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Portland Seabirds #1
Roughing
Sinclair "Saint" Levesque comes by his nickname honestly. He's spent his entire life devoted to hockey and the team he captains. He'll do whatever it takes to get them to the playoffs, including inviting a musclebound meathead who barely knows what a puck is into his beloved home. Carmine Quinn knows his role. He protects the talent, which on this team means Saint. But he can't save Saint from his worst enemy—his own mind. Saint is unlike anyone Carmine has ever known, and it doesn’t take long for Carmine to see just how special he is. Saint soon realizes there's more to Carmine than his goon persona. But the attractive, funny man in his house may pose an even bigger threat to Saint than he could have possibly imagined. He challenges every belief Saint holds dear, turns them all on their heads, and for the first time in his life, Saint finds himself wanting more than hockey. Whether or not he has the courage to go for it remains to be seen.
436 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 1, 2020
198 people are currently reading
1020 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 155 reviews
November 11, 2022
Best book in the series so far, but still not amazing. I liked Carmine and Saint as a couple, but the majority of the book is very repetitive and the villains (Saint's dad, David) just get neatly swept aside - there's minimal conflict in any of these books and they are all lacking substance because of it. It's all very surface level and hard to connect with the characters because it just doesn't develop them enough.
Each character has two personality traits that are emphasised over and over in all of these books - even my Sims get more than that 😂. Here we have Saint who is hockey and neurosis, then Carmine who cooks and likes cars.
I'll persevere with the series because I hate giving up when I can see the potential, but I'm not holding my breath for massive improvement 🤷🏼♀️
What is also annoying is these books aren't linked as a series, and it's hard to find the reading order. Every book follows on and has characters from previous ones, but the way they're set up here and on Amazon is not at all helpful and the author has no website etc!! Instead of being set up as an overarching series, each team is being classed as it's own series even when it just has one book, which seems silly - Rachel Reid had different teams in the Game Changers series, Eden Finley and Saxon James have different teams in the Puckboy series etc. It just makes for a frustrating reader experience the way these are set up.
What I've figured of the reading order so far is:
- Blindside Hit
- Odd Man Rush
- Roughing
- Double Shifting
- Butterfly
- Power Play
- Off The Ice
Each character has two personality traits that are emphasised over and over in all of these books - even my Sims get more than that 😂. Here we have Saint who is hockey and neurosis, then Carmine who cooks and likes cars.
I'll persevere with the series because I hate giving up when I can see the potential, but I'm not holding my breath for massive improvement 🤷🏼♀️
What is also annoying is these books aren't linked as a series, and it's hard to find the reading order. Every book follows on and has characters from previous ones, but the way they're set up here and on Amazon is not at all helpful and the author has no website etc!! Instead of being set up as an overarching series, each team is being classed as it's own series even when it just has one book, which seems silly - Rachel Reid had different teams in the Game Changers series, Eden Finley and Saxon James have different teams in the Puckboy series etc. It just makes for a frustrating reader experience the way these are set up.
What I've figured of the reading order so far is:
- Blindside Hit
- Odd Man Rush
- Roughing
- Double Shifting
- Butterfly
- Power Play
- Off The Ice
November 1, 2020
A like but not love for me. This one was cute. I didn’t like it as much as, “Double Shifting,” although it was much more realistic and less weirdly plotted than that one. It’s a slow burn but it didn’t quite work for me. Which is strange because I love slow burn stories. I’ve been fine waiting books and books for payoff. And of course there’s Anyta Sunday’s books where nothing physical happens until well over halfway in most of them. But the thing about slow burns is there has to be that pining, delicious sexual tension and crazy chemistry. I didn’t feel that with this one and got antsy. Still, I think this author has good potential and will continue to check out more of her books. Her characters are endearing which is a big plus and her writing is overall solid. I have a feeling she’s only going to get better with time.
June 29, 2020
3.5 stars
This was a nice hockey romance. Not quite in the league of Avon Gale’s Breakaway Scoring Chances series, but sweet in its own right. Even if it was a little rushed in the end.
