Stick By Me

Desert Ice Hockey #1

by Christie Gordon

Hockey is my life, until I meet an adorable nerd. But he doesn’t date men. Can I convince him to take a chance?

Archer
Hockey was everything, but now I’m questioning if I’ll ever make it to the NHL.
I need to find a life.
In comes a stunning guy in designer jeans and hair so dark and silky, I struggle to keep my fingers to myself.
We connect at an animal rescue, where I accidentally soak him with a hose. I give him my team shirt to make amends.
The vision of him in my clothes stirs a primal urge in me.
When he mentions he’s queer, my heart skips a beat. But he’s only interested in a hookup.
Game on.
Will he accept my challenge for a date?

Leo
I’m having a moral dilemma. I don’t date men. I have an out and proud brother and, in my family, it’s complicated.
Then Archer comes along, eyeing me like a piece of candy and daring me to date him. Yeah, I’m interested.
Problem is, the dare goes awry. I find myself falling so deeply for Archer, there’s no turning back.
When his life goes off the rails, I’m forced to make a decision and fast.

Stick By Me is the first book in the College Hockey series, Desert Ice Hockey, and is the follow up to the Rock U series. It features a dependable nerd and a rebel jock, opposites attract, found family, hurt/comfort, and a secret relationship amidst the backdrop of the holidays. Desert Ice Hockey follows a group of queer hockey players, known as the squad, while they each battle for their HEA.

Buy now to explore a world where emotions run as high as the heat, and hockey isn’t the only game in town!

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

324 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 18, 2024

About the author

Christie Gordon is the author of steamy, heartfelt gay romance novels that explore the emotional journey of men discovering themselves and finding love. It all started when she stumbled upon MM fanfiction by accident—and let's just say, it was love at first read. Inspired by the genre's mix of passion and complexity, Christie transitioned from reading about men in love to writing her own stories. After taking fiction writing classes at a local community college, she published her first MM romance novel in 2009 with a small press, and she’s never looked back.
When she’s not writing, Christie watches boys-love dramas, creates digital art, or is serenaded by her snoring one-eyed rescue pug. A graduate of both Electrical Engineering (BS) and Business Administration (MBA), she spends her "day job" navigating the high-tech world, but her heart belongs to the characters who live in her books. Christie currently resides in the Phoenix metro area, though she’s also lived in California’s Bay Area and Minnesota (which probably explains her deep love of pumpkin spiced latte coffees and hockey).
She’s also the proud mother of two young-adult sons who provide plenty of material for stories—usually in the form of chaotic shenanigans. But no matter what, Christie’s always up for a new adventure, whether it's on the page or in the real world.

For information about her and her work, please visit her website at: www.christiegordon.com
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Reviews

[Candice · Rating 1 out of 5]

This could have been a 2.5/3 star, but there were two situations that made me wish I could give it negative stars.

Basically, Archer's dad emotionally abuses him for years, including calling him some awful names when he comes out, and that's all good in a second because the dad got his feelings hurt about something?? Nope, not buying that at all.

Also, the whole drama about Leo coming out was bizarre--he is hesitant to tell his parents he's bisexual because his brother is already "the gay one." Several times, he or the parents say something like, it's not fair to my parents if I also am queer; they deserve one normal son...um, WTF?

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Archer & Leo
Rating: 3.7 ⭐

- College Hockey D-Man
- Business Analyst
- Bi MC's (Both)
- Queer Hockey Family
- First Times
- Dare to Date
- Hurt/Comfort
- Opposites Attract
- Secret Relationship
- Daddy Issues
- Minor Age Gap (6yrs)

This is book one for the spin-off of the Rock U series. This book is a standalone, but there is a prequel, Taking a Shot, where get a little history on Archer before being dropped into this story. Axel and Remy, from the Rock U series are in this story a lot as well because Leo is Axel's brother and best friends with Remy.

This story opens up shortly after Archer gets rejected from trying to start a relationship with his hook-up Milo, from the Rock U series. The Squad, six queer hockey players, are moving into their home for the year. Archer and another player are sent by the team to an animal rescue to volunteer for the day. While there, Archer teams up working with Leo. During their work, Archer accidentally soaks Leo with a water hose and offers to let him wear one of his spare shirts. They are instantly attracted to each other but Leo is not out to anyone about his bisexuality. Archer dares Leo to go on a date with him in a couple weeks’ time and he wants to show him what they could have together if Leo would just let himself be with a man, not just a hook-up.

I really like the team and their dynamic with each other and I look forward to seeing their stories in the future. Both MC's have some family issues they have to deal with in order to be together fully and openly. Leo ends up being a great support system for Archer when dealing with his hockey prospects and his dad's behavior. He does some sweet little things for Archer to show his affections. Archer is the biggest golden retriever boyfriend and loves on Leo in every way. These two step up for each other big time when they need it the most. It does suck how Leo ends up coming out sooner than he planned but he did it for the right reasons and was able to be there for Archer during his time of need. There's a plot twist in here for Archer, but everything works out for the best for all parties in the end.

