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Relationship Goals #4
The Home Game
Matty Carlson Playing House with Local Schoolteacher?
Toronto Fisher Cats enforcer, Matt Carlson, was recently spotted in the park with a hot mystery man and four children ranging in age from pre-teen to infant.
A close source indicates that the man is prep school English teacher, Antoni Bianchi, who has been spotted with Carlson in public recently.
Following the cozy park outing, Carlson was photographed with his arm around Bianchi as they returned to Carlson’s home, adding fuel to the speculation that the men are dating and, perhaps, living together.
Just friends or is something else heating up their late summer nights?
Since Carlson’s acrimonious divorce five years ago, he has not been romantically linked to anyone but rumors swirled of involvement with a man prior to the split.
Is the enforcer ready to “switch teams” for good?
When asked to comment on her ex’s sexuality, aspiring actress Courtney Quinn stated, “I don’t know why everyone is surprised. It’s not like it’s the first time he’s been with a man.”
Sour grapes from a jilted lover or secrets from his past revealed?
Check the JockGossip blog for all of the latest developments in this intriguing new chapter of Carlson’s life.
Toronto Fisher Cats enforcer, Matt Carlson, was recently spotted in the park with a hot mystery man and four children ranging in age from pre-teen to infant.
A close source indicates that the man is prep school English teacher, Antoni Bianchi, who has been spotted with Carlson in public recently.
Following the cozy park outing, Carlson was photographed with his arm around Bianchi as they returned to Carlson’s home, adding fuel to the speculation that the men are dating and, perhaps, living together.
Just friends or is something else heating up their late summer nights?
Since Carlson’s acrimonious divorce five years ago, he has not been romantically linked to anyone but rumors swirled of involvement with a man prior to the split.
Is the enforcer ready to “switch teams” for good?
When asked to comment on her ex’s sexuality, aspiring actress Courtney Quinn stated, “I don’t know why everyone is surprised. It’s not like it’s the first time he’s been with a man.”
Sour grapes from a jilted lover or secrets from his past revealed?
Check the JockGossip blog for all of the latest developments in this intriguing new chapter of Carlson’s life.
582 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 7, 2024
230 people are currently reading
548 people want to read
About the author
Brigham Vaughn
82 books772 followersBrigham Vaughn is on the adventure of a lifetime as a full-time writer. She devours books at an alarming rate and hasn’t let her short arms and long torso stop her from doing yoga. She makes a killer key lime pie, hates green peppers, and loves wine tasting tours. A collector of vintage Nancy Drew books and green glassware, she enjoys poking around in antique shops and refinishing thrift store furniture. An avid photographer, she dreams of traveling the world and she can’t wait to discover everything else life has to offer her.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 228 reviews
June 4, 2024
- hockey player x single dad
- roommates
- demi rep
- marriage of convenience
CW: MC has parent with MS, mentions of parental loss by car accident, orphaned children, grief, biphobia, anti-LGBTQ+ sentiments/homophobia, violence against a NB character
Antoni is drowning. Between balancing working as an English teach, being guardian to four grieving kiddos, and battling for custody against their a-hole grandparents, he's barely staying afloat.
When Matty stumbles upon Antoni sobbing in his driveway, something about the downtrodden man calls to him, and he obviously tries to swoop in and save the day--especially after hearing everything Antoni has been going through.
Antoni isn't really sure what to make of Matty or his offer to move in with him, but he's willing to do anything to take care of and keep his children permanently. Doesn't hurt that Matty seems just as invested in their well being.
Honestly, I feel like I've been waiting for Matty's book for forever, and despite the wait, I was not at all disappointed. He is hands down my favorite Fisher Cat, and an absolute sweetheart. Despite not even knowing Antoni, he was willing to go above and beyond for the man and his kids, and he threw himself wholeheartedly into taking care of all of them in spite of what his teammates thought. Who isn't a sucker for a man who loves kids!?
- roommates
- demi rep
- marriage of convenience
CW: MC has parent with MS, mentions of parental loss by car accident, orphaned children, grief, biphobia, anti-LGBTQ+ sentiments/homophobia, violence against a NB character
Antoni is drowning. Between balancing working as an English teach, being guardian to four grieving kiddos, and battling for custody against their a-hole grandparents, he's barely staying afloat.
When Matty stumbles upon Antoni sobbing in his driveway, something about the downtrodden man calls to him, and he obviously tries to swoop in and save the day--especially after hearing everything Antoni has been going through.
Antoni isn't really sure what to make of Matty or his offer to move in with him, but he's willing to do anything to take care of and keep his children permanently. Doesn't hurt that Matty seems just as invested in their well being.
Honestly, I feel like I've been waiting for Matty's book for forever, and despite the wait, I was not at all disappointed. He is hands down my favorite Fisher Cat, and an absolute sweetheart. Despite not even knowing Antoni, he was willing to go above and beyond for the man and his kids, and he threw himself wholeheartedly into taking care of all of them in spite of what his teammates thought. Who isn't a sucker for a man who loves kids!?
June 25, 2024
Really enjoyed Matty's story, even though it didn't feel very realistic at all!
The relationship between Matty and Antoni moves very quickly, but they actually fit together well and the way they look out for the kids was really sweet. It is very focused on daily routine of a large family with working parents though, and there's not all that much that really happens outside of that so if you aren't here for domestic bliss family storylines you may not really enjoy this.
I didn't like how Dom became such a suspicious dickhead, and the new coach was a bit OTT, but I am looking forward to the final book in this series. I'm assuming whoever is responsible for the leaking of the Fisher Cat personal info will be discovered and I'm kind of hoping it's Birdie, because she's in so deep with all of the characters and I'd like to see the emotional fallout for Colton because so far this series has been really low angst. (I think that's her boyfriend's name anyway, at this point I've been awake all night and my brain hurts a little!)
What really bugged me though was how long this book was, particularly when so much of it began to feel like a Dummies Guide to (Insert Topic Here). By this point in the series, if you don't understand how hockey works then you probably either aren't that interested, or the actual hockey isn't what attracts you to the book. There were huge chunks dedicated to explaining the game of hockey at kids level, junior level, NHL level - it was unnecessary at this point to be woven into the story, especially with the glossary at the beginning of the book. It really halted the flow of the story for me and I ended up skimming those parts. I understand it's because Antoni doesn't know hockey, but I can't say I've ever read a textbook about hockey within a hockey romance novel before and it really didn't work for me.
There was also a lot of content around Eli being non-binary that read more like a textbook than a natural conversation between characters too. I love the representation in the series, especially from Charlie and Eli for non-binary in particular, but I don't understand this recent trend of authors info-dumping about topics within a novel. It doesn't flow well and it feels like you're reading a hidden textbook. It's happening more and more in books I'm reading recently and it just feels forced and there to up the page count. I'd rather be shown who these characters are than have what are essentially research notes horned into the rest of the story!
Other than that, this was really enjoyable and the fake relationship / marriage actually made sense again after the weirdness of Jonah and Felix!
The relationship between Matty and Antoni moves very quickly, but they actually fit together well and the way they look out for the kids was really sweet. It is very focused on daily routine of a large family with working parents though, and there's not all that much that really happens outside of that so if you aren't here for domestic bliss family storylines you may not really enjoy this.
I didn't like how Dom became such a suspicious dickhead, and the new coach was a bit OTT, but I am looking forward to the final book in this series. I'm assuming whoever is responsible for the leaking of the Fisher Cat personal info will be discovered and I'm kind of hoping it's Birdie, because she's in so deep with all of the characters and I'd like to see the emotional fallout for Colton because so far this series has been really low angst. (I think that's her boyfriend's name anyway, at this point I've been awake all night and my brain hurts a little!)
What really bugged me though was how long this book was, particularly when so much of it began to feel like a Dummies Guide to (Insert Topic Here). By this point in the series, if you don't understand how hockey works then you probably either aren't that interested, or the actual hockey isn't what attracts you to the book. There were huge chunks dedicated to explaining the game of hockey at kids level, junior level, NHL level - it was unnecessary at this point to be woven into the story, especially with the glossary at the beginning of the book. It really halted the flow of the story for me and I ended up skimming those parts. I understand it's because Antoni doesn't know hockey, but I can't say I've ever read a textbook about hockey within a hockey romance novel before and it really didn't work for me.
There was also a lot of content around Eli being non-binary that read more like a textbook than a natural conversation between characters too. I love the representation in the series, especially from Charlie and Eli for non-binary in particular, but I don't understand this recent trend of authors info-dumping about topics within a novel. It doesn't flow well and it feels like you're reading a hidden textbook. It's happening more and more in books I'm reading recently and it just feels forced and there to up the page count. I'd rather be shown who these characters are than have what are essentially research notes horned into the rest of the story!
Other than that, this was really enjoyable and the fake relationship / marriage actually made sense again after the weirdness of Jonah and Felix!