This was a nice hockey romance. Not quite in the league of Avon Gale’s Breakaway Scoring Chances series, but sweet in its own right. Even if it was a little rushed in the end.
Carmine’s hair was tousled, falling in his face. He yawned, stretching, and flopped backward onto his back. “Why me?”I enjoyed this one but I’m not sure if I’ll continue with the series.
“Fuck if I know,” Saint said, propping himself on his elbows beside him. “You’ve got the disposition of a grouchy rhinoceros, can’t imagine why anyone would want you around.”
June 19, 2020
It was going so well!
Ok so I’m not exactly upset. It was going so well. Until it ended. I wish there was an epilogue. I do...cos I didn’t want it to end! It did end a little abruptly and I wish we had a softer landing but I do suppose it’s not quite such a big deal. Except I loved it too much for it to end! Lol
Ok so I’m not exactly upset. It was going so well. Until it ended. I wish there was an epilogue. I do...cos I didn’t want it to end! It did end a little abruptly and I wish we had a softer landing but I do suppose it’s not quite such a big deal. Except I loved it too much for it to end! Lol
July 2, 2020
probably closer to 3.5 stars. I've read one other book by this author which is how this book got on my radar. I read this in one day and I did enjoy my time reading it. There were just a couple of things that made it so that I didn't want to round up to 4 stars.
This book opens up with an incredibly unrealistic scenario. In no world would the captain of any sports team not know that a ton of the team was traded. This didn't bother me too much because there's not really anything else like this in the book but something like this would never happen.
I do appreciate how both in this book and the authors previous book most people around the couple are supportive of their relationship. It is nice to read stories now and again where the main tension isn't about the homophobia of teammate or other people in the story. I really did enjoy this element of the story.
I also did enjoy the main couple. Both characters on their own were interesting and had interesting characteristics and I liked them as a couple. I liked seeing the build up of them getting together, though I don't like unprotected sex the first time a couple has sex in any romance and unfortunately that did happen here and I also didn't love how hear it was basically presented as a demonstration of the trust in the relationship when really you can fully trust someone and still not want that.
Overall I enjoyed this and would definitely read more by this author, it just didn't quite rise to a four star read to me.
This book opens up with an incredibly unrealistic scenario. In no world would the captain of any sports team not know that a ton of the team was traded. This didn't bother me too much because there's not really anything else like this in the book but something like this would never happen.
I do appreciate how both in this book and the authors previous book most people around the couple are supportive of their relationship. It is nice to read stories now and again where the main tension isn't about the homophobia of teammate or other people in the story. I really did enjoy this element of the story.
I also did enjoy the main couple. Both characters on their own were interesting and had interesting characteristics and I liked them as a couple. I liked seeing the build up of them getting together, though I don't like unprotected sex the first time a couple has sex in any romance and unfortunately that did happen here and I also didn't love how hear it was basically presented as a demonstration of the trust in the relationship when really you can fully trust someone and still not want that.
Overall I enjoyed this and would definitely read more by this author, it just didn't quite rise to a four star read to me.
May 9, 2024
To druga książka tej autorki, która przeczytałam i druga, o której mogę śmiało powiedzieć, że mi się podobała. Mają w sobie ten rodzaj ciepła, który mi zdecydowanie odpowiada. Może nie są doszlifowane idealnie do końca, pewnych rzeczy brakuje bądź nie do końca jest wykorzystany ich potencjał, ale skoro czytam je jednym tchem niemalże, to czepiać się i rozbierać na czynniki pierwsze nie będę 😁
March 2, 2021
A book that sounds good in summary but not as an actual novel. At least, not written by this author.
I didn't hate the book, it was way too bland for hate, but aside from the premise and some of the characters (Kasha, and maybe Felix a little bit), I also didn't like much anything.
The plot was extremely unoriginal and predictable. The bad guys were overly one dimensional and basically there without any internal motivation, just existing to make trouble for the main characters. The main characters themselves were very much not believable.
I appreciate the author's attempt to take a detour from the typical toxic masculinity, but this is a hockey romance. In no universe will I believe that men who have grown up surrounded by hockey culture will behave like this. You can have characters that aren't toxic without making them completely over the top, emotionally woke messes.