Content Warnings :
- Graphic sexual content between consenting adults
- Prejudice pertaining to sexual orientation
- Hospitalization and surgery of parent due to heart attack
- Themes of abandonment
- Mentions of parent death (past, off-page)
- Grieving

I received a free copy of this book via the author and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Verse: Yes
HEA: Yes
POV: Dual
Breakup: No
Cheating: No
Ages: 23 & 29

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars

There is some good about this book. I liked that the characters got together and committed to each other early on so we had a lot of time to spend with them as a couple. And I liked that there was no 3rd act break up or other person drama. I also liked that the characters were versatile. But that’s about it. There’s a whole lot more bad about this book than good.

I’ve tried and failed to read a lot of Christie Gordon novels. The truth of it is that she’s just a bad writer. Her narrative voice is awkward and cringy, and her grammar is just plain awful. She focuses too much on the physical attractiveness in her descriptions of characters.

Examples of poor grammar, writing, and character descriptions:

“Jonah shook his straight, black hair off his forehead and his tongue peeked out of the corner of his mouth, his big hand holding down the lid on our blender and stabbing the buttons on it with the fingers of his other hand.”

“I picked up my phone and checked the time, my reflection catching on my brown eyes, my lashes so thick the guys sometimes teased me for wearing mascara.”

I can also tell that the author must be older because her college-aged characters do not act like Gen Z college students. And there are characters still rocking the mid-2000s emo fringe cut.

I also have gripes with some statements / events in the book.

1. “He seemed mature for his age and didn’t do drama. What a nice break from the women I’d been dating.” - This just comes off as sexist. Woman equal drama and men don’t?

2. Leo is closeted but Archer goes around telling his friends about him and his sexuality before they’re together or he knows about Leo’s boundaries regarding his sexuality.

3. Leo reveals his brother was shot in a mass shooting and Archer just brushes it off and says with balls like that, he should play hockey?? As if playing a sport and being a victim of a mass shooting are in any way equivalent. He doesn’t even express any sympathy.

““Axel used to live there before…well, before he was shot in the mass shooting.” He tipped his head back on the headrest. We passed a small playground, and the phone told me to turn left. “Oh yeah, I think Milo mentioned something about it to me.” Axel and his friend Silas had taken down the shooter. They should play hockey, with balls like that.”

4. It is revealed that Archer’s mother had an affair and his dad isn’t his real biological dad. This whole story arc is resolved so easily. Archer doesn’t hold any resentment or think of his mother any differently after this, accepts the news really easily, and starts calling his bio dad “Dad” after one dinner.

5. There is so much nepotism that isn’t viewed in a critical light whatsoever. Archer and his friends basically admit that they all got to be on a “queer squad” on their hockey team at their college because they have parents involved in hockey that helped them get their positions at the school / on the team. Archer’s mom was an Olympian and his bio dad turns out to be a NHL coach who offers him a position on a NHL team. They say that he’s a good hockey player and earned the position, but let’s be real, would he have been offered the position if his bio dad wasn’t already aware of and looking out for him?

6. Leo’s brother Axel is in a committed relationship but goes around flirting with everything that moves. I find that annoying given that he’s a previous book character and is supposed to have already found his HEA. It certainly doesn’t make me inclined to read his book. Also, the book keeps talking like Axel’s boyfriend needs permission from him to go out, which is ridiculous.

“Axel tongued his upper lip. “But if I didn’t have a boyfriend, you’d be on the menu.” He bumped his shoulder to Mason’s.”

““Archer is hot.” Axel leaned into me, whispering, “I mean, he’s not hot like Remy, but damn. If I were a single gay man…””

“Would Axel let Remy go and if not, would Leo come by himself maybe?”

Regarding the romance:

1. The conversations between the MCs are really really dry. Like I don’t understand the emotional connection they claim to have or how they managed to fall in love so fast.

Just look at this riveting text conversation:

Leo: How was your day? Did you get your studying done?
Archer: It was great and yes. How was yours?
Leo: Same old stuff. Work, dinner and bed. Have a great practice tomorrow. Goodnight.
Archer Goodnight.

Or this is their first date:

“How are your classes going?”
“Classes? They’re going well. I have some midterms next week, but I’m prepared.”
“What classes are you taking?”
“My most interesting ones are probably my nutrition class and muscle physiology. I have to construct a performance training program this semester. You can guess who I’m designing it for.”
“A hockey player?”
“You got it. Order whatever you want, and we’ll share. I’ll eat pretty much anything.”
“Sure.”
“So, I take it we’re going to my place after this?”

2. There’s a scene where Archer jerks off while on the phone with Leo without his knowledge or consent before they’ve established a sexual or romantic relationship. This is absolutely sexual harassment / assault of some form, and is not at all romantic or hot.

3. There are way too many references to Archer’s past relationship with Milo, a character that I assume comes from a previous book. Archer and Milo hooked up for a while then went out on one date before Milo got together with his best friend, but the story keeps going on about how Milo was the first man Archer wanted to be in a relationship with. Was the ex drama really necessary when Milo doesn’t even play a role in the book?

4. The sex is god awful. Like truly, truly awful. It’s all ridiculously porny. All fast and hard, with very little tenderness even when the scene is supposed to convey an emotional connection.

