What do you think?
Rate this book
Blood on the Ice
The neutral zone is no place for a vampire.
A right wing for the Chicago Blackhawks, all Travis Payne wants is to see his name on the Stanley Cup. He certainly doesn’t expect to be attacked by a vampire on the eve of the Finals. But when he wakes up in the Warm Room of the Cook County Morgue, he knows his life will never be the same.
Fortunately, Travis can still play hockey with the Chicago Cobras, the local vampire league franchise. Cobras captain Marcus Antonius, a former Roman gladiator, is more than willing to help Travis adjust to his new life, his new team, and the erosion of his formerly flaming heterosexuality. Travis is a difficult student, though—all he wants is his life to return to normal.
Unfortunately, learning to be a good vampire is even more complicated than following concussion protocols, and Travis will have to let go of everything to find a new normal.
Contains two hot alpha males playing hard on the ice and in the bedroom.
A right wing for the Chicago Blackhawks, all Travis Payne wants is to see his name on the Stanley Cup. He certainly doesn’t expect to be attacked by a vampire on the eve of the Finals. But when he wakes up in the Warm Room of the Cook County Morgue, he knows his life will never be the same.
Fortunately, Travis can still play hockey with the Chicago Cobras, the local vampire league franchise. Cobras captain Marcus Antonius, a former Roman gladiator, is more than willing to help Travis adjust to his new life, his new team, and the erosion of his formerly flaming heterosexuality. Travis is a difficult student, though—all he wants is his life to return to normal.
Unfortunately, learning to be a good vampire is even more complicated than following concussion protocols, and Travis will have to let go of everything to find a new normal.
Contains two hot alpha males playing hard on the ice and in the bedroom.
303 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 24, 2014
3 people are currently reading
136 people want to read
About the author
Katriena Knights
42 books26 followersKatriena Knights started writing before she learned to read. Some of her early efforts included poetry like "Ode to a Pancake" and an emotional epic (65 pages) novel about a blind horse who wins the Kentucky Derby.
She has since graduated to more realistic subjects like vampires and extraterrestrials, but somehow some kind of romance always sneaks in (even the blind horse had a sexy boyfriend). She has published a number of contemporary and paranormal romances, and continues to write regularly for a variety of venues.
Katriena currently lives in the mountains of Colorado with her kids, and a variety of pets.
She has since graduated to more realistic subjects like vampires and extraterrestrials, but somehow some kind of romance always sneaks in (even the blind horse had a sexy boyfriend). She has published a number of contemporary and paranormal romances, and continues to write regularly for a variety of venues.
Katriena currently lives in the mountains of Colorado with her kids, and a variety of pets.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
July 2, 2014
DNF'd at 67% due to me losing interest...
and not finding myself able to give any more fucks about this story or the MCs.
First, I do have to commend the author for the great world-building. The author really immersed the readers into this world where humans know about vampires and where humans and vampires live in somewhat tenuous peace together. It truly was easy to believe in this world because Ms. Knights did such a great job in presenting in. Also, I absolutely relished in reading about the secondary characters. The characters that Knights created were just so multi-faceted and entertaining to read about; the other hockey players were one crazy, bizarre, and wickedly funny bunch.
However, unfortunately, the awesome world-building and the cooky secondary characters were not enough to keep my attention.
First off, Travis and Marc, the MCs do not meet until the 25% mark, and then they don't have their first smexy encounter until the 60% mark. But what does happen between them meeting and finally engaging in some horizontal tango is they go feed together on live donors. Now, I've read a few vamp novels and what seems to be a common theme is that humans enjoy giving blood to vampires because it leaves them in throes of ecstasy. Which means that feedings turn into these erotic encounters where everybody is horny and the human is not eeked out by the fact that a vampire is getting busy sucking out their blood.
All the other books I've read, however, have left it at that. Vamp takes human's blood, human is left drowning in happy-happy-joy-joy hormonal rush, and done deal.
These two, not so much. They take it one step further and actual perform sex acts with their donors. In one scene, Marc gives a handjob to the donor while Travis is feeding on said donor. They both get off on it, but me? Ummm...not so much.
Since they both are into it, it's not cheating...but, for me, these encounters bring the MCs' relationship into the "open" category, which is another hard limit for me.