June 14, 2024
Antoni and Matty
The reasons for each fake relationship in this series are getting a little more outlandish each time. If it wasn't for the terrible communication, and a couple of completely unbelievable moments, I'd rate higher. It's a cute series, this one isn't my favorite of the series, but still a good read.
The reasons for each fake relationship in this series are getting a little more outlandish each time. If it wasn't for the terrible communication, and a couple of completely unbelievable moments, I'd rate higher. It's a cute series, this one isn't my favorite of the series, but still a good read.
June 9, 2024
When Matty first appeared in the series I liked him immediately but I didn't expect him to get a book to himself. The Home Game is his story though and we finally get more details about his failed marriage and the reasons behind it.
Antoni is struggling to make ends meet and be the best guardian he can for his deceased best friend's four kids. He needs a break and it comes in the form of Matty's selflessness.
Matty offers to let them move into his home so that Antoni can save some money and provide a stable environment for the kids.
While the premise and the plot were promising, it didn't take long for it to feel like there wasn't enough story to tell. I don't know why but I kept reading scene after scene and thinking that so many of them weren't actually contributing anything. Maybe if I was more invested in the characters I wouldn't have minded but I didn't really care enough about them.
~ I read an ARC of this book. ~
Antoni is struggling to make ends meet and be the best guardian he can for his deceased best friend's four kids. He needs a break and it comes in the form of Matty's selflessness.
Matty offers to let them move into his home so that Antoni can save some money and provide a stable environment for the kids.
While the premise and the plot were promising, it didn't take long for it to feel like there wasn't enough story to tell. I don't know why but I kept reading scene after scene and thinking that so many of them weren't actually contributing anything. Maybe if I was more invested in the characters I wouldn't have minded but I didn't really care enough about them.
~ I read an ARC of this book. ~
June 15, 2025
C+ for the narration; B- for the story; 3.5 stars rounded up
The Home Game is book four in Brigham Vaughn’s Relationship Goals series, although it can be read or listened to as a standalone; there are recurring characters but each story is self-contained and the central couple in each one gets their HEA by the end. All the books in the series feature a fake-relationship, and while I admit that the reasons for the one in this book make more sense in than those in the previous one ( The Waiting Game ), I will also say that there’s a lot of credulity-stretching required to accept the overall premise here. I think the degree to which you enjoy this story will depend on how many improbable situations you’re prepared to turn a blind eye to.
School teacher Antoni Bianchi has recently assumed the guardianship of four children – ages six months to fourteen years – after his dearest friends were killed in a car accident. He’s determined to do the best he can for them, but it’s one hell of a lot of responsibility, and he’s struggling under the weight of it. As if things aren’t tough enough, what with juggling the demands of his job, looking after the kids, and worrying about the custody challenge being mounted by their grandparents, Antoni needs to find them somewhere else to live because the landlord of his current place is jacking up the rent – and it turns out that finding somewhere to house himself and four kids within his budget is pretty much impossible. When his aunt, a realtor, sends him to view a place he can’t possibly afford, it’s the last straw. Sitting alone in his dilapidated minivan on the driveway, Antoni finally allows himself to break down.
Matty Carlson, on-ice defenceman and enforcer, off-ice cinnamon roll and cuddle-bear, is selling the house he’d hoped would be a home for him and the large family he’s always longed for. Those dreams died with his divorce five years earlier and he doesn’t really know why it’s taken him so long to offload the huge house with its big, echoing rooms and reminders of failure. Still, he’s put the place on the market, and the realtor has arranged a viewing for her nephew, who is looking for somewhere large enough to accommodate him and his four children.
When Matty arrives home to see a rather beat-up minivan sitting on his driveway, his first thought is that maybe it’s the guy who’s supposed to be viewing the house this morning; his second is that the van is unlikely to belong to someone who can afford a multi-million dollar property. He walks toward the vehicle and peers in through the window, surprised to see a man sitting in the driver’s seat, his head in his hands, his shoulders shaking. Shit. Is he crying? Concerned, Matty knocks gently on the window and, when it lowers, introduces himself and asks the man if he’s okay; the guy is clearly upset and not thinking clearly, so Matty invites him in for a drink and something to eat while he collects himself.
As Matty prepares the food, Antoni opens up to him about his situation, telling him about the kids and how much he loves them, how overwhelming it all is, about the looming custody battle, and how desperately he needs to sort their housing situation. As he listens, Matty comes up with what he thinks is the perfect solution. He’ll take the house off the market and Antoni and the kids should move in with him.
Antoni is completely floored by this suggestion but of course, he says no, even though he can’t help feeling a little guilty at Matty’s crestfallen expression. Antoni leaves shortly afterwards with a bag full of food Matty insists he takes for the kids and Matty’s number in case of emergencies – not that Antoni intends to use it.
Well, of course, he does end up contacting Matty again, he and the kids do end up moving into Matty’s house, and it doesn’t take long for the two men to fall into a routine based around the kids and doing whatever is best for them. Matty is a natural with them – he’s a big man with a big heart, a lot of love to give, and an ingrained need to help people; he’s well aware of his own good-fortune and can remember back to a time when he, too, was just scraping by, and wants to pay it forward however he can. Unfortunately, his desire to do that has led to him being taken advantage of in the past and his friends are understandably worried that that’s what’s happening here – but Matty is absolutely set on doing whatever he can to help Antoni and the children.
The romance between the two men moves fairly quickly, especially given that Matty has only recently begun to question his sexuality and that he identifies as demisexual, but it works (for the most part) because of the way the two of them bond over the parenting responsibilities and how Matty so easily slots into their lives. It’s all a bit Hallmark to be honest, but Antoni and Matty are a good fit, and Matty is so kind, generous, and giving that it feels like he deserves to have all the good things he’s always longed for.
The thing is, that while the premise was promising, it didn’t take long for me to realise that there wasn’t actually a lot of story to tell, and that some scenes didn’t really contribute much or move the story forward. Don’t get me wrong – the writing is solid and I wasn’t bored, but the book could have been shortened by a third and the plot still would have worked. Also, it’s very focused on the daily routine of a large family with working parents, so if you aren’t interested in that kind of domestic/family-oriented storyline, this may not be the book for you. On the plus side, the kids aren’t merely plot-moppets and are written age-appropriately, and I did actually enjoy listening to Antoni and Matty working out how to be a family. But it feels as though the romance takes a back seat at times.
As to those credulity-stretches I mentioned at the beginning. The first is that a couple with four children would have no other option than to name their slightly younger, unmarried friend as guardian. I get why they didn’t want their parents to have guardianship (one of the kids is non-binary and the grandparents refuse to understand or allow them to be what they are), but surely mum and dad must have had other friends and other options? Giving the guardianship of four children to someone who doesn’t have the resources to look after them is not in the best interests of the kids OR the appointed guardian. Second - Antoni’s parents are well off (he says this himself) and are clearly prepared to help him out financially as well as with childcare, yet he acts as though he’s out of housing and financial options. And instead of using the life-insurance pay-outs to solve their immediate problems, Antoni decides to put the money aside for college – which makes no sense. I get wanting to plan for the future, but there would be no future without sorting out the housing and other financial issues. It’s too obvious a plot device; the author needs Antoni to have no other option than to take up Matty’s generous offer to get the story to work.
James Edward Jones returns to narrate this one and, as I said in my review of The Head GameThe Head Game, his pacing is a little on the slow side, and he’s a reader rather than a performer. He reads with expression and does attempt a degree of character differentiation, but in this book, it’s really hard to tell the difference between Antoni and Matty’s voices, so I had to rely on context and the dialogue tags most of the time, to work out who was speaking. Some of the characters are easier to identify aurally – August (The Head Game) is portrayed consistently, and the new coach, Gilly, is easy to pick out – but Alexis (the oldest of the kids, at fourteen) sounds like everyone else, and the handful of other female characters are similarly poorly served. This is my second time listening to Mr. Jones, and I think it will be my last; I wanted to give him another try after The Head Game, but his performance here has pretty much confirmed my thoughts about him as a narrator – which are that he doesn’t have a particularly wide range of character voices and that he doesn’t have the necessary ‘oomph!’ to really bring a narration to life.
Despite my criticisms, I enjoyed the story - even though it isn’t very realistic! It’s cute and heartfelt with plenty of warmth and tender moments, Matty is the biggest cinnamon roll and cuddliest cuddle bear ever, and I liked that the author is able to explore some heavy themes without dragging the story into permanent doom and gloom. I plan to finish out the series, and to pick up the next book in the author’s new, Sporting Chances series (Body Check, out at the end of May), but I’ll stick to reading Brigham Vaughn’s books with my eyes rather than my ears from now on.
The Home Game is book four in Brigham Vaughn’s Relationship Goals series, although it can be read or listened to as a standalone; there are recurring characters but each story is self-contained and the central couple in each one gets their HEA by the end. All the books in the series feature a fake-relationship, and while I admit that the reasons for the one in this book make more sense in than those in the previous one ( The Waiting Game ), I will also say that there’s a lot of credulity-stretching required to accept the overall premise here. I think the degree to which you enjoy this story will depend on how many improbable situations you’re prepared to turn a blind eye to.