A dick is not a living entity that constantly “twitches” and “plumps” in response to every minor thing a man finds attractive. Men are not living in a 24/7 state of horniness and blue balls, and they don’t go from soft to full hardness in 2 seconds because a hot dude took off his shirt.

This book was clearly written by a woman whose knowledge of gay sex and relationships comes purely from porn, except it’s evidently bad porn, because foreplay lasts 10 seconds, prep lasts even less, and they’re coming within 60 seconds flat. Like I swear, these guys are finishing after 5 pumps every single time. And during Leo’s first time bottoming, they prep with 2 fingers for a few minutes and that’s it. And somehow he manages to come after just a few minutes of penetration and minimal foreplay or prep, during his first time bottoming. Yeah right. There’s also a scene where they don’t prep at all. Not even a single finger or a tongue. I’m bored reading any of it yet it’s somehow the best sex of either of their lives.

Also, when Archer’s dad has a heart attack, they decide that’s the perfect night to “make it special” and go bareback for the first time. Because a dying father puts you in a great mood to fuck apparently. And there’s a scene where they throw a used condom on the floor because they’re too lazy to get up, which…gross.

5. Leo isn’t out and Archer says he doesn’t want to pressure him, but both he and his friends are constantly pressuring him anyways.

““Leo.” I lowered the phone from his face. “When are you going to tell them?” It was time for him to tell them the truth.” - This quote is from when they’ve known each other less than a month and they’ve literally just made it official minutes ago.

6. The idea that butterflies in your stomach is equivalent to love is ridiculous. By the time they’re “in love”, they don’t even know what kind of movies each other likes. Even by the end of the book, Archer doesn’t really understand what Leo does for his job. Can you be “in love” when you don’t even really know the other person? They literally say it’s too soon to spend Christmas together, yet somehow they’re already in love at the same time. They haven’t mentally committed to forever, but somehow they’re in love.

“Who the fuck was I kidding? If the way my chest ached and my heart did flip-flops whenever I was around him was any indication, then yes, I was in love.”

“All I knew, was I was in the throes of my first real love. Would it be my one and only? Only time would tell, but right now, I felt pretty fucking good about it.”

[TipsyMermaid GR · Rating 3 out of 5]

Okay.
I listened to the audiobook. In the first-quarter of the book I was almost always lost because I had no idea what character's point of view was speaking. I don't know if it was the way it was narrated or if it's the way it was written, I have no idea, but it was really tough.
I'm glad I did not DNF it though because it got better.
The last part of the book, and especially the ending were good.
This one is pretty spicy. I'm giving it 🌶🌶🌶3/5 chilies on the spicy scale. I would have given it more had the guys been more adventurous.
I think it wrapped up a bit too quickly in the end. At the point there were 19 minutes left in the whole audio there was still a giant unresolved problem and no HEA. Once those things were wrapped up nice and tidy, it was a good ending and the guys get their HEA.
I am going to read book 2 and see how that goes.

[Pam _P who cusses A Lot · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF at 19% 🙄 


OMG the hockey is cringe
Plus:
-The internalized homophobia doesn't make sense
-The fathers are wackadoo 
-The touchy feely business is beyond cringe
-Against my will, I know the exact shade and texture of every single person's hair, no matter how minor the character, and the make and model of everyone's car by chapter 7

[Lori Dunn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is book one in a spin-off series by Christie Gordon. It is a stand-alone. I, however, found that I was lost at some of the interaction. Specifically with Axel and Remy and between the squad.
This story features Leo, a straight guy, brother to Axel who is openly gay. And Archer, a bisexual man, part of The Squad, a group of queer hockey players who all play on the same ASU team. Leo and Archer have a great meet cute, while both volunteer at a local animal rescue shelter. Instantly attracted to each other, their story begins. Leo has always known he was bisexual, but nobody else knows. This story is about their relationship and Leo coming out to his family. The story is good if it is a bit convoluted at times. With some minor drama from both families, they eventually have their hea.

3.5/5 stars

[Golden Child · Rating 5 out of 5]

Leo & Archer: This is definitely a standalone but I’ve been waiting for Leo’s story after all the guys in Knot Me got their HEA. Leo and Archer meet volunteering at the dog shelter and it’s instant attraction for both. With Leo hesitant to let his friends and family know that he is bisexual, Archer isn’t quite sure where he stands but he knows he’s willing to take what Leo is ready to give him and he’ll wait until he’s ready to come out. Archer is finishing school and focusing on hockey, when he has family problems, he learns how steady and loyal Leo is. Great story about falling in love unexpectedly, learning to be who you are and healing old hurts.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars is all I can give really.