Definitely do not want.
I tried to overlook this...I really did. But then we got Travis and Marc's first smex scene, and it left me feeling cold.
Sure, sure, it was raunchy, dirty, and they were definitely lusting after one another. But there was no passion...no heat. It was all about just getting off, leaving me wholly bored and utterly annoyed.
After that, I just had enough and didn't give a shit anymore. So, I'm giving this one 2 stars for the terrific world-building, the great writing, and the pretty cool secondary characteristic. But this book just failed completely for me on the romance aspect, and I had to call it quits.
and not finding myself able to give any more fucks about this story or the MCs.
First, I do have to commend the author for the great world-building. The author really immersed the readers into this world where humans know about vampires and where humans and vampires live in somewhat tenuous peace together. It truly was easy to believe in this world because Ms. Knights did such a great job in presenting in. Also, I absolutely relished in reading about the secondary characters. The characters that Knights created were just so multi-faceted and entertaining to read about; the other hockey players were one crazy, bizarre, and wickedly funny bunch.
However, unfortunately, the awesome world-building and the cooky secondary characters were not enough to keep my attention.
First off, Travis and Marc, the MCs do not meet until the 25% mark, and then they don't have their first smexy encounter until the 60% mark. But what does happen between them meeting and finally engaging in some horizontal tango is they go feed together on live donors. Now, I've read a few vamp novels and what seems to be a common theme is that humans enjoy giving blood to vampires because it leaves them in throes of ecstasy. Which means that feedings turn into these erotic encounters where everybody is horny and the human is not eeked out by the fact that a vampire is getting busy sucking out their blood.
All the other books I've read, however, have left it at that. Vamp takes human's blood, human is left drowning in happy-happy-joy-joy hormonal rush, and done deal.
These two, not so much. They take it one step further and actual perform sex acts with their donors. In one scene, Marc gives a handjob to the donor while Travis is feeding on said donor. They both get off on it, but me? Ummm...not so much.
Since they both are into it, it's not cheating...but, for me, these encounters bring the MCs' relationship into the "open" category, which is another hard limit for me.
Definitely do not want.
I tried to overlook this...I really did. But then we got Travis and Marc's first smex scene, and it left me feeling cold.
Sure, sure, it was raunchy, dirty, and they were definitely lusting after one another. But there was no passion...no heat. It was all about just getting off, leaving me wholly bored and utterly annoyed.
After that, I just had enough and didn't give a shit anymore. So, I'm giving this one 2 stars for the terrific world-building, the great writing, and the pretty cool secondary characteristic. But this book just failed completely for me on the romance aspect, and I had to call it quits.
June 24, 2014
3.5 stars
Ice hockey + vampires = blood sports supreme.
Check, check, and… check. And add in a nice vamp coming-of-age story. ’Cause in this world, vampires are out and proud, fully integrated into human society. Think: Fangs… and lots of lovely biting.
Our main character, Travis, is a popular and talented hockey player on a team headed for the Stanley cup championship game. It’s all he wants… his name engraved on that silver trophy… he’s worked long and hard for it.
And then, bad timing… one night, acting as a good Samaritan, Travis saves a young woman from death-by-vampire draining, and he finds his life changed when he becomes the victim and is inducted into vamp-hood. Luckily for Travis, it’s only the end of human life as he knows it… low and behold, there are vampire hockey teams, too. And one of them, the Cobras, captained by hunky Marcus Antonius, is hot after Travis’ ice talents. Well, Marcus may be after a little more than just ice blading… let’s say he gets some, um, blading in elsewhere, too.
Marcus is a bit of an enigma… I’m never clear on what it is about ice hockey that attracted him to the sport. My guess is that the centuries-old vamp who used to be a Roman gladiator just likes exchanging one blood sport for another. And, you know, hard-forged by all those centuries— he is a manly… erm, vampire-ly bloodsucker who knows how to give good stick.
Travis is lucky to have Marcus to teach him the new-vamp ropes and also act as mentor in the blood and gore known as vamp ice hockey: where game speed kicks up by a factor of fifty percent, protective gear is eschewed, and having a puck drive straight through your torso won’t slow the game down.