School teacher Antoni Bianchi has recently assumed the guardianship of four children – ages six months to fourteen years – after his dearest friends were killed in a car accident. He’s determined to do the best he can for them, but it’s one hell of a lot of responsibility, and he’s struggling under the weight of it. As if things aren’t tough enough, what with juggling the demands of his job, looking after the kids, and worrying about the custody challenge being mounted by their grandparents, Antoni needs to find them somewhere else to live because the landlord of his current place is jacking up the rent – and it turns out that finding somewhere to house himself and four kids within his budget is pretty much impossible. When his aunt, a realtor, sends him to view a place he can’t possibly afford, it’s the last straw. Sitting alone in his dilapidated minivan on the driveway, Antoni finally allows himself to break down.
Matty Carlson, on-ice defenceman and enforcer, off-ice cinnamon roll and cuddle-bear, is selling the house he’d hoped would be a home for him and the large family he’s always longed for. Those dreams died with his divorce five years earlier and he doesn’t really know why it’s taken him so long to offload the huge house with its big, echoing rooms and reminders of failure. Still, he’s put the place on the market, and the realtor has arranged a viewing for her nephew, who is looking for somewhere large enough to accommodate him and his four children.
When Matty arrives home to see a rather beat-up minivan sitting on his driveway, his first thought is that maybe it’s the guy who’s supposed to be viewing the house this morning; his second is that the van is unlikely to belong to someone who can afford a multi-million dollar property. He walks toward the vehicle and peers in through the window, surprised to see a man sitting in the driver’s seat, his head in his hands, his shoulders shaking. Shit. Is he crying? Concerned, Matty knocks gently on the window and, when it lowers, introduces himself and asks the man if he’s okay; the guy is clearly upset and not thinking clearly, so Matty invites him in for a drink and something to eat while he collects himself.
As Matty prepares the food, Antoni opens up to him about his situation, telling him about the kids and how much he loves them, how overwhelming it all is, about the looming custody battle, and how desperately he needs to sort their housing situation. As he listens, Matty comes up with what he thinks is the perfect solution. He’ll take the house off the market and Antoni and the kids should move in with him.
Antoni is completely floored by this suggestion but of course, he says no, even though he can’t help feeling a little guilty at Matty’s crestfallen expression. Antoni leaves shortly afterwards with a bag full of food Matty insists he takes for the kids and Matty’s number in case of emergencies – not that Antoni intends to use it.
Well, of course, he does end up contacting Matty again, he and the kids do end up moving into Matty’s house, and it doesn’t take long for the two men to fall into a routine based around the kids and doing whatever is best for them. Matty is a natural with them – he’s a big man with a big heart, a lot of love to give, and an ingrained need to help people; he’s well aware of his own good-fortune and can remember back to a time when he, too, was just scraping by, and wants to pay it forward however he can. Unfortunately, his desire to do that has led to him being taken advantage of in the past and his friends are understandably worried that that’s what’s happening here – but Matty is absolutely set on doing whatever he can to help Antoni and the children.
The romance between the two men moves fairly quickly, especially given that Matty has only recently begun to question his sexuality and that he identifies as demisexual, but it works (for the most part) because of the way the two of them bond over the parenting responsibilities and how Matty so easily slots into their lives. It’s all a bit Hallmark to be honest, but Antoni and Matty are a good fit, and Matty is so kind, generous, and giving that it feels like he deserves to have all the good things he’s always longed for.
The thing is, that while the premise was promising, it didn’t take long for me to realise that there wasn’t actually a lot of story to tell, and that some scenes didn’t really contribute much or move the story forward. Don’t get me wrong – the writing is solid and I wasn’t bored, but the book could have been shortened by a third and the plot still would have worked. Also, it’s very focused on the daily routine of a large family with working parents, so if you aren’t interested in that kind of domestic/family-oriented storyline, this may not be the book for you. On the plus side, the kids aren’t merely plot-moppets and are written age-appropriately, and I did actually enjoy listening to Antoni and Matty working out how to be a family. But it feels as though the romance takes a back seat at times.
As to those credulity-stretches I mentioned at the beginning. The first is that a couple with four children would have no other option than to name their slightly younger, unmarried friend as guardian. I get why they didn’t want their parents to have guardianship (one of the kids is non-binary and the grandparents refuse to understand or allow them to be what they are), but surely mum and dad must have had other friends and other options? Giving the guardianship of four children to someone who doesn’t have the resources to look after them is not in the best interests of the kids OR the appointed guardian. Second - Antoni’s parents are well off (he says this himself) and are clearly prepared to help him out financially as well as with childcare, yet he acts as though he’s out of housing and financial options. And instead of using the life-insurance pay-outs to solve their immediate problems, Antoni decides to put the money aside for college – which makes no sense. I get wanting to plan for the future, but there would be no future without sorting out the housing and other financial issues. It’s too obvious a plot device; the author needs Antoni to have no other option than to take up Matty’s generous offer to get the story to work.
James Edward Jones returns to narrate this one and, as I said in my review of The Head GameThe Head Game, his pacing is a little on the slow side, and he’s a reader rather than a performer. He reads with expression and does attempt a degree of character differentiation, but in this book, it’s really hard to tell the difference between Antoni and Matty’s voices, so I had to rely on context and the dialogue tags most of the time, to work out who was speaking. Some of the characters are easier to identify aurally – August (The Head Game) is portrayed consistently, and the new coach, Gilly, is easy to pick out – but Alexis (the oldest of the kids, at fourteen) sounds like everyone else, and the handful of other female characters are similarly poorly served. This is my second time listening to Mr. Jones, and I think it will be my last; I wanted to give him another try after The Head Game, but his performance here has pretty much confirmed my thoughts about him as a narrator – which are that he doesn’t have a particularly wide range of character voices and that he doesn’t have the necessary ‘oomph!’ to really bring a narration to life.
Despite my criticisms, I enjoyed the story - even though it isn’t very realistic! It’s cute and heartfelt with plenty of warmth and tender moments, Matty is the biggest cinnamon roll and cuddliest cuddle bear ever, and I liked that the author is able to explore some heavy themes without dragging the story into permanent doom and gloom. I plan to finish out the series, and to pick up the next book in the author’s new, Sporting Chances series (Body Check, out at the end of May), but I’ll stick to reading Brigham Vaughn’s books with my eyes rather than my ears from now on.
June 13, 2024
Aww, this was the sweetest story with adorable main and side characters. Sometimes people are meant to meet each other and that's what happened for hockey player Matty and teacher Antoni. Matty finds Antoni upset in his driveway. Matty is the most caring and kind person so he ends up making lunch for Antoni who opens up about having been awarded guardianship for his best friend's four young children and is struggling with making ends meet. Matty offers them to move in with him. Antoni is very reluctant but eventually he agrees. They end up becoming good friends and there's chemistry between them too. At the same time he's being fought for the guardianship by the kids estranged grandparents. Matty and Antoni decide to get married to help them get permanent guardianship, however it was never going to be fake as they clearly care a lot about each other. This is a great hockey series and this might be one of my favourite one. I really enjoyed reading it.
dnf
June 18, 2024(DNF@20% on June 9th, 2024) Matty Carlson is a defenseman and enforcer for the Toronto Fisher Cats. Unlike his tough on-ice persona, he is a real marshmallow in real life, which often leads to people taking advantage of his kindness. Ever since his divorce, Matty has been feeling lonely in his big house, which he had envisioned as a place to raise a family.
When he decides to put his house on the market, he meets Antoni, who is looking for a place for himself and the four children he is raising after the tragic death of his two best friends, the children's parents. Since Antoni can't afford Matty's house—or any other suitable place on his teacher's salary—Matty invites Antoni to move in with him. Initially, Antoni refuses, but as his string of bad luck continues, he finds himself without any other option.
If I'm being completely honest, it seemed to me that Antoni's whole situation was just a very obvious excuse for the author to force these two characters, who probably wouldn't ever meet otherwise, together.
My first issue with the story was Antoni's friends making him their children's guardian in the first place. This was a married couple, whose oldest child was 15 years old, meaning they had been together for quite a long time. Are you telling me that these people in their mid-thirties or early forties have no other married friends closer to their age who they could name as their children's guardians in the event something happened to them, besides their somewhat younger, unmarried friend working as a teacher? In what universe would that be the best option for their children and their best friend, who obviously doesn't have the means to look after four children all on his own?
My second issue was Antoni acting like he was out of housing and financial options when his parents were well off and prepared to help him financially. There was also insurance money from the children's parents, which he chose not to use to provide the children with a suitable home but decided to put towards their college funds instead.
I understand planning for the future, but in order for those children to even have a chance at having a future, Antoni had to solve their present issues first. I realize Antoni was trying to be responsible, but by ignoring all the obvious options, he literally backed himself into a corner where he had no choice but to accept Matty's generous offer to move in with him. This was somebody Antoni had met only a week ago and could have been a bad guy with ulterior motives since his offer was entirely too generous and unrealistic otherwise.
