Ford, who is in town visiting his grandparents. There is a spark between the two from the first moment they meet. But Cooper has come out to a couple friends but is still in the closet because of his career. The two start a casual relationship which leads to more since both live in Boston. But as their relationship grows, a mutual connection that they have comes to light and rocks their relationship.
I loved Cooper and Ford so much and I can’t wait to read the next book. We have met these characters in past books and I was so excited to read their story. Cooper is a swoony hockey player and I loved him finding Ford. He had been single too long and hiding who he was. Ford is a good guy even if he did some things in college that wasn’t the nicest thing. I loved the connection to a past book and it was nice to check in with those characters. Cooper and Ford have a great chemistry and I enjoyed reading about them. The added plot twist and cliffhanger had me gasping and I can’t wait to find out what happens in the next book.
February 19, 2024
Si je devais définir cette première partie en un seul mot ça serait: ÉPATANT. Oh oui. Je ne m’étais pas attendue à être dans un tel état de fébrilité. Et je ne vais pas m’en plaindre. Bien au contraire. Kimberly Knight & Rachel Lyn Adams possèdent un don unique pour attirer leurs lecteurs dans leur filet, leur insuffler des émotions brutes et les rendre littéralement accro. C’est tout simplement impressionnant. Alors si vous cherchez une palpitante lecture dans l’univers du hockey avec des personnages parfaitement imparfaits, qui aborde des sujets sensibles de notre société et qui vous ébranle à tous les niveaux, alors Hooking the Captain est exactement ce qu’il vous faut. C’est mon premier roman de ce terrible duo d’auteures et cela ne sera pas le dernier. Et avec cette fin à vous arracher les cheveux et à vous faire hurler de frustration, dire que je trépigne d’impatience de découvrir ce qu’il va advenir de nos deux héros est un pur euphémisme. Heureusement pour moi, l’attente ne sera pas de longue durée. Alors rendez-vous le 15 mars prochain…
𝑴𝒐𝒏 𝒂𝒗𝒊𝒔 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒑𝒍𝒆𝒕 𝒔𝒖𝒓 𝒍𝒆 𝒃𝒍𝒐𝒈 𝒊𝒄𝒊: https://wp.me/p5AuT9-dCV
𝑴𝒐𝒏 𝒂𝒗𝒊𝒔 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒑𝒍𝒆𝒕 𝒔𝒖𝒓 𝒍𝒆 𝒃𝒍𝒐𝒈 𝒊𝒄𝒊: https://wp.me/p5AuT9-dCV
March 17, 2024
♤CLIFFHANGER it is a duet!
♡Hockey
♡NHL Player
♡Closeted jock
♡Virgin
♡Fresh out of college
♡Meet in small town
♡R@pe, hard past
♡Boston/London
Those friends are horrible imo. They could at least should be able to know their friend were heartbreaking over his lover. But instead they keep putting him down as if they didn't knew of his past.
Though it's gonna be a 3 stars all along. Nothing exceptionnel kept my attention lie and guilt are not my cuppa tea. Exception the end. Omg.... where the next book?
♡Hockey
♡NHL Player
♡Closeted jock
♡Virgin
♡Fresh out of college
♡Meet in small town
♡R@pe, hard past
♡Boston/London
Those friends are horrible imo. They could at least should be able to know their friend were heartbreaking over his lover. But instead they keep putting him down as if they didn't knew of his past.
Though it's gonna be a 3 stars all along. Nothing exceptionnel kept my attention lie and guilt are not my cuppa tea. Exception the end. Omg.... where the next book?
January 5, 2024
Overall I loved this book and can’t wait for the next one. I loved the storyline and really loved Ford and Coop. I realize that including past relationships helped build a little backstory, but I don’t know that it really added to the meat of the story. You couldn’t help but root for Coop and Ford and feel all the emotions they were feeling. The ending leaves you with a mixture of it’s a cliffhanger, yet you still got a really good story. Well done Kimberly and Rachel!
January 18, 2024
Review by: Jennifer
(5 Stars)
I am pulling my hair out right now! How dare the authors give us this story and then just... bam... cliffy??? Yes, I'm aware I sound spoiled, I feel like Veruca Salt saying I want it NOW. This story is not for the faint of heart, in fact this is a bit brutal making us feel all the feels! I can't wait to see how this all works out. I give this 5 stars.