And while any romance book needs some form of conflict, I personally hate the kind of conflict present here, where one of the main characters blows hot and cold and has such internal turmoil that there's no rhyme or reason in what they decide to do. The conflicts were also resolved way too easily for any proper build up or emotion investment.
I don't expect romance books to be literary master pieces, but I do expect them to have some time and effort (and preferably some skill) to be put into them. This author seems to be more about quantity than quality, though.
I've honestly read literal fanfiction that's wolrds better than this was.
I didn't hate the book, it was way too bland for hate, but aside from the premise and some of the characters (Kasha, and maybe Felix a little bit), I also didn't like much anything.
The plot was extremely unoriginal and predictable. The bad guys were overly one dimensional and basically there without any internal motivation, just existing to make trouble for the main characters. The main characters themselves were very much not believable.
I appreciate the author's attempt to take a detour from the typical toxic masculinity, but this is a hockey romance. In no universe will I believe that men who have grown up surrounded by hockey culture will behave like this. You can have characters that aren't toxic without making them completely over the top, emotionally woke messes.
And while any romance book needs some form of conflict, I personally hate the kind of conflict present here, where one of the main characters blows hot and cold and has such internal turmoil that there's no rhyme or reason in what they decide to do. The conflicts were also resolved way too easily for any proper build up or emotion investment.
I don't expect romance books to be literary master pieces, but I do expect them to have some time and effort (and preferably some skill) to be put into them. This author seems to be more about quantity than quality, though.
I've honestly read literal fanfiction that's wolrds better than this was.
October 24, 2020
Work has been a bitch this week, so I hadn't found the time to review this. But here it goes...
This book was written before Double Shifting but I think this one is better! There are not weird plots or machinations, the pace is wonderful, the slow burn is on point and the characters are really deep and complex wich was a pleasant surprise. I had a smile in my face the whole time!
Carmine surprised me by being thoughtful and funny without being exaggerated and I felt Saint's anxiety, didn't like how sometimes people trying to "protect him" made him seem like weak when he's not, so I understood his stand by not wanting people to fight his battles, but Caz couldn't help himself, not because he thought he was weak but because he just had a crush. *swoons*
We get more of hockey in here, more about games wich was something that I missed in DS and we got a really complex story with beautiful side characters, well most of them... The sex was waaay better and the love was waaay deeper so yeah I LOVED IT! 🥰❤
This book was written before Double Shifting but I think this one is better! There are not weird plots or machinations, the pace is wonderful, the slow burn is on point and the characters are really deep and complex wich was a pleasant surprise. I had a smile in my face the whole time!
Carmine surprised me by being thoughtful and funny without being exaggerated and I felt Saint's anxiety, didn't like how sometimes people trying to "protect him" made him seem like weak when he's not, so I understood his stand by not wanting people to fight his battles, but Caz couldn't help himself, not because he thought he was weak but because he just had a crush. *swoons*
We get more of hockey in here, more about games wich was something that I missed in DS and we got a really complex story with beautiful side characters, well most of them... The sex was waaay better and the love was waaay deeper so yeah I LOVED IT! 🥰❤
January 13, 2025
Great start to a new series.
I loved Saint and Carmine, I really enjoy the way that Grey writes hurt characters, and the way Saint and Carmine's relationship is so intertwined; they're like a bunch of different pieces that create the perfect puzzle together.
Dual POV hockey romance with plenty of hurt/comfort, a slow burn, and a great HFN. Epilogue is the setup for book 2 'Butterfly', featuring Felix, and I'm looking forward to reading asap.
I loved Saint and Carmine, I really enjoy the way that Grey writes hurt characters, and the way Saint and Carmine's relationship is so intertwined; they're like a bunch of different pieces that create the perfect puzzle together.
Dual POV hockey romance with plenty of hurt/comfort, a slow burn, and a great HFN. Epilogue is the setup for book 2 'Butterfly', featuring Felix, and I'm looking forward to reading asap.