I really wanted to like Matty's story. I was intrigued ever since he was introduced as secondary character in Dustin and Charlie's story, but I wasn't really feeling all the tropes this author chose for his narrative. Forcing myself through 600 pages of domesticity with four prominent child characters just because I initially liked the character didn't seem worth it.
I was giving it some time before adding this book to my DNF list, waiting to see if more critical reviews would come in after all the glowing five-star ones from people who obviously loved this book. However, it seems I'm in the minority here. I'm still curious about Dom's story and I will be sure to check it out, but it is pretty clear this particular series isn't really working for me.
Themes: dual POV, hockey player/regular, single parent/guardian, demisexual character, NHL
When he decides to put his house on the market, he meets Antoni, who is looking for a place for himself and the four children he is raising after the tragic death of his two best friends, the children's parents. Since Antoni can't afford Matty's house—or any other suitable place on his teacher's salary—Matty invites Antoni to move in with him. Initially, Antoni refuses, but as his string of bad luck continues, he finds himself without any other option.
If I'm being completely honest, it seemed to me that Antoni's whole situation was just a very obvious excuse for the author to force these two characters, who probably wouldn't ever meet otherwise, together.
My first issue with the story was Antoni's friends making him their children's guardian in the first place. This was a married couple, whose oldest child was 15 years old, meaning they had been together for quite a long time. Are you telling me that these people in their mid-thirties or early forties have no other married friends closer to their age who they could name as their children's guardians in the event something happened to them, besides their somewhat younger, unmarried friend working as a teacher? In what universe would that be the best option for their children and their best friend, who obviously doesn't have the means to look after four children all on his own?
My second issue was Antoni acting like he was out of housing and financial options when his parents were well off and prepared to help him financially. There was also insurance money from the children's parents, which he chose not to use to provide the children with a suitable home but decided to put towards their college funds instead.
I understand planning for the future, but in order for those children to even have a chance at having a future, Antoni had to solve their present issues first. I realize Antoni was trying to be responsible, but by ignoring all the obvious options, he literally backed himself into a corner where he had no choice but to accept Matty's generous offer to move in with him. This was somebody Antoni had met only a week ago and could have been a bad guy with ulterior motives since his offer was entirely too generous and unrealistic otherwise.
I really wanted to like Matty's story. I was intrigued ever since he was introduced as secondary character in Dustin and Charlie's story, but I wasn't really feeling all the tropes this author chose for his narrative. Forcing myself through 600 pages of domesticity with four prominent child characters just because I initially liked the character didn't seem worth it.
I was giving it some time before adding this book to my DNF list, waiting to see if more critical reviews would come in after all the glowing five-star ones from people who obviously loved this book. However, it seems I'm in the minority here. I'm still curious about Dom's story and I will be sure to check it out, but it is pretty clear this particular series isn't really working for me.
Themes: dual POV, hockey player/regular, single parent/guardian, demisexual character, NHL
November 3, 2025
Beautiful and Emotional Sports Romance
I’ve been waiting for Matty's story. I fell a little bit more in love with him with each book of the series, and I am so glad he got his own HEA.
The story revolves around Matty, Antoni, and Antoni's kids. It is filled with so much love and emotion, with a few twists and turns. The previous books in the series are great romances, and this new one certainly didn't disappoint. As the title suggests, it's about finding home, Matty is desperate for a family, and this is all about that wish being fulfilled, and then some. Matty is one of the nicest book characters I've come across, I adored him and was seriously envious of Antoni. Matty's loving, kind, loyal, a big cinnamon roll of a guy, and a perfect match for anyone. He proves himself to be the missing puzzle piece Antonio and his family need.
This story's written from alternate viewpoints, which I prefer cos I love getting inside the MCs' heads. I also love a slow burn romance, so I found it satisfying to watch Matty and Antonio's awareness of one another grow. It happens so naturally. It was beautiful. Not all is sweetness and light though, when trouble does rear its ugly head, I adored how their guys' family and the Toronto Fisher Cats team, Matty's team mates, go all out and back the guys, up in arms, fighting alongside. There's not a great deal of angst in this one. Even though there is some homophobia, and mention of the death of Antoni's close friends, it's a surprisingly sweet and cosy read.
As usual with this lady, great writing, easy reading, and so immersive. It is a great story with humour, witty banter, emotions, a fake relationship, and loadsa love, which leads to a beautiful and emotional ride. I highly recommend the whole series.
I’ve been waiting for Matty's story. I fell a little bit more in love with him with each book of the series, and I am so glad he got his own HEA.
The story revolves around Matty, Antoni, and Antoni's kids. It is filled with so much love and emotion, with a few twists and turns. The previous books in the series are great romances, and this new one certainly didn't disappoint. As the title suggests, it's about finding home, Matty is desperate for a family, and this is all about that wish being fulfilled, and then some. Matty is one of the nicest book characters I've come across, I adored him and was seriously envious of Antoni. Matty's loving, kind, loyal, a big cinnamon roll of a guy, and a perfect match for anyone. He proves himself to be the missing puzzle piece Antonio and his family need.
This story's written from alternate viewpoints, which I prefer cos I love getting inside the MCs' heads. I also love a slow burn romance, so I found it satisfying to watch Matty and Antonio's awareness of one another grow. It happens so naturally. It was beautiful. Not all is sweetness and light though, when trouble does rear its ugly head, I adored how their guys' family and the Toronto Fisher Cats team, Matty's team mates, go all out and back the guys, up in arms, fighting alongside. There's not a great deal of angst in this one. Even though there is some homophobia, and mention of the death of Antoni's close friends, it's a surprisingly sweet and cosy read.
As usual with this lady, great writing, easy reading, and so immersive. It is a great story with humour, witty banter, emotions, a fake relationship, and loadsa love, which leads to a beautiful and emotional ride. I highly recommend the whole series.
June 2, 2024
4.5 stars
I just finished reading another fantastic book in this incredible series. I've been eagerly anticipating Matty's story, and it didn't disappoint.
Matty, also known as Matt Carlson, is a lovable bear who adores giving hugs and is a devoted teammate and friend. After going through a divorce and spending too much money, he feels lonely and longs to find someone who loves him for who he is, not his wealth. Little did he know that person would be Antoni Bianchi, whom he encountered crying in his driveway. Antoni recently gained custody of his best friend's four children after a tragic accident and is struggling to balance caring for the kids and being a responsible parent while finding it hard to trust others and make new friends.
From the moment they met, Matty wanted nothing more than to comfort Antoni and help alleviate his stress. After learning about Antoni's situation, Matty suggested that Antoni move in with him, despite Antoni's initial hesitance. However, after witnessing Matty's kindness, Antoni and the kids moved in with him. Together, they navigated the challenges of taking care of the children and preparing for the custody trial, where they had to prove themselves as the better choice for the kids compared to their homophobic grandparents. In the process, they may have bent the truth a little and ended up in a fake marriage.
Though there was always an attraction between Matty and Antoni, Antoni was focused on the kids and didn't act on it. However, once they were married, things began to change, and they decided to explore their feelings. Their chemistry was undeniable, and I appreciated how much they cared for each other. Antoni's gestures toward Matty showed his deep affection. I admired how they openly communicated while keeping the kids in mind. Their happily ever after was beautiful, and it was heartwarming to see the kids finally have the family they deserved.
The kids were utterly endearing, and I cherished every moment of them with Matty and Antoni. The teammates were as supportive as ever, although Dom initially caused some tension. However, he came through in the end, and I understood his reasoning. I'm looking forward to his story; that guy deserves his happy ending. Antoni's parents were wonderful and showed genuine care for the kids, and they also took a liking to Matty.
Overall, this story was amazing, with both steamy and heartwarming moments. I highly recommend checking out this book and the entire series. You're in for a treat with all the stories.
* I received an ARC copy from Neon Rainbow Reviews and this is my honest review *
I just finished reading another fantastic book in this incredible series. I've been eagerly anticipating Matty's story, and it didn't disappoint.
Matty, also known as Matt Carlson, is a lovable bear who adores giving hugs and is a devoted teammate and friend. After going through a divorce and spending too much money, he feels lonely and longs to find someone who loves him for who he is, not his wealth. Little did he know that person would be Antoni Bianchi, whom he encountered crying in his driveway. Antoni recently gained custody of his best friend's four children after a tragic accident and is struggling to balance caring for the kids and being a responsible parent while finding it hard to trust others and make new friends.
From the moment they met, Matty wanted nothing more than to comfort Antoni and help alleviate his stress. After learning about Antoni's situation, Matty suggested that Antoni move in with him, despite Antoni's initial hesitance. However, after witnessing Matty's kindness, Antoni and the kids moved in with him. Together, they navigated the challenges of taking care of the children and preparing for the custody trial, where they had to prove themselves as the better choice for the kids compared to their homophobic grandparents. In the process, they may have bent the truth a little and ended up in a fake marriage.