Both characters are very likable. Marcus gets shorter shrift— it’s from Travis POV after all— but for a two-thousand-year-old tough-guy vamp, he is surprisingly tender and caring. So, it’s Travis’ show… he’s a monster on the ice with a soft heart. And his journey, as we are taken through his metamorphosis from human to vampire, is interesting. There is some skimping on the process, but we are privy to his difficult transition from one culture to another.
It’s convenient that becoming a vamp means you become omni-sexual. Travis makes the jump from straight to… bisexual in a snap. No muss, no fuss. Marcus is looking pretty tasty, and the man on man loving is not a huge deterrent for Travis. You just know these two will be getting busy.
On the other hand, omni-sexual means that we get some action that dips into M/F territory, too. Here’s some background: The vamps exist mainly on canned animal blood which, of course, is a poor substitute for a fresh vein. Occasionally, the guys go out for ‘blood snacks,’ or human donors, male and female, who willingly sell them an unadulterated (no drugs/no booze) bite, sex included. So, a small warning is needed if M/F action in your slash reading bothers you. Granted, there’s nothing penetrative, but the word ‘cunnilingus’ does appear on page… you can take it from there. Did it stop me reading? No. But, every time Travis got busy with a female ‘blood donor’ I wished it was a guy.
The author looks to have written a number of het romance novels. Kudos for what seems to be a debut M/M romance with Blood on the Ice. This is fun and nicely written (despite a couple plot holes), and I liked the sneaky humor. If you’re a hockey nut, there is enough here to entertain— the sports talk and action is graphic— and it won’t overwhelm those who aren’t fans. On top of that, add some nasty-sweaty-dirty smexin to steam things up. I really hope this author continues to write more in the M/M rom world, I’d line up for that.
For this and other great reviews, author interviews, and general fabulousness, visit Love Bytes:
Want to read
August 13, 2016Vampires + Hockey?
*pauses*
Okay, I'll take a bite.
*pauses*
Okay, I'll take a bite.
May 29, 2017
This is a great hockey book. Not just a great book about a hockey player--though it certainly is that too--but a great book about hockey. About the game and its fans. About its players and how they connect with the game. I'll read just about any hockey book you put in my hands. In fact I would probably steal just about any hockey book out of your hands--and not feel all that bad about it. I am a bit obsessed with hockey. I know this. Not going to change, but it is good to know ones own faults.
So I've read my fair share of hockey books. And a lot of them, for better or worse, don't really convey the depth of feeling that comes with hockey players and with hockey fans. I get it, those books are about a guy who just happens to play hockey, just like it was any other sport. And for other people, maybe it is just another sport--and not a very well known one at that. But I think they don't get, or don't convey the sheer connection that players tend to get with their teammates, the game, or with the ice.
This is something I love about hockey fanfics. And something those fanfics get right a lot more than the published books do. So I was quite thrilled to find it here.
The playoff wins, the stanley cup--having those almost within his grasp...and them losing them? Yeah, that would kill a hockey player. To be denied having your name on the cup? Worse than death. It isn't about the win. Though that certainly is important. It's about all the sacrifices you give in order to get that chance. It's about 80+ games and damn impossible wins and damning loses. It becomes everything.
And when Travis Payne sees the Stanley Cup, at the end? I was fucking crying.
There are other good aspects to this book. The vampires were awesome (no angsty vampires here, thank god!) and vampire hockey was very cool. If extremely bloody--as you would expect. I also liked how Marc and Travis were together. It wasn't sappy romantic-drama worthy, but I didn't want it to be. They love each other, but it is very much a love of two vampires, not two humans. The rules are different, even if the root is the same.
The world building was also very good. Done in such a way that I didn't feel myself being dragged out of the story constantly by inconsistencies.
I loved this book. Quite a bit.
4.5 stars
(And no, I did not write this review just to mention the Sharks 2-0 winning streak. Not just to brag anyways. But, come on, they shut out both the Jets and the Kings. I'm allowed to feel pride in that. And to brag.)
So I've read my fair share of hockey books. And a lot of them, for better or worse, don't really convey the depth of feeling that comes with hockey players and with hockey fans. I get it, those books are about a guy who just happens to play hockey, just like it was any other sport. And for other people, maybe it is just another sport--and not a very well known one at that. But I think they don't get, or don't convey the sheer connection that players tend to get with their teammates, the game, or with the ice.