October 25, 2021
3.5 stars rounded up. Will I ever tire of sweetly romantic and slightly angsty hockey fics? Probably not, no. There really are only so many ways to tell this story and I'm pretty sure I've read all of them. The only thing affecting my enjoyment of them now is how engaging the writing is, and this was pretty easy and entertaining to read. Looking forward to more in this particular hockeyverse.
August 6, 2021
This was pretty charming with a really likable cast and leads who corrected the things that frustrated me as the story went on -- Character growth? In my gay hockey romance? Remarkable! -- with a decently slow burning romance. I appreciated the way this let the romance be the plot, essentially, and then was fleshed out by character interactions and development that were worth their pages. My energy is running low on this project with twenty days to go, so it was really nice to really enjoy one!
August 28, 2021
4 stars.
Not as shiny and special as Double Shifting, but better than Blindside Hit (which I accidentally downloaded again because I completely forgot I read it two months ago).
This is starting to be a common complain with Grey’s books, but I *really* wish the ending was more developed. We don’t get any insight into the emotional turmoil of Saint deciding to come out, or Carmine’s reaction, or how the team reacts, or what their relationship looks like after that. Nothing. 100% of the epilogue is setting up the next book. Which is one of my biggest pet peeves.
But that being said, this was cute!! I thought the depiction of Saint’s anxiety/OCD (no on-page diagnosis) was great. I loved Carmine’s reaction to it — how he tried to help Saint, but didn’t think he could fix him.
Their relationship was good, and you could feel the chemistry sizzling between them long before they gave into it.
Definitely going to keep going with this Grey mini-binge!
Contains: athlete+athlete, rivals to lovers, roommates, hurt/comfort (little bit, not much)
CW: forced outing, emotional abuse by parents, severe anxiety (possibly OCD?)
Steam: 3/5🔥
Not as shiny and special as Double Shifting, but better than Blindside Hit (which I accidentally downloaded again because I completely forgot I read it two months ago).
This is starting to be a common complain with Grey’s books, but I *really* wish the ending was more developed. We don’t get any insight into the emotional turmoil of Saint deciding to come out, or Carmine’s reaction, or how the team reacts, or what their relationship looks like after that. Nothing. 100% of the epilogue is setting up the next book. Which is one of my biggest pet peeves.
But that being said, this was cute!! I thought the depiction of Saint’s anxiety/OCD (no on-page diagnosis) was great. I loved Carmine’s reaction to it — how he tried to help Saint, but didn’t think he could fix him.
Their relationship was good, and you could feel the chemistry sizzling between them long before they gave into it.
Definitely going to keep going with this Grey mini-binge!
Contains: athlete+athlete, rivals to lovers, roommates, hurt/comfort (little bit, not much)
CW: forced outing, emotional abuse by parents, severe anxiety (possibly OCD?)
Steam: 3/5🔥
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 19, 2022
Saint Levesque is a hockey Mary Sue. Carmine Quinn is an enforcer who has a reputation of being a meathead. In a completely unrealistic move, the coach of the Seabirds insists that Carmine moves in with Saint after Carmine joins the team. Uh oh! Saint has some neurodivergence? or like...OCD? Something. That makes him a little weird about people being in his space.
Obviously they fall in love.
The kindle edition of this book I borrowed from Kindle Unlimited was 431 pages which is 200 pages way longer than it needed to be. The book is kind of cute. Not swoony at all. Very slow burn. It feels like the author doesn't really know hockey? Like they googled hockey words and tried to fit 'em in. While the book isn't terrible I've decided that, after three of their hockey books, the author and I cannot connect and I won't be continuing with their books.
Obviously they fall in love.
The kindle edition of this book I borrowed from Kindle Unlimited was 431 pages which is 200 pages way longer than it needed to be. The book is kind of cute. Not swoony at all. Very slow burn. It feels like the author doesn't really know hockey? Like they googled hockey words and tried to fit 'em in. While the book isn't terrible I've decided that, after three of their hockey books, the author and I cannot connect and I won't be continuing with their books.
June 22, 2020
I will say this - as an avid reader of hockey RPF, this was right in my ballpark (rink?), especially since the Seabirds are clearly a stand-in for my favorite hockey team and it’s not too difficult to guess which character is representing which player. If you are a fan of a certain Canadian with three Cup wins, this may be the book for you.