Though there was always an attraction between Matty and Antoni, Antoni was focused on the kids and didn't act on it. However, once they were married, things began to change, and they decided to explore their feelings. Their chemistry was undeniable, and I appreciated how much they cared for each other. Antoni's gestures toward Matty showed his deep affection. I admired how they openly communicated while keeping the kids in mind. Their happily ever after was beautiful, and it was heartwarming to see the kids finally have the family they deserved.
The kids were utterly endearing, and I cherished every moment of them with Matty and Antoni. The teammates were as supportive as ever, although Dom initially caused some tension. However, he came through in the end, and I understood his reasoning. I'm looking forward to his story; that guy deserves his happy ending. Antoni's parents were wonderful and showed genuine care for the kids, and they also took a liking to Matty.
Overall, this story was amazing, with both steamy and heartwarming moments. I highly recommend checking out this book and the entire series. You're in for a treat with all the stories.
* I received an ARC copy from Neon Rainbow Reviews and this is my honest review *
May 14, 2025
Heartfelt, sweet and full of the best cinnamon roll character ever!
Matty is the epitome of a sweet cinnamon roll and golden retriever MC. He cares so much, about all those around him and for him to find his perfect person needing help is just kismet!
I loved Matty in all the other books and knew there'd be so much more to the tactile and loveable guy and boy did Brigham deliver.
Matty is demi and I feel Brigham honored this and Matty's desire to take care of someone and have all those feelings and more returned. Antoni is Matty's perfect match, his other half, his equal and gave Matty all the love he deserves as well as an accidental instant family he so longed for.
Now those kids! Wow! Each are their own character and add so much more to the story. Each interaction, each moment is filled with so much more depth and emotions because of these kids. Special shout-out to Eli being non-binary and Alexis' fierce protection of her sibling.
These kids have been through so much, so be prepared for tears and a few gut punches along the way but this is Matty's HEA and it's so well deserved I devoured it in one sitting. I love Matty and the team and the SAPs and know these stories will stick with me for a while!!
Matty is the epitome of a sweet cinnamon roll and golden retriever MC. He cares so much, about all those around him and for him to find his perfect person needing help is just kismet!
I loved Matty in all the other books and knew there'd be so much more to the tactile and loveable guy and boy did Brigham deliver.
Matty is demi and I feel Brigham honored this and Matty's desire to take care of someone and have all those feelings and more returned. Antoni is Matty's perfect match, his other half, his equal and gave Matty all the love he deserves as well as an accidental instant family he so longed for.
Now those kids! Wow! Each are their own character and add so much more to the story. Each interaction, each moment is filled with so much more depth and emotions because of these kids. Special shout-out to Eli being non-binary and Alexis' fierce protection of her sibling.
These kids have been through so much, so be prepared for tears and a few gut punches along the way but this is Matty's HEA and it's so well deserved I devoured it in one sitting. I love Matty and the team and the SAPs and know these stories will stick with me for a while!!
September 3, 2024
This may seem over the top do gooder/Knight in shining armor stuff but it teaches a great lesson about helping others. Paying it forward, making people feel better makes you feel good. We need to practice this in rl, we will all be better off for it.
That said....🙄
Seriously thought of d.n.f right after the sex after the wedding.... Seriously... Reading out loud was what they wanted to do? They had nothing else to talk about? Poor writers choices making bland MC's.
Aaaaand DNF
This is all too fumbling and sugary for me. Not enough passion. A good story tho.
That said....🙄
Seriously thought of d.n.f right after the sex after the wedding.... Seriously... Reading out loud was what they wanted to do? They had nothing else to talk about? Poor writers choices making bland MC's.
Aaaaand DNF
This is all too fumbling and sugary for me. Not enough passion. A good story tho.
June 9, 2024
Book 4
I love Matty
I love Antoni
I love their found family
I love Antoni’s parents
I love Dom
I love how freaking sweet Matty is
Read this book!!!
I love Matty
I love Antoni
I love their found family
I love Antoni’s parents
I love Dom
I love how freaking sweet Matty is
Read this book!!!
June 15, 2024
3.5
This is quite good, much better than the one right before this, but there is no earthly reason why this is 568 pages! 🙄 Tighten it up!
This is quite good, much better than the one right before this, but there is no earthly reason why this is 568 pages! 🙄 Tighten it up!
July 4, 2025
antoni, mi amore ! ti voglio bene~
imàne's guilty pleasures : single dads, fake mariage, hockey romances, italian
and i got all of them ?! bingo ! jackpot !
imàne's guilty pleasures : single dads, fake mariage, hockey romances, italian
and i got all of them ?! bingo ! jackpot !
May 19, 2025
Safety info, content warnings and tropes down below.
I don’t think this author is for me. The writing is so flat — like reading a recipe. A step by step description and explanation of whatever the main characters are doing, saying or feeling at all times. Although he’s not terrible, I don’t think the narrator helps, as he takes really awkward and long pauses mid paragraph all the time, making you wonder if the audio stopped.
Beyond the writing not working for me, I had a lot of issues with the plot as well, mainly — spoiler alert — Matty saying he wants to adopt the children shortly after getting FAKE MARRIED with Antoni, before they’ve admitted having feelings for each other, before even acknowledging they want a real relationship, and Antoni said yes. Which means he essentially said yes to someone he has known for a couple months at most, someone he’s sleeping with and who he married because a teenager lied to a social worker, to ADOPT. THE CHILDREN. Hell no. Don’t get me started on one of the kids wanting to call this new person in their life ‘papa’ before they call Antoni — who they’ve known their entire lives and is now their legal guardian — anything other than uncle.
I’m in a reading slump so it was a tall ask anyway, but this really was flat. No tension, chemistry or angst. I need a lot of those things right now, I think. There’s also no need for this book to be almost 600 pages.
A weak 3 stars.
Blanket spoiler warning ⬇️
⚠️ Tropes & content tags ⚠️
Professional hockey player
Lots of kids
Divorced MC
Teacher MC
Demisexual MC
Set in Canada
Tattooed MC
Fake marriage/marriage of convenience
Slow burn
⚠️ Content warning ⚠️
Legal guardian of kids after parents dying (MC’s friends)
Chronically ill parent (MS)
Reckless driving
Mention of past homophobic comments
MC struggling financially
Power imbalance
Alcohol consumption
Bigoted comments and actions from child’s grandparents
Explicit sexual content
SC misgendered on page
Custody battle
Homophobia
⚠️Book safety ⚠️
Cheating: No
Other person drama: No
Breakup: No
POV: 3rd person, dual
Genre: Contemporary romance
Pairing: M/M
Strict roles or versatile: Versatile - no switching
Main characters’ age: 28 and 33
Series: Interconnected standalone
Kindle Unlimited: Yes
Pages: 582
Happy ending: Yes
You can find most of my reviews on Instagram as well: https://www.instagram.com/booksafety?...
I don’t think this author is for me. The writing is so flat — like reading a recipe. A step by step description and explanation of whatever the main characters are doing, saying or feeling at all times. Although he’s not terrible, I don’t think the narrator helps, as he takes really awkward and long pauses mid paragraph all the time, making you wonder if the audio stopped.
Beyond the writing not working for me, I had a lot of issues with the plot as well, mainly — spoiler alert — Matty saying he wants to adopt the children shortly after getting FAKE MARRIED with Antoni, before they’ve admitted having feelings for each other, before even acknowledging they want a real relationship, and Antoni said yes. Which means he essentially said yes to someone he has known for a couple months at most, someone he’s sleeping with and who he married because a teenager lied to a social worker, to ADOPT. THE CHILDREN. Hell no. Don’t get me started on one of the kids wanting to call this new person in their life ‘papa’ before they call Antoni — who they’ve known their entire lives and is now their legal guardian — anything other than uncle.
I’m in a reading slump so it was a tall ask anyway, but this really was flat. No tension, chemistry or angst. I need a lot of those things right now, I think. There’s also no need for this book to be almost 600 pages.
A weak 3 stars.
Blanket spoiler warning ⬇️
⚠️ Tropes & content tags ⚠️
Professional hockey player
Lots of kids
Divorced MC
Teacher MC
Demisexual MC
Set in Canada
Tattooed MC
Fake marriage/marriage of convenience
Slow burn
⚠️ Content warning ⚠️
Legal guardian of kids after parents dying (MC’s friends)
Chronically ill parent (MS)
Reckless driving
Mention of past homophobic comments
MC struggling financially
Power imbalance
Alcohol consumption
Bigoted comments and actions from child’s grandparents
Explicit sexual content
SC misgendered on page
Custody battle
Homophobia
⚠️Book safety ⚠️
Cheating: No
Other person drama: No
Breakup: No
POV: 3rd person, dual
Genre: Contemporary romance
Pairing: M/M
Strict roles or versatile: Versatile - no switching
Main characters’ age: 28 and 33
Series: Interconnected standalone
Kindle Unlimited: Yes
Pages: 582
Happy ending: Yes
You can find most of my reviews on Instagram as well: https://www.instagram.com/booksafety?...