Top notes- This is a cute story without much angst which I was very happy about. Also, if you've read the author's previous series' )I have not) there does seem to be a lot of cute little nods to those and lots of previous characters' appearances.
Mid notes- Lots of repetitive useless details used as filler. Makes and models of cars are repeated several times when the vehicle lends absolutely nothing to the story aside from transportation. Explanations that should be brief go into unnecessary detail to the point of almost feeling like 'mansplaining'.
Additionally, a fair amount of grammatical issues. Commas being used in the wrong places or unnecessarily. The odd word missing or out of place a few times is one thing but this occurs more than a few times. The book could use a quick reread by an editor. Also, as another reviewer noted on another of the author's books there was an overuse of sniggered/snickered in that book. This one uses chortled to the point causing me to disdain the word by chapter 4 or so.
Bottom notes- Here's where it gets to the problems that really took me out of the story.
First, all of the characters seem to have generally the exact same personality type which is obviously frustrating. Leo and Archer are very gooey, to an almost sickening degree. All of the other characters seem to follow suit. This happens all the time whether during serious moments or sexy times or fun goofy times (far too few of these, as in none really.) The author could benefit from some exposure to interactions with a variety of LGBTQ+ community members to experience the vastly different personalities and perspectives that make up this beautiful and diverse group of people.
Then there's my biggest problem. The author knows only the bare basics of what Google told them about hockey. Archer is a defenseman who takes multiple 5 on 5 faceoffs, including an important one 'deep' in his own defensive zone. What?! This does not happen in real hockey! Sure every now and then a defenseman will take a face off, in rare instances. Though it would never happen in that situation. There were several other glaring issues but that one absolutely boggled my brain.
One thing that I hate is when an author writes about a subject they don't know about and they don't even bother to do some studying on the subject. Lazy writing there.
Now, with all this being said I will say I do intend to read the other books in this series. I will not read any other books in any other series by this author but I'm interested to read Jonah, Mason and Tyler's stories. Tyler's purely because his brother plays for the Rangers. LGR! However, I will be spacing them out instead of reading them concurrently to give myself a break from the irritation this book caused. I won't lie I will probably be skimming parts of them if the characters all continue to be cardboard cutouts of each other.

[Heather MMRomanceReviewed]

Christie Gordon has leapt from Hot Rock to Cool Ice with this spin-off series featuring Leo, Remy's brother and Archer, the hockey player who started out infatuated by Miles...

This universe has such a diverse cast of characters and it enriches the storyline here, knowing that both of these characters have backstories in the previous series, but truly meet and connect for the first time in this book. I have always felt sorry for Leo and the burdens he carries, which definitely shone through as a major factor in this story. Archer is adorable and the connection definitely sizzles between these two men.

I am looking forward to seeing where the series goes next, and can't wait to see what new characters are added to this
universe.

[Saskia Veldhuis · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars. A great start to this new series with a good showing of characters from the other books. I enjoyed the balance of personal and sport. I really appreciated the family dynamics, which made it so hard for Leo to come out to his family as bisexual although they were supportive of his gay brother. The relationship between Archer and his father in the first section was very painful. I'm looking forward to the rest of the series.

[Chrissi · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really had trouble with the many characters and the names and keeping everyone apart. I was sometimes really confused and had to go back and look up who it was. I also couldn't understand Leo's motives at all and I found the whole drama around it to be quite contrived.

[Emma · Rating 2 out of 5]

I gave up at 70%, nothing happened, it was so dull and kind of read like a child telling you a story would. It's not awful but it's not good either.

[Leanne]

DNFd @ 56% I tried really hard to like this book, but for me the steam was cringy, the story was only meh, and I truly couldn’t read any farther.

[Barbara · Rating 1 out of 5]

dnf at 46%
the writing just came off as basic and dare I say juvenile?

[Bill Bottomley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free copy. This review is posted voluntarily.

Leo is a guy who always thought he was straight, viewing his brother Axel as the “gay son” of the family. Given their father’s negative reaction when Axel came out, Leo thought his place was to be the heterosexual son. While volunteering at the local SPCA, he meets Archer while cleaning out a cage where the latter accidentally sprayed him with a hose. Of course, Archer is bisexual and shares a house with “The Squad”, a group of queer hockey players at ASU. They are quite taken with each other and start seeing each other as “friends”, in Leo’s view. They quickly go beyond the friends category and become lovers. Leo is totally reluctant to come out to his family, especially his brother Axel. He eventually tells Axel’s boyfriend, Remy that he is bi because Remy went through a similar experience after he met Axel. Meanwhile, Archer receives a visit from an assistant coach for the Denver Coyotes NHL team offering him a place on the team’s development camp as long as he keeps his play up. They both go through difficulties that their relationship helps them get through, including a surprise for Archer, but eventually attain their HEA.

This book is a direct spin-off of the Rock U series, with many of the same characters making reappearances, including the two MCs. Leo lives with his brother Axel and his boyfriend Remy. Axel is a member of the band featured in the previous series. This book marks the beginning of the series following the queer hockey players from The Squad. Leo and Archer are really nice main characters who quickly get into a loving relationship wherein the relationship sees them through various problem situations. I thoroughly liked them both. Their relationship developed a little quickly but that’s normal in this genre. They are realistic, as much as they can be. The secondary characters are numerous but as they are from the band, and we know them, or from the hockey team, and are new. They add a lot to the humour, and all make substantial contributions. Other characters make fairly short but also important contributions to plot development. The storyline develops in a quite linear fashion with some twists late in the book.

The author has now joined the ranks of my favourites and I highly recommend this book.