It’s one of those books that’s best not too closely examined because it will probably fall apart - the premise is pretty silly and the ending was definitely rushed, but considering it has been difficult for me to find new romance books by authors I don’t already know, I’ll count this one as a win. It was fun, and I liked the characters and their interactions. Four stars is generous, but the fourth is for giving me some much-needed distraction.
It’s one of those books that’s best not too closely examined because it will probably fall apart - the premise is pretty silly and the ending was definitely rushed, but considering it has been difficult for me to find new romance books by authors I don’t already know, I’ll count this one as a win. It was fun, and I liked the characters and their interactions. Four stars is generous, but the fourth is for giving me some much-needed distraction.
February 14, 2021
oh .... I liked it but the ending was very abrupt. really - that was very surprising because there were a lot of open questions left.
but Saint is a nice guy and Caz is really great - I did not expect that after reading the plot
nevertheless, I really enjoyed it and now I want to read the next one
but Saint is a nice guy and Caz is really great - I did not expect that after reading the plot
nevertheless, I really enjoyed it and now I want to read the next one
October 11, 2024
I wanted to cry half of the time because of how supportive and amazing Saint’s friends were and on top of everything, how amazing Caz was with him.
This was another 3.75, but I will round it up without fight because Saint was everything to me.
This was another 3.75, but I will round it up without fight because Saint was everything to me.
July 29, 2024
Meh. DNF 10%
August 18, 2020
2.5 stars. I couldn’t really get a good grasp on this book. One moment it was great and the next it was off in some way. I was invested in Saint and Carmine, but parts of the book (writing?) just rubbed me the wrong way. There was too much telling instead of showing when introducing Saint’s quirks and secrets, I was annoyed by some characters, Saint’s father was downright villainous but it wasn’t even resolved, and yeah, the ending was too short. Many loose ends.
The last half star of this rating is entirely because of Kasha. He was all kinds of lovely and my favorite character in this by far. I’m dying to see him get his own book, so I’m hoping that’ll be next.
The last half star of this rating is entirely because of Kasha. He was all kinds of lovely and my favorite character in this by far. I’m dying to see him get his own book, so I’m hoping that’ll be next.
September 25, 2021
This is a 3.5 rounded down, although it just as easily could have gone up.
Saint is the - I don't have the vocabulary for this; neurotic? Anxious? Neurodivergent? - captain of a Portland hockey team. Carmine is his one-time on-ice dick of an opponent who becomes his new teammate and roommate after Saint's team is reformed and the management insist that they live together to take advantage of the publicity of their former rivalry as they become "friends." Shenanigans occur.
I had some issues with this book. First of all, the being-forced-to-live-together premise is so flimsy that it's kind of amazing. Saint is a strange character - he's incredibly anxious and neurotic, yet he manages to be an amazing team leader. He is willing to yell at the coach (in the first five pages of the book!) yet he struggles to speak up for himself. He's kind of a cinnamon roll, but he plays hockey. Weird characterization. Carmine, on the other hand, is solid the whole way through, although we see some missed opportunities for character development: he has a reputation for being a fighter on ice, yet he... never actually fights.
Thanks to this book, I encountered something for only the second time in my life (the previous time is in the rather bad Right As Raine by Lucy Lennox): an epilogue in which not only do we not see the main characters of the book, but we only see a completely different character. In other words, the epilogue serves only as the set-up for the sequel. I just... don't get it. Why would you do that? Where's the "three months/one year/five years later"?
I realize I'm being pretty harsh. I think this book does some really interesting things, namely some twists on traditional tropes (the self-sacrifice for love and the GFY in particular). It is also a very smooth, easy read - one I'd be willing to read again one day. Now that I've read a few of her books, I'm finding Michaela Grey to be an uneven writer - sometimes she really nails the story, sometimes she really doesn't. Hopefully she'll find herself a good editor to hammer out the unevenness in her writing. But yeah, overall I think this is worth a read.