This is something I love about hockey fanfics. And something those fanfics get right a lot more than the published books do. So I was quite thrilled to find it here.
The playoff wins, the stanley cup--having those almost within his grasp...and them losing them? Yeah, that would kill a hockey player. To be denied having your name on the cup? Worse than death. It isn't about the win. Though that certainly is important. It's about all the sacrifices you give in order to get that chance. It's about 80+ games and damn impossible wins and damning loses. It becomes everything.
And when Travis Payne sees the Stanley Cup, at the end? I was fucking crying.
There are other good aspects to this book. The vampires were awesome (no angsty vampires here, thank god!) and vampire hockey was very cool. If extremely bloody--as you would expect. I also liked how Marc and Travis were together. It wasn't sappy romantic-drama worthy, but I didn't want it to be. They love each other, but it is very much a love of two vampires, not two humans. The rules are different, even if the root is the same.
The world building was also very good. Done in such a way that I didn't feel myself being dragged out of the story constantly by inconsistencies.
I loved this book. Quite a bit.
4.5 stars
(And no, I did not write this review just to mention the Sharks 2-0 winning streak. Not just to brag anyways. But, come on, they shut out both the Jets and the Kings. I'm allowed to feel pride in that. And to brag.)
August 29, 2014
Good: (+2*)
- The universe and the topic. "Like, seriously? Gay-vampires playing hockey? It HAS to be good". Sorry, you're not a winner.
- The characters on their own. Hunky Gladiator? Just-turned vampire? Yes.
- Secondary characters. Quirky and funny and likable.
- Blood feeding as an orgasm-inducer? Hot.
- Hockey. I don't know shit about it, never watched a match. Foreign and interesting.
- Writing style.
Bad: (-2*)
- Bureaucracy.
- Characters don't even meet till page 70/250 or so. Don't mind waiting for the sex scenes, but for them to at least meet?
- The conflict and main plot here is that the guy wants his name in the fucking Cup. Not enough to get my attention.
- Redundant bureaucracy.
- Bad chemistry and bad and brief sex scenes between the MCs.
- Bureaucracy.
SUPER SUPER BAD (-9238457938467*):
- Why is there more HETEROSEXUAL sex in my m/m book than actual GAY sex? Why isn't this advertised as "threesome" and "bisexual"? The main fucking characters performing cunnilingus and fingering females? I don't wanna read it in my m/m. I would've passed on this one if I'd known. Fuck it. Fuck. It. No. NO.
- Somehow the author manages to insult three different nationalities in one go :) I'm not from any of those countries, but... really. I'd be pissed if I were. It's not even the characters' point of view, it's the prose itself. Unintentionally or not, a terrible no-no.
October 11, 2017
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.5 stars
I’m going to be honest. I know nothing about hockey. Not a single thing, other than they wear skates and there are nets and sticks involved. I went into this book knowing nothing, and not being too interested, truth be told, and ended up enjoying the romance, the drama, and the hockey action.
I love that the author trusts the reader enough to not point-by-point, blow-by-blow belabor us with hockey terms, trying to give us a beginner’s guide to the game. I neither needed nor wanted that. I wanted a fun book and that’s exactly what I got. This book is… fun. But more than the hockey scenes, the parts of the story that really got to me were the day-to-day scenes of Travis learning to be a vampire, both in the government-run MAP and later, by Marcus, as he learned what it was to truly live like a vampire.
Knights put a great deal of thought into the reality of her story. How would the government handle vampires? Dangerous, blood-sucking creatures? They’d teach them to handle their cravings, give them pills to help curb the worse cravings, and grant them special licenses that proved they were well-behaved and trained monsters. It was fascinating, the world she built, and I really hope to see more books from this author.
Travis was also fun, despite his grumpy, semi-sulking adjustment period. He hadn’t asked for this to happen to him, and fought as hard as he could to retain his humanity. Travis wanted the vampire who turned him found and punished for taking away his life. He wanted his name on the cup because he’d earned it, because — if he’d died human — he would have had it. The cup becomes such a giant symbol to Travis that it eclipses so much else and gets between him and his ability to adjust to the new life and the new world around him.
Read Elizabeth’s review in its entirety here.