[Bol.D. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tags: hockey jock and nerd, easy-to-read, page-turner, low angst and suspense, captivating, heartwarming, romance, no cliffhanger.
Stick by Me is a captivating and heartwarming tale of love, acceptance, and self-discovery; a simple yet dynamic, profound, and eloquently written novel that keeps readers engaged from beginning to end.
This story is about the power of support, patience, and love, centered around charming and relatable characters. The storyline is a vibrant collage of unexpected yet significant moments and emotions that keep the narrative dynamic and far from monotonous.
The focus remains on Leo and Archer's relationship and feelings rather than hockey, which I find refreshing. The author skilfully balances the narrative, ensuring the sport does not overshadow the character development and that the romance and emotions take center stage, with hockey providing a vibrant backdrop.
The plot is straightforward, focusing on the relationship between Leo, a closeted bisexual man, and Archer, an aspiring, out-and-proud hockey player. Despite its simplicity, the engaging and emotionally diverse narrative captures the attention with depth and sensitivity.
Sparks fly immediately when Leo and Archer meet, their attraction sizzling in every interaction. Even the simple affair of eating pizza becomes charged with their chemistry.
The author skillfully navigates Leo's complex feelings of fear and doubt about coming out alongside Archer's expectations and disappointments.
The dynamic between the main characters and their interactions with the group of friends adds charm and engagement to the story. Leo’s internal conflict—his fear of disappointing his parents versus his profound love for Archer—creates a compelling tension. At times, his indecision appears selfish, but a twist in the story makes you root for him again.
I like the seamless integration of the characters from the Knot Me series, Axel and Remy, into the storyline. Giving enough context to them makes sense and enhances the overall reading experience.
What to expect: captivating, low angst and suspense, eloquently written sports romance, heartwarming, emotional page-turner, no cliffhanger.
What not to expect: dark drama, flawed and troubled characters, action, mystery, complex issues, overwhelming emotions.
Disclaimer: I firmly believe that for every book written, there is a reader who will appreciate and enjoy it. This review reflects my personal and subjective opinion and should be read as such.
I received an ARC of this book with no obligation to provide a positive review. It is an independent and genuine reflection of my thoughts.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This first book in the new Desert Ice Hockey series is a fun combination of a group of 6 gay hockey players going to ASU, affectionally known as the squad, and some of the band members from Knot Me (and their family members) from the Rock U series by Christie Gordon. Archer is one of the hockey players and he meets Leo, brother of band member Axel, at the Humane Society while volunteering one day. The two hit it off and are attracted to each other but Archer is out and Leo is not. Rather than just a hookup, Archer suggests a date, and thus begins the relationship of friends first, moving to friends with benefits, then something more. There are complicating things like past hookups with band members, family dynamics impacting coming out, family health issues, and hiding the relationship from friends and family that challenge Leo as he struggles to find a way to come out so he can step up to be the boyfriend Archer deserves. There is spice, lots of “first times”, quite a bit of hockey, concerts, and unexpected information revealed challenging the foundations of the MCs, adding angst to the mix but all working out at the end (yeah, it’s a romance). Relatable and believable characters, lots of on ice action, complex relationships between the Knot Me universe and the hockey squad, all ripe for more stories for members of the squad to find their forever person. Entertaining and engaging read.

One thing that struck me was a “comment by Leo” that he had found a study showing some evidence that being gay tends to run in families and may be genetic. I had never heard that before, but would be surprised if it wasn’t true as I wouldn’t expect Christie to add something like that without a way to back it up. Guess I’ll need to look it up myself. The other statement that caught my attention was the majority of the queer community is bisexual. That did make sense to me. Anyway, just wanted to throw that out there for contemplation. I love finding some odd thing in a book that makes me wonder and want to know more.

I received an ARC from the author and this is my voluntary review.

[Steve Pardue · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘Stick By Me’ by Christie Gordon marks the first installment in her College Hockey Series. This book represents a new venture for Gordon, yet it retains the comforting familiarity that fans have come to cherish from her previous works. As the third book by Christie Gordon that I have had the pleasure of reviewing, following the engaging Rock U Series, ‘Stick By Me’ continues to exhibit her signature ability to weave intricate narratives with relatable and evolving characters.

The book kicks off, the College Hockey series with a compelling narrative centered around the blossoming relationship between two college students, Leo and Archer while interlinking them with familiar faces from the Rock U Series. This seamless transition creates a sense of continuity that is both comforting and exciting for returning readers. ‘Stick By Me,’ is evident that Christie Gordon’s storytelling prowess remains undiminished. The first installment in the College Hockey Series is a testament to her skill and passion as an author, promising a series that will undoubtedly captivate and inspire.

The book places significant, emphasis on the sexual exploration between Leo and Archer. Though well-written, and emotionally, resonant, which, while crucial for their character development and relationship dynamics, sometimes overshadow other elements. A notable aspect that could have been enhanced particularly is the background information on the character, Leo. A little less emphasis on the sexual exploration and a more detailed depiction of Leo’s day-to-day work life could have added depth to his character, allowing readers to connect with him on a more, personal level.

Despite these minor shortcomings, “Stick By Me” is a strong start to the College Hockey Series, offering a blend of romance, character development, and sportsmanship. The book’s strengths far outweigh its weaknesses, making it a great addition to the genre. Readers are left feeling warm and satisfied, eagerly anticipating the next installment in the series.