Saint is the - I don't have the vocabulary for this; neurotic? Anxious? Neurodivergent? - captain of a Portland hockey team. Carmine is his one-time on-ice dick of an opponent who becomes his new teammate and roommate after Saint's team is reformed and the management insist that they live together to take advantage of the publicity of their former rivalry as they become "friends." Shenanigans occur.
I had some issues with this book. First of all, the being-forced-to-live-together premise is so flimsy that it's kind of amazing. Saint is a strange character - he's incredibly anxious and neurotic, yet he manages to be an amazing team leader. He is willing to yell at the coach (in the first five pages of the book!) yet he struggles to speak up for himself. He's kind of a cinnamon roll, but he plays hockey. Weird characterization. Carmine, on the other hand, is solid the whole way through, although we see some missed opportunities for character development: he has a reputation for being a fighter on ice, yet he... never actually fights.
Thanks to this book, I encountered something for only the second time in my life (the previous time is in the rather bad Right As Raine by Lucy Lennox): an epilogue in which not only do we not see the main characters of the book, but we only see a completely different character. In other words, the epilogue serves only as the set-up for the sequel. I just... don't get it. Why would you do that? Where's the "three months/one year/five years later"?
I realize I'm being pretty harsh. I think this book does some really interesting things, namely some twists on traditional tropes (the self-sacrifice for love and the GFY in particular). It is also a very smooth, easy read - one I'd be willing to read again one day. Now that I've read a few of her books, I'm finding Michaela Grey to be an uneven writer - sometimes she really nails the story, sometimes she really doesn't. Hopefully she'll find herself a good editor to hammer out the unevenness in her writing. But yeah, overall I think this is worth a read.
February 12, 2025
3.5⭐️
This was much better than the last two. The ending still grated a little, an epilogue about someone other than the main characters, but at least it was a good ending, not blunt like the others!
The plot was a bit repetitive and a little predictable, but I liked Saint and Carmine as characters and a couple. They’re cute together and after the opening chapter it’s nice that Saint gets to learn about the real Carmine and not the ‘hired thug’ everyone has him pegged as.
The little bits of conflict that we get are very brief, and we don’t really get to read any consequences for them. We get no closure with Saint’s dad and all we get is a one-liner saying David had been sent down. I want his reaction, his response. I want justice for Carmine and Saint.
There is no depth to the characters or the story, it’s very simple, and the few bits we are given, i.e. Saint's neurosis and Carmine's love of cooking are overworked. The thing is that it wouldn’t have been an issue if it was explored further, but it’s just ‘I need control, I can’t have control, so I’m fucked up. Leave me alone’ and that’s it done. I gather it’s because of his dad, but again, no in depth explanation of that relationship either, just a quick line to say his dad is jealous. I also think these books could be linked together better. Characters and teams are all over the place, and it feels like they don’t mesh together well.
I don’t know, it’s hard to mark these because while I’m reading it I’m enjoying it, but it’s like I’m constantly waiting for something more, and then it never comes. Add that to the blunt endings, and it leaves these books feeling like they lack something.
This was much better than the last two. The ending still grated a little, an epilogue about someone other than the main characters, but at least it was a good ending, not blunt like the others!
The plot was a bit repetitive and a little predictable, but I liked Saint and Carmine as characters and a couple. They’re cute together and after the opening chapter it’s nice that Saint gets to learn about the real Carmine and not the ‘hired thug’ everyone has him pegged as.
The little bits of conflict that we get are very brief, and we don’t really get to read any consequences for them. We get no closure with Saint’s dad and all we get is a one-liner saying David had been sent down. I want his reaction, his response. I want justice for Carmine and Saint.
There is no depth to the characters or the story, it’s very simple, and the few bits we are given, i.e. Saint's neurosis and Carmine's love of cooking are overworked. The thing is that it wouldn’t have been an issue if it was explored further, but it’s just ‘I need control, I can’t have control, so I’m fucked up. Leave me alone’ and that’s it done. I gather it’s because of his dad, but again, no in depth explanation of that relationship either, just a quick line to say his dad is jealous. I also think these books could be linked together better. Characters and teams are all over the place, and it feels like they don’t mesh together well.