June 7, 2024
4.5 stars
The Home Game is the fourth book in the Relationship Goals series and can be read as a standalone.
I’ve been so excited for Matty’s book; he is a precious, big teddy bear that must be protected at all costs. I definitely wanted to spend more time with Matty and Antoni!
Antoni has lost his best friends in a car accident and become guardian to their four children. He’s understandably overwhelmed and Matty comes across him crying. Matty being the big sweetheart he is, immediately offers to help.
Antoni and the children all move in Matty’s house (not immediately though) and they start to develop feelings for each other, which felt effortless and a natural progression of their friendship.
I was engrossed and really enjoying the story until the half way point where someone tells the social worker that Matty and Antoni are not only dating but also getting married! While this initially shocked me, even though I knew it was marriage of convenience story, I actually liked that they got married when they did. Their tiny honeymoon was my favourite part of the book.
After their mini honeymoon, Matty and Antoni have to wade through some very difficult challenges that ultimately make them stronger and bring them closer together.
The drama with Jock Gossip in this book made me really dislike whoever is behind them, before I’ve always saw the website as just an annoyance or something neutral, but they were awful to Matty and Antoni.
I loved that we saw the team and the SAPs so much - I love this group! Not sure how I feel about the new coach though …
It was so easy to get lost in Matty and Antoni’s story. Their story was fun, entertaining and sexy. And it had just the right amount of steam, emotion, and love to keep me enthralled. The writing was beautifully orchestrated as Brigham Vaughn layered this book with so much heart, steam, compassion, and family bonds. I seriously cannot wait for the next book.
This book contains sensitive content such as discussion of death (car accident), grief, parent with multiple sclerosis, mention of biphobia and violence towards non-binary character.
🏒 Hockey player (NHL)/ teacher
🛏 Close proximity
✨ Single dad
💍 Marriage of convenience/ fake marriage
☀ Golden retriever MMC
🥰 Insta family
Plot: 📚📚📚📚
Character rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Sexiness: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Feels: 🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤
Writing style: 🖊🖊🖊🖊🖊
The Home Game is the fourth book in the Relationship Goals series and can be read as a standalone.
I’ve been so excited for Matty’s book; he is a precious, big teddy bear that must be protected at all costs. I definitely wanted to spend more time with Matty and Antoni!
Antoni has lost his best friends in a car accident and become guardian to their four children. He’s understandably overwhelmed and Matty comes across him crying. Matty being the big sweetheart he is, immediately offers to help.
Antoni and the children all move in Matty’s house (not immediately though) and they start to develop feelings for each other, which felt effortless and a natural progression of their friendship.
I was engrossed and really enjoying the story until the half way point where someone tells the social worker that Matty and Antoni are not only dating but also getting married! While this initially shocked me, even though I knew it was marriage of convenience story, I actually liked that they got married when they did. Their tiny honeymoon was my favourite part of the book.
After their mini honeymoon, Matty and Antoni have to wade through some very difficult challenges that ultimately make them stronger and bring them closer together.
The drama with Jock Gossip in this book made me really dislike whoever is behind them, before I’ve always saw the website as just an annoyance or something neutral, but they were awful to Matty and Antoni.
I loved that we saw the team and the SAPs so much - I love this group! Not sure how I feel about the new coach though …
It was so easy to get lost in Matty and Antoni’s story. Their story was fun, entertaining and sexy. And it had just the right amount of steam, emotion, and love to keep me enthralled. The writing was beautifully orchestrated as Brigham Vaughn layered this book with so much heart, steam, compassion, and family bonds. I seriously cannot wait for the next book.
This book contains sensitive content such as discussion of death (car accident), grief, parent with multiple sclerosis, mention of biphobia and violence towards non-binary character.
🏒 Hockey player (NHL)/ teacher
🛏 Close proximity
✨ Single dad
💍 Marriage of convenience/ fake marriage
☀ Golden retriever MMC
🥰 Insta family
Plot: 📚📚📚📚
Character rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Sexiness: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Feels: 🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤
Writing style: 🖊🖊🖊🖊🖊
June 8, 2025
Matty finally got his HEA, and my god, my heart….
I loved Matty throughout the series and I’m so glad he found the love he deserved.
A few months after losing his best friends and being granted custody of their four children, Antoni is overwhelmed, tired and hanging on by a string when Matty finds him crying in his car after viewing Mattys house for sale.
Sweet, sweet Matty sees Antoni needs help and brings him back into the house to feed him, but as Antoni’s leaving he offers for him and his kids to move in with him.
After a little back and forth, and the kids maternal grandparents petitioning for full custody, Antoni agrees.
Matty is the sweetest thing ever, has wanted a family forever and instantly takes to caring and supporting them all, even if Antoni is very reluctant to accept help.
Things happen, and they end up getting married to help their custody cause.
I really liked how their relationship developed. They went into it with complete clarity, they knew there was attraction from both sides but the love grew slowly even after their relationship turned physical, and they always had the kids best interests at heart.
I’m so glad Matty got his HEA, he deserved it so so much.
I loved Matty throughout the series and I’m so glad he found the love he deserved.
A few months after losing his best friends and being granted custody of their four children, Antoni is overwhelmed, tired and hanging on by a string when Matty finds him crying in his car after viewing Mattys house for sale.
Sweet, sweet Matty sees Antoni needs help and brings him back into the house to feed him, but as Antoni’s leaving he offers for him and his kids to move in with him.
After a little back and forth, and the kids maternal grandparents petitioning for full custody, Antoni agrees.
Matty is the sweetest thing ever, has wanted a family forever and instantly takes to caring and supporting them all, even if Antoni is very reluctant to accept help.
Things happen, and they end up getting married to help their custody cause.
I really liked how their relationship developed. They went into it with complete clarity, they knew there was attraction from both sides but the love grew slowly even after their relationship turned physical, and they always had the kids best interests at heart.
I’m so glad Matty got his HEA, he deserved it so so much.
June 2, 2024
~ARC review~
At just under 600 pages, this is a long one for a romance book. But it actually didn't feel that long.
I've been really enjoying this series and Matty getting his own book was exciting. He had this golden retriever energy about him, and he came off as really naïve at times when it came to other people, but it was nice that he didn't lose his happiness to help others even when in the past he's been used because of it.
Antoni is struggling, like for real. After becoming a guardian of four grieving kids overnight, life has been a lot. His love for the kids came through, and he was willing to sacrifice his own happiness for them.
Matty and Antoni fit together like they belonged. It was nice to read about their growing emotions towards each other while trying to secure a safe place for 4 kids to live.
Side characters in this were amazing - Fisher Cats, their spouses, and of course the kids!
Lovely low-angst read that touches issues like non-binary, grief, financial struggles and biphobia.
At just under 600 pages, this is a long one for a romance book. But it actually didn't feel that long.
I've been really enjoying this series and Matty getting his own book was exciting. He had this golden retriever energy about him, and he came off as really naïve at times when it came to other people, but it was nice that he didn't lose his happiness to help others even when in the past he's been used because of it.
Antoni is struggling, like for real. After becoming a guardian of four grieving kids overnight, life has been a lot. His love for the kids came through, and he was willing to sacrifice his own happiness for them.
Matty and Antoni fit together like they belonged. It was nice to read about their growing emotions towards each other while trying to secure a safe place for 4 kids to live.
Side characters in this were amazing - Fisher Cats, their spouses, and of course the kids!
Lovely low-angst read that touches issues like non-binary, grief, financial struggles and biphobia.
June 9, 2024
THE HOME GAME was really sweet and Matty was just the biggest cinnamon roll, golden retriever hockey player that ever lived! I've loved Matty from the moment he was introduced in book 1 of the series and he deserved to find love so much. Matty's heart was so huge, he was generous, friendly, and a great caretaker for Antoni's kids. Antoni was drowning under the weight of his job, his struggling finances, and being the guardian to 4 grieving kids, not to mention his own grief over losing his best friends. But even through it all he remained optimistic and gentle with the kids and he was willing to do anything to keep custody of them.
Together Matty and Antoni were cute and tender and I enjoyed their journey from budding friendship to lovers. And the way Matty's teammates and their partners embraced Antoni and the kids was great and I loved all the little moments featuring the previous couples from the series. Also, Dom's revelations about his past have me really looking forward to his book next!
Content Warning: moments of grief after recent death of friends; mentions of biphobia and past violence against a nonbinary child
Together Matty and Antoni were cute and tender and I enjoyed their journey from budding friendship to lovers. And the way Matty's teammates and their partners embraced Antoni and the kids was great and I loved all the little moments featuring the previous couples from the series. Also, Dom's revelations about his past have me really looking forward to his book next!