[CreativeFreake · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVE hokey and I LOVE Nerds! I dove into this story headfirst and although it was a spin off from the Rock U Series, I didn’t find it to confusing with the other characters poking in and out of the story-line. I will most likely go back and read the full Rock U series as I liked the side characters and am interested to go back and read their full stories.
I did enjoy both MCs, although I started off liking Archer better. He was out and proud and trying to live his dream. His issues with his dad would resonate with a whole audience of people as most of us have dealt with a parent like his. Leo grew on me slowly; I wasn’t entirely happy he wouldn’t come out to his brother… I understood the parent aspect of the situation… but could not understand why he would not come out to his brother; it really bothered me (I got over it eventually.
Their meeting was super cute. When a puppy is involved, it always makes it better! There was instant attraction but the climb from friends, to involved, to Boyfriends took most of the book and a lot of steamy scenes. I really enjoyed the evolution of their relationship. Leo’s inner turmoil and holding back from coming out really showed Archer’s patience and trust which I really enjoyed. It created a strong foundation for their relationship in a sense. When everything happened with Archer’s dad, I was finally endeared to him by his fierce support of Archer. He came out to his family (all of them) and solidified his and Archer’s relationship by standing by his man completely and supporting him in his time of need.
Although there was some inner angst for each individual character, there wasn’t a lot and I enjoyed that. The couple did not break up at anytime… which I loved! They built their relationship throughout the book and ended on solid footing. All in all, I really enjoyed this book, I give it 4.5 stars… damn Leo and not coming out to his brother!
I will continue with the rest of this series and would love to go back and read Rock U.

[Dinoh (Akari) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stick By Me is the first book in the spin off of the Rock U series, and is about Leo, who is Axel's brother, and Archer, who we met in Milo's book.

Stick By Me is a really nice, sweet ans spicy story between these two MCs who met by chance at an animal shelter where they were both volunteering and the attraction was instant and very strong, although Leo tried to hide it. Leo always knew that he was bi, but he never wanted anyone to know, assuming the role of heterosexual son in his family due to his father's negative reactions when Axel came out of the closet (officially). Although his father finally accepted Axel and loves him as he is, that reaction was engraved in Leo, and the fact that for him, each person in his family fulfills a certain role, made him end up denying that part of himself, only dating women although never having success in those relationships. But something about Archer really draws him to him. He feels a pull that he has never felt with anyone.

Archer always knew that he was bi, and some time ago, he decided to explore that part of himself (when he met Milo), but he didn't want simple hook ups, he wanted someone to share his life with. When he met Leo, he felt the same attraction that Leo did towards him, and decided to give him the opportunity to explore and see where it took them, telling him that he would wait until Leo was ready to come out of the closet. But things ended up rushing when Archer's father, with whom he has a complicated relationship, suffered a heard attack, and he had to go to his town to see him. Leo decided to accompany him, and to do so, he decided to talk openly with his family.

On that trip, Archer discovered things about his family and himself that shake him, and Leo was there to support him and bring him comfort.

This book has everything that a typical Christie Gordon story has accustomed us to, and is a great start to this new series.

I was given an advanced copy and voluntarily wrote a review.

[Michelle N. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stick By Me is the first book in the new Desert Ice Hockey series by Christie Gordon. This series is a spin-off of the Rock U series and it does not disappoint. Stick By Me introduces us to a group of six hot hockey players who live together and play for the U of A college team together. While this is the first book in this hockey series it heavily brings in several characters from the Rock U series, including Leo who is the main character in this novel. Leo is the older brother to Axel the guitar player from the band Knot Me featured in the Rock U series. Leo knows he isn’t straight but feels obligated to stay deep inside the closet to keep the peace in his family and protect his brother Axel. Those feelings start to change when Leo meets Archer, the defensive hockey player, while volunteering at a local animal shelter.
There is a strong, immediate attraction between Leo and Archer. Despite being older, Leo has a lot less experience and a lot more unsure of himself. As the book progresses, it is great to see the relationship develop from friendship, to hook ups, to love. These are two complicated, caring, and kind guys that deserve a happy ending. I loved this story and all of the characters in this book. I cannot wait to see what is next for the hockey squad. While the story focused on Archer and Leo, we were able to learn a lot about the other guys on the team and catch up with the band as well. This is a stand-alone novel and you do not have to read any other series before it to know what is going on. I would suggest reading “Taking a Shot” first. This is a short story introducing Archer and the hockey squad in more detail, who’s events are discussed often in Stick by Me. It is not necessary but it is helpful.
I received an advanced copy for my honest review.

[S. Truell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christie has done it again!

As a huge fan of the Mesa Boys and Rock U series I was so excited at the end of Milo's story for there to be another spin off expansion to the wonderful world of these men to tell Archers story.

Maybe it's because I'm another Phoenician and a huge punk rock fan that these books feel like home to me, or maybe it's just the way Christie writes.

She does a great job of representing the valley in a truly accurate way while combining it with just the right amount of fiction required to tell the story.

Archer and Leo are so adorable. There is just the right balance of over protective friends, angst over coming out, and (madly sickening in the best way possible) love between these boys.