I don’t know, it’s hard to mark these because while I’m reading it I’m enjoying it, but it’s like I’m constantly waiting for something more, and then it never comes. Add that to the blunt endings, and it leaves these books feeling like they lack something.
March 6, 2023
So interesting the way Saint sees Caz, and then the way Caz thinks Saint would see him.
“He gazed contemplatively at the players and Saint averted his eyes from Carmine’s profile, perfect except for the broken nose that had healed crooked.”
And
“He still remembered how hard Carmine’s fists were, the dazzling starburst of pain in his ribs as Saint took them both to the ice. He also remembered the dimples that flashed in Carmine’s cheeks when joking with his teammates before the game, the way his agate eyes gleamed with amusement.”
…
“Carmine wondered vaguely what Saint saw when he looked at him. Brick shithouse, nose broken too many times, scarred knuckles, mud-colored eyes. He wasn’t in Saint’s hotness bracket, that was for damn sure.”
“He gazed contemplatively at the players and Saint averted his eyes from Carmine’s profile, perfect except for the broken nose that had healed crooked.”
And
“He still remembered how hard Carmine’s fists were, the dazzling starburst of pain in his ribs as Saint took them both to the ice. He also remembered the dimples that flashed in Carmine’s cheeks when joking with his teammates before the game, the way his agate eyes gleamed with amusement.”
…
“Carmine wondered vaguely what Saint saw when he looked at him. Brick shithouse, nose broken too many times, scarred knuckles, mud-colored eyes. He wasn’t in Saint’s hotness bracket, that was for damn sure.”
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 5, 2020
Okay that ending was disappointing. They come out and bam it ends? I hope like hell the next book in the series has them as an out couple, doing things as a couple. And to see how their play changes. The other thing is every had weird nicknames and sometimes I would forget who was who. I loved seeing Saint standing up to his dad. Caz was a sweetheart and I love his moms. Can’t wait for the next book in the series.
June 16, 2025
Rating - 2.5 Stars rounded up
Not my favorite in this series. There was some cute moments between the MCs (mainly the caretaking - Carmine is such a great boyfriend/friend) but I really just didn't feel much chemistry between these two.
Not my favorite in this series. There was some cute moments between the MCs (mainly the caretaking - Carmine is such a great boyfriend/friend) but I really just didn't feel much chemistry between these two.
June 21, 2020
3.5, but rounding up. I really liked the characters and plot, but it didn’t quite transport me.
February 14, 2022
3.50
They were so cuteee.
They were so cuteee.
June 5, 2020
From the blurb, I was thinking this would be more enemies-to-lovers, but even before the two characters become friends, one is very protective of the other. It's so sweet, even if the protected one doesn't appreciate the protection. The characters all have such depth that they felt real to me and I fell for them, flaws and all. Except for that one side character I really wanted to punch in the face. Anyway, this is a FANTASTIC book and one I highly recommend.
June 7, 2020
I really appreciate this author's stories of tender acceptance. They're a much needed respite from an unkind world. This one was no exception, and I'm greedy for more.
March 25, 2024
In the first hook up, Carmine starts by asking “What do you like?” That stood out to me so much that I highlighted it twice, which I didn’t know was possible on a Kindle. That alone could be my review for this book. However, I have a glass of wine and some responsibilities to avoid so here’s a full review:
📖 The Tropes: Teammates/Roommates, E2L light
“We have a new D-man. Carmine Quinn.”
“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.”
The book starts with these two beating the shit out of each other. Flawless intro. Saint does not like people, and he REALLY does not like Carmine. Some people argue that this book is slow or has a lack of plot. Those people are (disrespectfully) idiots. The relationship IS the plot. You get great side characters (Hi, Kasha and Felix. I love you) but no big drama or subplots. It’s 100% character and relationship development.
💜 The Relationship: Slow burn, Neurosis rep/comfort
“Do what you want in your side of the house, but don’t trash it.”
“What about—”
“No loud music ever,” Saint interrupted.