Content Warning: moments of grief after recent death of friends; mentions of biphobia and past violence against a nonbinary child
June 12, 2024
when you know you know
And I’m so glad I read this amazing book! This had everything. It’s what I want in a fake husband book. The secrecy, the perfect reason behind needing to marry in the first place. I love love love the Demi rep. I love that Matty needed time. The found family was amazing and I love the celeb vs the person who knows nothing about the celeb aspect. This was amazing writing. It made me feel like I was part of their family and I know it was long but I’m so sad it’s ended.
I was able to read this as a stand-alone.
And I’m so glad I read this amazing book! This had everything. It’s what I want in a fake husband book. The secrecy, the perfect reason behind needing to marry in the first place. I love love love the Demi rep. I love that Matty needed time. The found family was amazing and I love the celeb vs the person who knows nothing about the celeb aspect. This was amazing writing. It made me feel like I was part of their family and I know it was long but I’m so sad it’s ended.
I was able to read this as a stand-alone.
January 5, 2026
4.5⭐️
THIS WAS SO CUTE!! i absolutely adore matty, i knew he’d be a big softy and have such a kind heart and he definitely did! i also loved antoni and the 4 kids he got custody of, they were exactly what matty needed and the way everyone in their lives rallied around them to help in anyway they could was awesome. this just gave me such good vibes and although there were some people being very annoying or very hateful, the positives far outweighed the negativity. and i absolutely adored the “when you know, you know” sentiment that encapsulated this whole book!
THIS WAS SO CUTE!! i absolutely adore matty, i knew he’d be a big softy and have such a kind heart and he definitely did! i also loved antoni and the 4 kids he got custody of, they were exactly what matty needed and the way everyone in their lives rallied around them to help in anyway they could was awesome. this just gave me such good vibes and although there were some people being very annoying or very hateful, the positives far outweighed the negativity. and i absolutely adored the “when you know, you know” sentiment that encapsulated this whole book!
August 22, 2024
I think I’ve given every book in this series a 4/5 but I think this one is my favourite as I’ve wanted Matty to get his HEA since we met him in the first book. I’m not sure the reasons for the fake relationship are particularly realistic! But I’m not letting that put me off as I liked both main characters, Antoni’s parents, the kids and the guys in the team.
dnf
March 24, 2025I have to marry a random stranger bc it will help with court proceedings to finalize the adoption of my friends' kids in a couple of weeks.
Probably the court looks favorably upon stable and committed partnerships, but when you marry the dude you met last week....? Idk. But also, I'm not Canadian and the author did say she did a lot of research on Canadian family law for this book.
Probably the court looks favorably upon stable and committed partnerships, but when you marry the dude you met last week....? Idk. But also, I'm not Canadian and the author did say she did a lot of research on Canadian family law for this book.
May 10, 2025
Content warnings: death of a friend, grief, homophobia, transphobia, car accident
Look, I'm not gonna lie. I finished this book over two months ago and apparently never marked it as complete. I've read about 80 books since I finished this so the details have definitely slipped away from me.
But what I *can* tell you is that I loved the queer awakening aspect of the story, and while there was really no reason for this to be nearly SIX HUNDRED PAGES LONG, I flew through it. It DID throw me every time the Toronto NHL team was referred to as the Fisher Cats though...
Look, I'm not gonna lie. I finished this book over two months ago and apparently never marked it as complete. I've read about 80 books since I finished this so the details have definitely slipped away from me.
But what I *can* tell you is that I loved the queer awakening aspect of the story, and while there was really no reason for this to be nearly SIX HUNDRED PAGES LONG, I flew through it. It DID throw me every time the Toronto NHL team was referred to as the Fisher Cats though...
January 8, 2026
Finally Matty's book! I was so excited to read his story and how he would find the so seaked love he desired after a toxic marriage. It didn't dissapoint, because I love a big heart softie finding love in someone that just needs a hug (and help on raising 4 kids).
June 10, 2024
Wow, another great read and couple. I loved Matty and Antoni, they made such a good couple and a great family. So many things were happening but it flowed together and made this incredible journey of being a loving family. There were times when I was getting bored but then boom the author threw me a surprise attack of emotions or actions.
Such a great read, they still don't replace Dustin and Charlie as my favorite couple however they are still pretty great.
Such a great read, they still don't replace Dustin and Charlie as my favorite couple however they are still pretty great.
June 13, 2024
The best book from this series.
I loved Antoni and Matty was a MC that I couldn't wait to see in book
Matty is selling his house and antonio is looking for a house in the neighborhood , and they became friends.
Antoni has 4 kids from a late best friends that left them at Antoni's care.
They were seen together and when the press asked Matty's forme wife, she said that Matty has already been with a man before.
Can this friendship became something more?
Highly recommended
I loved Antoni and Matty was a MC that I couldn't wait to see in book
Matty is selling his house and antonio is looking for a house in the neighborhood , and they became friends.
Antoni has 4 kids from a late best friends that left them at Antoni's care.
They were seen together and when the press asked Matty's forme wife, she said that Matty has already been with a man before.
Can this friendship became something more?
Highly recommended
August 13, 2024
Matty is just the sweetest
May 22, 2025
4.75 stars for the Audio Book!
This review and much more can be found at Love Bytes Reviews
Matty and Antoni meet under weird circumstances – with Antoni being overwhelmed and crying in his rough van in Matty’s driveway. Matty’s caretaker personality takes over and he invites Antoni in. He insists on feeding him and having him take food home. He goes way overboard and offers his house to Antoni and the four children he’s inherited when his best friend dies. Is this guy for real???
Pretty soon Antoni is overwhelmed by his life and despite his better judgement, he ends up in a desperate position when his van finally dies and he calls Matty who has insisted on giving him his number. And from there, things go from friends to housemates to more 🙂 Antoni assumes Matty is straight. Matty assumes he’s just broken, but when he finds himself attracted to Antoni like he’s never been attracted to anyone, well maybe he’s not broken. He was just waiting for the right person to come along 😉
But Antoni has a lot of other stuff on his plate. One of his kids is non-binary and he’s doing his best to make sure they are in a loving environment and a supportive school. The grandparents of these kids are trying to get custody, but the parents specifically did not want these grandparents raising these kids. Matty and Antoni are absolutely determined to love and protect these kids and provide the best home they can. Their marriage is just one of their attempts to do this 😉 This raises some questions – with Matty’s friends and teams 🙂
Will they be able to protect the kids? And what happens when a marriage of convenience becomes all too real??
I am really enjoying this series! I’m kinda sad that there is only one book left now for me to consume. These are long books/audios, but they keep me engaged from the get-go each and every time. Matty has been a favorite character from the first book – showing up in Dustin and Charlie’s bed 🙂 I love his golden retriever energy and how open his heart is. Even though he’s been hurt, he’s still putting himself out there. What a lovely guy!
Poor Antoni has really been through it! Losing his best friends, becoming an instant father of 4 from teenager to infant and juggling his teaching job and family at the same time he’s looking out for the children’s best interest really does push him too close to the edge. Matty’s generosity seems way too good to be true. And you know what they say, if it seems too good to be true, it likely is. Except in this case 🙂
From their very first awkward meeting to the happily ever after, Matty is determined to be there for Antoni and the kids. He’ has not come from money and he isn’t obsessed with it. He in fact feel a little bit of a prisoner with the money and doesn’t make the greatest choices sometimes 🙂 He’s more than happy to provide for Antoni and the kids but he knows he can’t just roll roughshod over Antoni’s wishes.
Antoni's still processing a lot. His family is a huge support, but they do have their own lives and needs. The kids are such a part of their lives and while they may be exhausted at times, both men are determined to be their for all of the kids in their care. There are two conflicts that vie for this couple’s attention here – the paternal grandparents trying to get the kids from Antoni and Dom, Matty’s teammate who insists that Antoni is playing him for his money.
Oh and there is a new coach for the Fisher Cats too which is making things extra stressful for the team. Matty and his teammates have their hands full keeping things together and Matty is determined to protect his family. He doesn’t always get it right, but he does his best and then end up in a good place 🙂 I love these two and this story made me smile soooo many times. Highly recommended.
I really love this narrator! This series has been my first experience with him and I think he’s done a great job. All of the voice choices here were fantastic – I love the kids especially! Whether it’s a surly hurting teenager, a younger child with speech delays or the rest of Matty’s team, this narrator gives a performance that resonates. The emotional pitch is really is perfect for this story which is heavy on discovery for two men who are so different and yet have the same values and same desires to build a family and a home that is supportive and loving – and they are well on their way.
This review and much more can be found at Love Bytes Reviews
Matty and Antoni meet under weird circumstances – with Antoni being overwhelmed and crying in his rough van in Matty’s driveway. Matty’s caretaker personality takes over and he invites Antoni in. He insists on feeding him and having him take food home. He goes way overboard and offers his house to Antoni and the four children he’s inherited when his best friend dies. Is this guy for real???