4.5 stars
I’m going to be honest. I know nothing about hockey. Not a single thing, other than they wear skates and there are nets and sticks involved. I went into this book knowing nothing, and not being too interested, truth be told, and ended up enjoying the romance, the drama, and the hockey action.
I love that the author trusts the reader enough to not point-by-point, blow-by-blow belabor us with hockey terms, trying to give us a beginner’s guide to the game. I neither needed nor wanted that. I wanted a fun book and that’s exactly what I got. This book is… fun. But more than the hockey scenes, the parts of the story that really got to me were the day-to-day scenes of Travis learning to be a vampire, both in the government-run MAP and later, by Marcus, as he learned what it was to truly live like a vampire.
Knights put a great deal of thought into the reality of her story. How would the government handle vampires? Dangerous, blood-sucking creatures? They’d teach them to handle their cravings, give them pills to help curb the worse cravings, and grant them special licenses that proved they were well-behaved and trained monsters. It was fascinating, the world she built, and I really hope to see more books from this author.
Travis was also fun, despite his grumpy, semi-sulking adjustment period. He hadn’t asked for this to happen to him, and fought as hard as he could to retain his humanity. Travis wanted the vampire who turned him found and punished for taking away his life. He wanted his name on the cup because he’d earned it, because — if he’d died human — he would have had it. The cup becomes such a giant symbol to Travis that it eclipses so much else and gets between him and his ability to adjust to the new life and the new world around him.
Read Elizabeth’s review in its entirety here.
June 30, 2014
Really loved these guys and their story. Interesting take on the vampire genre. Spent a lot of time watching Travis manage his new found vampirism, which was great. In a lot of books that is skipped over quickly. Loved that the author actually knew hockey (and is a Blackhawk fan!). It was a slow burn getting Travis and Marc together, and then when they did, the story quickly switched to Travis sorting out the rest of his life. This pushed the relationship to barely part of the story by the end. Would love to see more about these two, and especially the world they're in. Yes, please?
September 7, 2017
Travis is a few short games away from achieving his goal of seeing his name on the Stanley Cup. Unfortunately, when he decides to play good Samaritan by helping a woman being fed on by vampires, the vampires turn on him and he is turned against his will. He quickly finds out that life as he knows it will never be the same.
Luckily for him there is a vampire hockey league eager to snatch him up. Marcus, the Captain of the team Travis is transferred to, is tasked with taking Travis under his wing, to make sure he adjusts to the change in hockey, as well as his new life as a vampire. Travis has a bit of a hard time adjusting to and coming to terms with his new life. He has to learn to feed himself without hurting anyone, and quickly realizes that along with his new vampire cravings, he is also now attracted to men, or, more specifically, Marcus. He also has to make a few adjustments to his hockey playing now that he plays with others who basically can’t be hurt.
I enjoyed this rather unique story in that the vampires made a place for themselves with their own hockey league. There were still tensions between the humans and the vampires, and a lot of politics to go with it. Travis has a few fights on his hands – one with trying to get the recognition he deserves by having his name on the Cup, which the NHL seems eager to deny him, and the other with seeking justice for being turned against his will. I liked the various storylines or issues being dealt with which made it interesting. Travis and Marcus were great together, though we don’t get to see much depth to their relationship other than the obvious connections of being teammates and vampires.
This felt like it should be the start of a series, and I was a bit disappointed to find out it wasn’t. There are a few other interesting characters on the team, and I’d really like to see more of this world and how Travis and Marcus are making out a bit farther down the road. But, it was well written and steady-paced. I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for more from Ms. Knights in the future.
Review written for Love Bytes Reviews.
July 29, 2014
Not a fan of hockey, in fact I know zilt about it. None. Nada. Yet I still enjoy reading this, despite it being, mostly, a story evolved in hockey world.
What happen when the star player - well, late star player - got robbed from having his name engraved in the Sterling cup along with his teammates, all because he involuntarily Turned into vampire before the final took place. Bigotry much?
There were lots of quirky and freakish bloody hockey scenes, a bit of out of the ring bloody incidents, some steamy bloody sex... In sort, there's a bit of BLOOD involved. After all, these were vampires we're reading about! XD
I like how the author wrote about how Travis "Bambi" Payne went through after he Turned, his struggle and adjustment, his loss and inner battle. The supporting characters were quite some hoots themselves: Car Crash, Booch, Milsy, Bobo,and don't forget the lady coach Ms. (Agatha) Pressman.