This book takes its time building their relationship, and I (the queen of shitting on slow burns) couldn’t have asked for more. A lot of books trending right now are super smutty, and while I absolutely love those (hello? Heated Rivalry is my favorite book), I really needed a lighter, balanced book like this. Sweet but not saccharine, sexy but not kinky, slow burn but never drags.
“The team’s finally coming together, I can’t risk it just because I can’t stop thinking about you. That’s stupid and irresponsible and selfish, and—”
“Hang on, whoa. You can’t stop thinking about me?”
👬The Characters
Carmine “I’m easy to get along with” Quinn
The embodiment of support, patience and love. He is the partner that every neurodivergent person deserves and “oh fuck…I think I’m in love with him, bud.”
Saint “I’m not” Levesque
I am always looking for more characters like Saint (drop the recs below). Characters who learn that their differences are not a burden, that they don’t have to do everything alone, and that “you can want more than one thing.”
Also, Kasha is not an MC, but I would kill any of you to protect him and his feelings.
📖 The Tropes: Teammates/Roommates, E2L light
“We have a new D-man. Carmine Quinn.”
“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.”
The book starts with these two beating the shit out of each other. Flawless intro. Saint does not like people, and he REALLY does not like Carmine. Some people argue that this book is slow or has a lack of plot. Those people are (disrespectfully) idiots. The relationship IS the plot. You get great side characters (Hi, Kasha and Felix. I love you) but no big drama or subplots. It’s 100% character and relationship development.
💜 The Relationship: Slow burn, Neurosis rep/comfort
“Do what you want in your side of the house, but don’t trash it.”
“What about—”
“No loud music ever,” Saint interrupted.
This book takes its time building their relationship, and I (the queen of shitting on slow burns) couldn’t have asked for more. A lot of books trending right now are super smutty, and while I absolutely love those (hello? Heated Rivalry is my favorite book), I really needed a lighter, balanced book like this. Sweet but not saccharine, sexy but not kinky, slow burn but never drags.
“The team’s finally coming together, I can’t risk it just because I can’t stop thinking about you. That’s stupid and irresponsible and selfish, and—”
“Hang on, whoa. You can’t stop thinking about me?”
👬The Characters
Carmine “I’m easy to get along with” Quinn
The embodiment of support, patience and love. He is the partner that every neurodivergent person deserves and “oh fuck…I think I’m in love with him, bud.”
Saint “I’m not” Levesque
I am always looking for more characters like Saint (drop the recs below). Characters who learn that their differences are not a burden, that they don’t have to do everything alone, and that “you can want more than one thing.”
Also, Kasha is not an MC, but I would kill any of you to protect him and his feelings.
May 5, 2021
Two stars. This story might have been a good m/m romance if only there was a semblance of realism. So many details related not just to hockey but also to real life are just either wrong or grossly exaggerated. There's a core of interest here that kept me reading... the goalie, the Russian rookie, even Carmine, who is one of the MCs.... but the simple factual inaccuracies kept tripping me up.
For instance, in what world would a team's captain not know about the trades in the off season that changed his team? What kind of coach mandates two of his players live together? What's a reader to do when a writer tells me that weeks have passed when what she's written clearly tells me that only days have? What professional NHL team functions like a middle school club and has a captain so definitely in need of psychological counseling that I truly feared for his mental health?
These are just a few examples of many. All of them could be readily fixed by the author herself, or with the help of an editor or even a friend paying attention as she/he read. I hope this writer slows down, learns about pre season games and everything else related to hockey, double checks her understanding of human nature, and tries writing a book centered in the real world. There is a core of talent here.
For instance, in what world would a team's captain not know about the trades in the off season that changed his team? What kind of coach mandates two of his players live together? What's a reader to do when a writer tells me that weeks have passed when what she's written clearly tells me that only days have? What professional NHL team functions like a middle school club and has a captain so definitely in need of psychological counseling that I truly feared for his mental health?
These are just a few examples of many. All of them could be readily fixed by the author herself, or with the help of an editor or even a friend paying attention as she/he read. I hope this writer slows down, learns about pre season games and everything else related to hockey, double checks her understanding of human nature, and tries writing a book centered in the real world. There is a core of talent here.
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