I'm sure it was meant to be this way but I saw Archer's family secret coming from the second Leo mentioned Coach's looks. What was done well was keeping the suspense on how Archer would react when he finally found out.

I also love how Christie is able to give us a glimpse into some of the previous boys stories and the lives currently. I can't wait for Jonah's story.

The 2 things I would have liked to see were Archer and Leo adopting a dog from the shelter they met at and more spice. It has its moments and this is mere personal preference but I love the spicy scenes long and drawn out. This is probably a 3.5/5 on the spice level for me. If you're not new to Christie's books I'd say it's right on part with at lease Mesa Boys and Rock U, but if you're new to her writing just wanted to throw that out there. Despite my spice preference it doesn't stop her from being in my top 5 favorite authors.

[Jim Freihofer · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great first episode of Christie's Desert Ice Hockey series! It's a standalone, but relies heavily on Christie's earlier Rock U series and even a few Easter Eggs from the even earlier skateboarder series. Leo is Axel's older slightly nerdy brother. Archer the ASU hockey player had a fling with Milo. So two guys from Knot Me have connections to our two MC's this time and we get a lot of air time from all the band member along with being introduced to "The Squad" - six gay/bi hockey players.

Leo & Archer meet one Saturday morning when they are both volunteering at the animal shelter. The Director teams them up cleaning out cages and sparks start to fly. They decide to follow-through on those sparks and a relationship develops. Following these guys on their journey to HEA leads you through a path of conflicts that must be resolved in order to make things work as a couple in a relationship. The guys struggle with sexual self-acceptance, coming out, and some lifelong deception from family members. While there is no heavy angst, these issues are not easy for the guys to deal with and that's what keep the pages turning.

The memorable message from this book is that you can't hide from the truth and life won't be fulfilling if you keep things buried and hidden from view. Only when Leo & Archer deal with their issues and resolve them can they both flourish together as a unit. Guaranteed you will enjoy following these guys as they eventually do just that. Bravo - 5 Stars.

[Kurohagi · Rating 4 out of 5]

A promising new series, who doesn't like to see field hockey players in action?!
I enjoyed reuniting with Knot Me in this new series, discovering Léo's story and learning a little more about Axel through him.
I liked the author's approach, about the fact that you can't accept your sexuality, in this case your bisexuality, even though a very close and accepted family member is gay himself.
A hot story, with two endearing characters. Once again, things move quickly between the two heroes. The story is more about self-acceptance and relationships with others. And... there are a few plot twists... which spice up the story!
I can't wait to discover the stories of Archer's teammates!

------

Une nouvelle série prometteuse, qui n'aime pas voir des joueurs de hockey en pleine action ?!
J'ai apprécié retrouvé Knot Me dans cette nouvelle série et découvrir l'histoire de Léo et en apprendre un peu plus par lui finalement sur Axel.
J'ai bien aimé l'approche de l'auteur, sur le fait qu'on peut ne pas accepter sa sexualité, ici sa bisexualité, alors même qu'un membre de la famille très proche et accepté est lui-même gay.
Une histoire hot, avec deux personnages attachants. Une fois encore ça va assez vite entre les deux héros. L'histoire se portent plus sur l'acceptation de soi et la relation aux autres. Et... on a le droit à quelques retournement de situation... Qui apportent du piquant à l'histoire !
J'ai hâte de découvrir les histoires des coéquipiers d'Archer à présent !

[Vicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an awesome book! Although it’s not focused on the band, Knot Me, it’s full of Axel’s antics, his love for Remy and cameos from some of the other band members.

Leo, one of the MMCs and Axel’s supposedly straight brother, playing third wheel during each book in the Rock U series, watching as each member of the band found their meant-to-be, is finally getting his chance at love. Although long awaited, it doesn’t come without its own set of difficulties. Like, why did it have to be someone that had hooked up with one of the band members, and WHY did it have to be someone that his brother and best friend knew? He wasn’t ready to come out yet!

Archer, the other MMC, is an absolute sweetheart. I couldn’t help but feel bad for him in book six, More Than A Spark, when Milo was in love with Ryder and chose him when it was supposed to be Archer and Milo’s first real date but we all knew Milo and Ryder belonged together. Still, Milo was his first crush and, although he was a little brokenhearted, he bowed out like the precious man he was which allowed them to all remain friends. Something he would have reason to be thankful for later.

This is book one in the Desert Ice Hockey series and although I’m gonna miss all the guys of Knot Me, this was an awesome read. Hopefully, with Leo and Archer together, we’ll continue getting glimpses into what’s happening with them. I’m definitely not ready to let them go completely! 5 STARS!

I received a copy of this book for free and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Gabbi Grey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hot shot (an audio review)

I always enjoy Christie Gordon romances and really loved her Rock U series. I was super glad this new one series is set in that world, so I get to see all my old friends. I expected hot guys, hot sex, and super awesome friends. And I got it!

What I also got was bandmember Axel’s older brother Leo. Silly me, I hadn’t realized Leo was bi. He was cool with his best friend Remy hooking up with Axel – after a fashion – but it didn’t occur to me he needed his own happy ending.