(5 Stars)
I am pulling my hair out right now! How dare the authors give us this story and then just... bam... cliffy??? Yes, I'm aware I sound spoiled, I feel like Veruca Salt saying I want it NOW. This story is not for the faint of heart, in fact this is a bit brutal making us feel all the feels! I can't wait to see how this all works out. I give this 5 stars.
January 19, 2024
Really liked it.
Wasn’t what I was expecting but I really enjoyed it. I like that the story spans over time. That we get all of the characters and not just parts of the two main characters together.
Coop and Ford have a Rocky time. Both going through different hardships that affect their time together. I wasn’t expecting a cliffhanger but oh boy did I love it. I can’t wait for the rest of the story and to see what happens with these two.
Wasn’t what I was expecting but I really enjoyed it. I like that the story spans over time. That we get all of the characters and not just parts of the two main characters together.
Coop and Ford have a Rocky time. Both going through different hardships that affect their time together. I wasn’t expecting a cliffhanger but oh boy did I love it. I can’t wait for the rest of the story and to see what happens with these two.
January 20, 2024
Ford heads out to dinner with his parents to celebrate his dad's big commercial real estate deal. Ford can't keep his mind off his ex, Tyler
Ford and Tyler graduate from college. Ford moves on.
Coop, a center for the Boston Bruins goes out for drinks with his best friend, Hayden who is also gay, like Coop.
I absolutely loved all the twists and turns but holy smokes, that cliffhanger was 💔💔💔💔💔💔
Ford and Tyler graduate from college. Ford moves on.
Coop, a center for the Boston Bruins goes out for drinks with his best friend, Hayden who is also gay, like Coop.
I absolutely loved all the twists and turns but holy smokes, that cliffhanger was 💔💔💔💔💔💔
January 18, 2024
Great way to start book 1 of this series. Coop and Ford are worth reading this book. There is a cliffhanger just to let people know but you still don't want to pass it up. Can't wait for book 2.
Read
January 24, 2024DNF at 53%.
I’ve read other books by this duo and I had hopes that this one would be better but I was just bored. The phrases “One week later…” “it was a week later when…” were used way too frequently and I felt like I got a much better sense of who these characters were based upon their flashbacks versus their current interactions. Also, just not a whole lot of real conversations between them. Please SHOW me, not TELL me how they’re feeling. It read very “this thing happened, then the next, and the next. They were sad” I dunno. The connection between them wasn’t bad just didn’t seem like a whole lot happened so hard to be as believable. I don’t rate books I don’t finish because maybe this gets better, angsty-er like the preview states, but I just wasn’t invested enough to stick it out.
I’ve read other books by this duo and I had hopes that this one would be better but I was just bored. The phrases “One week later…” “it was a week later when…” were used way too frequently and I felt like I got a much better sense of who these characters were based upon their flashbacks versus their current interactions. Also, just not a whole lot of real conversations between them. Please SHOW me, not TELL me how they’re feeling. It read very “this thing happened, then the next, and the next. They were sad” I dunno. The connection between them wasn’t bad just didn’t seem like a whole lot happened so hard to be as believable. I don’t rate books I don’t finish because maybe this gets better, angsty-er like the preview states, but I just wasn’t invested enough to stick it out.
February 22, 2024
Not my style
I liked the story. I'll probably get the sequel for the sake of conclusion. But the writing style really doesn't do it for me. Right from the get-go it was telling the story instead of showing it. Maybe that's on me for not reading the free sample, because I wouldn't have bought it after the first page. There are odd time skips and the paragraphs of exposition don't always keep pace with the flow of the action that's going on around them. It's a decent story with complex issues, I just don't have any emotional connection to the characters.
I liked the story. I'll probably get the sequel for the sake of conclusion. But the writing style really doesn't do it for me. Right from the get-go it was telling the story instead of showing it. Maybe that's on me for not reading the free sample, because I wouldn't have bought it after the first page. There are odd time skips and the paragraphs of exposition don't always keep pace with the flow of the action that's going on around them. It's a decent story with complex issues, I just don't have any emotional connection to the characters.
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