Pretty soon Antoni is overwhelmed by his life and despite his better judgement, he ends up in a desperate position when his van finally dies and he calls Matty who has insisted on giving him his number. And from there, things go from friends to housemates to more 🙂 Antoni assumes Matty is straight. Matty assumes he’s just broken, but when he finds himself attracted to Antoni like he’s never been attracted to anyone, well maybe he’s not broken. He was just waiting for the right person to come along 😉
But Antoni has a lot of other stuff on his plate. One of his kids is non-binary and he’s doing his best to make sure they are in a loving environment and a supportive school. The grandparents of these kids are trying to get custody, but the parents specifically did not want these grandparents raising these kids. Matty and Antoni are absolutely determined to love and protect these kids and provide the best home they can. Their marriage is just one of their attempts to do this 😉 This raises some questions – with Matty’s friends and teams 🙂
Will they be able to protect the kids? And what happens when a marriage of convenience becomes all too real??
I am really enjoying this series! I’m kinda sad that there is only one book left now for me to consume. These are long books/audios, but they keep me engaged from the get-go each and every time. Matty has been a favorite character from the first book – showing up in Dustin and Charlie’s bed 🙂 I love his golden retriever energy and how open his heart is. Even though he’s been hurt, he’s still putting himself out there. What a lovely guy!
Poor Antoni has really been through it! Losing his best friends, becoming an instant father of 4 from teenager to infant and juggling his teaching job and family at the same time he’s looking out for the children’s best interest really does push him too close to the edge. Matty’s generosity seems way too good to be true. And you know what they say, if it seems too good to be true, it likely is. Except in this case 🙂
From their very first awkward meeting to the happily ever after, Matty is determined to be there for Antoni and the kids. He’ has not come from money and he isn’t obsessed with it. He in fact feel a little bit of a prisoner with the money and doesn’t make the greatest choices sometimes 🙂 He’s more than happy to provide for Antoni and the kids but he knows he can’t just roll roughshod over Antoni’s wishes.
Antoni's still processing a lot. His family is a huge support, but they do have their own lives and needs. The kids are such a part of their lives and while they may be exhausted at times, both men are determined to be their for all of the kids in their care. There are two conflicts that vie for this couple’s attention here – the paternal grandparents trying to get the kids from Antoni and Dom, Matty’s teammate who insists that Antoni is playing him for his money.
Oh and there is a new coach for the Fisher Cats too which is making things extra stressful for the team. Matty and his teammates have their hands full keeping things together and Matty is determined to protect his family. He doesn’t always get it right, but he does his best and then end up in a good place 🙂 I love these two and this story made me smile soooo many times. Highly recommended.
I really love this narrator! This series has been my first experience with him and I think he’s done a great job. All of the voice choices here were fantastic – I love the kids especially! Whether it’s a surly hurting teenager, a younger child with speech delays or the rest of Matty’s team, this narrator gives a performance that resonates. The emotional pitch is really is perfect for this story which is heavy on discovery for two men who are so different and yet have the same values and same desires to build a family and a home that is supportive and loving – and they are well on their way.
June 11, 2024
Matty “If The Giving Tree Had A Huge Hockey Dumper” Carlson needs to be protected at all costs!!!
It truly is the way this book would be like 75 pages long if everyone in the book just got out of their own way long enough for Matty to swoop in and handle it instead of fighting it for nonsense pride and proprietary reasons before eventually caving two chapters later like we all knew they would. And by we all, I absolutely mean not only me, but both of Antoni’s parents, his brother, and Alexis and Eli. It was so wild and funny to me how everyone in Matty’s life on the team was reacting to everything like I’d expect people in real life to act, skepticism, concern, caution, etc, while literally everyone in Antoni’s life seemed to already be self-aware enough to recognize nah we’re in a romance novel and these idiots need to just climb on board and make out already.
This book did an incredible job tackling grief in a lot of forms, loss/betrayal of a relationship, death of childhood friends, death of parents, how negative the relationship was with the kids’ grandparents because of their homophobia. This series has shown that Brigham has a really powerful ability to bring heavy topics into a book that can still be marketed as relatively low angst. It’s not quite the fluff that you find in other MM romances on Kindle Unlimited (and I’m in no way knocking the fluff, I live for it, just recognizing the difference here), but it still manages to stay mostly above being weighed down by the heavy topics because they’re always external issues that the couples can tackle together rather than throwing problems into the relationship itself for them to have to overcome. And I absolutely adore that about her. I loved all the happy moments of the family coming together, of Eli being able to come out of their shell as they feel more and more safe, of Alexis coming into her own without being a family antagonist (I was worried that was the role she was gonna play because while it obviously happens in real life blended families, I didn’t come to an MM romance book to watch a 14 year old girl that just lost her parents get vilified and treated as an obstacle). I loved how Matty and Antoni were both given space and support in equal measure to recognize the emotional baggage they were bringing into the relationship, especially Antoni and his slow acceptance that he’s allowed to lean on the new people in his life. And honestly, there was enough for so many of these characters to work through that this is the only book in this series that didn’t feel too long to me, everything needed some space to play out and I was grateful it got that space.
The only thing that pissed me off about the book was Darksided Dom being an absolute asshat to/about Antoni, it was boring and one note and only served the purpose of letting him go into his own book with at least some of his secrets finally on the table. I recognize it was supposed to make us sympathetic to him, and it may even work once he has his own POV and can go more into how everything in his past has been affecting him, but I honestly just stopped caring about him lmao. If I hadn’t already known he was going to be one of the MCs of the next book, I would’ve been rooting for the new hardass coach to kick him off the team (which honestly may very well still happen in his own book, they’ve been very clear through the series about the decline of his hockey abilities as he gets older and that does not bode well for a new coach who makes decisions solely on merit and skill, but we’ll see how that all plays out).
I’m lukewarm on wanting Dom’s story right now (I’ll get over it), but I’m excited for the resolution of the jockgossip leak (I have theories), and even more excited to see where Brigham goes from here for her next spinoff series in this same universe. No I have not definitively heard there will be another spinoff series in this same universe. Yes this is me manifesting it into existence. But yes I sure do have the unshakeable confidence of a mediocre white man that I’m correct and this will 100% be a thing that will happen. Get into it.
It truly is the way this book would be like 75 pages long if everyone in the book just got out of their own way long enough for Matty to swoop in and handle it instead of fighting it for nonsense pride and proprietary reasons before eventually caving two chapters later like we all knew they would. And by we all, I absolutely mean not only me, but both of Antoni’s parents, his brother, and Alexis and Eli. It was so wild and funny to me how everyone in Matty’s life on the team was reacting to everything like I’d expect people in real life to act, skepticism, concern, caution, etc, while literally everyone in Antoni’s life seemed to already be self-aware enough to recognize nah we’re in a romance novel and these idiots need to just climb on board and make out already.
This book did an incredible job tackling grief in a lot of forms, loss/betrayal of a relationship, death of childhood friends, death of parents, how negative the relationship was with the kids’ grandparents because of their homophobia. This series has shown that Brigham has a really powerful ability to bring heavy topics into a book that can still be marketed as relatively low angst. It’s not quite the fluff that you find in other MM romances on Kindle Unlimited (and I’m in no way knocking the fluff, I live for it, just recognizing the difference here), but it still manages to stay mostly above being weighed down by the heavy topics because they’re always external issues that the couples can tackle together rather than throwing problems into the relationship itself for them to have to overcome. And I absolutely adore that about her. I loved all the happy moments of the family coming together, of Eli being able to come out of their shell as they feel more and more safe, of Alexis coming into her own without being a family antagonist (I was worried that was the role she was gonna play because while it obviously happens in real life blended families, I didn’t come to an MM romance book to watch a 14 year old girl that just lost her parents get vilified and treated as an obstacle). I loved how Matty and Antoni were both given space and support in equal measure to recognize the emotional baggage they were bringing into the relationship, especially Antoni and his slow acceptance that he’s allowed to lean on the new people in his life. And honestly, there was enough for so many of these characters to work through that this is the only book in this series that didn’t feel too long to me, everything needed some space to play out and I was grateful it got that space.
The only thing that pissed me off about the book was Darksided Dom being an absolute asshat to/about Antoni, it was boring and one note and only served the purpose of letting him go into his own book with at least some of his secrets finally on the table. I recognize it was supposed to make us sympathetic to him, and it may even work once he has his own POV and can go more into how everything in his past has been affecting him, but I honestly just stopped caring about him lmao. If I hadn’t already known he was going to be one of the MCs of the next book, I would’ve been rooting for the new hardass coach to kick him off the team (which honestly may very well still happen in his own book, they’ve been very clear through the series about the decline of his hockey abilities as he gets older and that does not bode well for a new coach who makes decisions solely on merit and skill, but we’ll see how that all plays out).
I’m lukewarm on wanting Dom’s story right now (I’ll get over it), but I’m excited for the resolution of the jockgossip leak (I have theories), and even more excited to see where Brigham goes from here for her next spinoff series in this same universe. No I have not definitively heard there will be another spinoff series in this same universe. Yes this is me manifesting it into existence. But yes I sure do have the unshakeable confidence of a mediocre white man that I’m correct and this will 100% be a thing that will happen. Get into it.
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