Enter Archer.

Great meet cute – at a dog rescue. Awesome that Archer sprays Leo and then has to lend him a team jersey. And so it begins. Leo comes to a hockey game, the guys hang out. Leo, who’s from Tempe, invites Archer, who’s from Duluth, to visit with the family over Thanksgiving. As a ‘friend’.

Meanwhile, the guys are sort of dating. And then hooking up. And that becomes more. Until a crisis leads to both of them having to make some tough choices.

As always, I loved how the family and friends rallied around the guys, even as they made their way through a brutal situation. And their road to happiness wasn’t always smooth.

But this is a Christie Gordon romance, so I got my happy ending!

And since Archer’s part of a squad of gay hockey players, there are plenty of stories yet to be told.

Finnley Cole is a great narrator for this series. He’s got the chops to handle all the different voices, and I’ve enjoyed his performance every time. Looking forward to more!

[Marion · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book in the Desert Ice Hockey series and I think you will understand it easier if you have read the earlier books in Rock U. This is the story of Leo and Archer. Leo is the younger brother of Axel. He has already graduated from ASU with a degree in Business Logistics and Supply Chain Management. Leo is currently working for a semiconductor company. Archer is a hockey player who plays for the Devil's hockey team. He is a defenseman and is in college at ASU. The two meet when they are both volunteering at the Humane Society and cleaning out cages. Slowly the two become friends. Both are dealing with family issues. Leo already has a gay brother so he is allocated to be the straight brother whether he wants to or not. He knows how his father will react if he tells his parents. His brother Axel has no idea how they truly feel. They put up a fake front for him when he came out. Archer has lost his mom and it is just him and his dad. His father doesn't support his drive to become a NHL player. In fact, he tries to erode Asher's confidence with every phone call. He highlights all his shortcomings every call. With all the family pressure, it makes it difficult to have a relationship even if you want one. This is their story. The book is written well and is easy to read. This is a good beginning to this new series.

I received a complementary advanced review copy from the author and I am voluntarily leaving a review.

[AbbieCadabbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great start to a new series, which is a spin-off from those lovable Knot Me guys.
Leo, Axel’s brother has been sort of questioning/struggling with his sexuality for a while. His whole family has always been under the assumption that he’s “the straight son” since Axel has been “the gay son” since emerging from the womb. As such, Leo feels a lot of pressure to be the one to get married and give his mom grand babies. So he’s been trying to be the responsible older son who always takes care of others and find a woman with whom he can fall madly in love with. That just never seems to work out.
Then one day he meets Archer and sparks ignite for both of them. There’s an instant connection, even though Archer assumes Leo’s straight. They become fast friends and the author really does a fantastic job of making the reader feel how strong their connection and mutual attraction is.
Typically, Archer would be the one struggling with coming out since he’s a hockey player, but he’s been out for a while and has a solid support system of amazing friends—who are also his teammates. But Leo is the one who’s really ambivalent about how and when to come out due to some complicated family dynamics, as well as the need to protect his relationship with his family and their relationships with each other.

I really enjoyed this book & am excited to read the next one!

[ButtonsMom2003 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Audiobook Review:
Overall – 5
Performance – 4
Story – 5

I enjoyed listening to this story.

This is the beginning of a spin off series from Christie Gordon’s Rock U series but you don’t need to have read those books to enjoy this one. Your reading/listening experience might be enhanced if you’ve read the series because some characters cross over but you won’t feel lost if you haven’t. I haven’t read all of the Rock U series and actually prefer this new series about hockey because hockey!

There was a lot of angst in this story but I enjoy a good angsty book now and then. Leo had to deal with his attraction to men and Archer has a father that’s not supportive and downright mean at times. Leo also wanted to keep their relationship a secret because he wasn’t ready to come out yet.

Finnley Cole did a good job narrating this book. The only reason I didn’t give him 5 stars is that I don’t think the voices he used for each character were different enough. I found myself checking my copy of the eBook to know which character’s chapter I was listening to. Having said that, he has a very pleasant voice to listen to so I’ll probably continue to listen to books he narrates if they are by one of the authors I follow.

A complimentary copy of this audiobook was provided to me at my request; my review was voluntary and not influenced by the author and/or narrator.

[Sheena · Rating 4 out of 5]

- college
- hockey
- bi-awakening

This is the first in a new series, and it's a spin off from previous Rock U series with some recurring characters from that series in this book. This is Archer and Leo's story, both appeared previously, and briefly, in the previous series but this is their story. Archer is a hockey player and out and proud. Leo is bi-sexual but not out. They have an instant connection when they meet but Archer thinks Leo is straight so they start out as friends, and I really liked that for them that they had that base to work from.

I also liked the cast of side characters, Archer's hockey squad of queer friends who really looked out for Archer when they thought Leo was hiding their relationship, and of course Remy and Axel (Leo's brother) who feature in the Rock U series. The story is low angst with a fair amount of heat between the two as they explore their physical relationship. There's only one slight roadbump which is easily resolved, and there's good communication between the two.

This is quite light, low angst, medium heat and a great start to a new series with plenty of scope with Archer's squad for more stories, and I'm here for them.

I received an ARC and this is my honest review.