I chose not to say anything about our two millennia year old Roman, Marcus Antonius, except hoping that he lived longer life bloodily ever after with his Bambi. :)
What happen when the star player - well, late star player - got robbed from having his name engraved in the Sterling cup along with his teammates, all because he involuntarily Turned into vampire before the final took place. Bigotry much?
There were lots of quirky and freakish bloody hockey scenes, a bit of out of the ring bloody incidents, some steamy bloody sex... In sort, there's a bit of BLOOD involved. After all, these were vampires we're reading about! XD
I like how the author wrote about how Travis "Bambi" Payne went through after he Turned, his struggle and adjustment, his loss and inner battle. The supporting characters were quite some hoots themselves: Car Crash, Booch, Milsy, Bobo,and don't forget the lady coach Ms. (Agatha) Pressman.
I chose not to say anything about our two millennia year old Roman, Marcus Antonius, except hoping that he lived longer life bloodily ever after with his Bambi. :)
July 27, 2014
This was a really great story. I was surprised by how good it was.
For someone who has been reading mm romance for a few years it can be quite challenging to find a book that really grabs my attention and holds it to the end. Vampires and werewolves especially have been done to death and it can be hard to find something that is edgy or unique, or just plain different. There are so many stories that are out there and they are good and entertaining but they don't always draw me in and keep me there.
BUT This story did.
The author did something quite surprising here because I thought it was going to be a run of the mill story but it wasn't.
The author managed to bring vampires together with ice hockey in a contemporary setting with deeply engaging characters and the right amount of silent underlying intrigue and plenty of UST. No easy task.
I loved the characters: Marc - the ancient vampire who is a hockey captain in the vampire ice hockey league and Travis - the recently turned professional ice hockey player who has to come to terms with life as a vampire, a new way of playing ice hockey and a new emerging sexuality.
The story started off a bit slow for me but as I got into it I really started to enjoy it. No skimming of pages for me!!
I really enjoyed the way the author introduces the reader to a world in which vampires exist alongside humans. Through the laws and processes for newly turned vampires humans seek to integrate the vamps into human society but don't fully acknowledge their true predatory nature. Travis - newly turned vampire having completed this assimilation process now finds himself having to get to grips with the reality of his new vampire nature and his burgeoning attraction to Marc, his fellow team player and vampire and neighbour.
I am not a sports person but the descriptions of ice hockey and the players was really engaging especially when Travis started playing as a vampire. After being denied the recognition due to him by the human leagues he vindicates himself in the vampire league and the descriptions of the bloody ice hockey game were just riveting.
Best of all was the way the story tells about underlying discrimination and difficulties that Travis experienced as a vampire, and his need to find out what had really happened to him when he was turned, as well as his need to understand his new nature and his sexual attraction to a man. mm readers need to be aware that the book does feature some mf blood feeding scenes.
This is the first time I have read anything from this author and I was really pleased with the story. It was well written, really well pace, drew me in and kept me interested and invested in the characters. I wanted Travis to succeed at his new life, new game and new love but I also wanted justice for him.
I loved the way the game of ice hockey came alive for me with the no holds barred way the vampires played and their different characteristics and histories. Ice hockey now intrigues me especially with its permitted rough and tumble and fights.
All in all this is a great story.
It would be great to have stories focused on some of the other players too.
An engaging read! Thoroughly enjoyable.
For someone who has been reading mm romance for a few years it can be quite challenging to find a book that really grabs my attention and holds it to the end. Vampires and werewolves especially have been done to death and it can be hard to find something that is edgy or unique, or just plain different. There are so many stories that are out there and they are good and entertaining but they don't always draw me in and keep me there.
BUT This story did.
The author did something quite surprising here because I thought it was going to be a run of the mill story but it wasn't.
The author managed to bring vampires together with ice hockey in a contemporary setting with deeply engaging characters and the right amount of silent underlying intrigue and plenty of UST. No easy task.
I loved the characters: Marc - the ancient vampire who is a hockey captain in the vampire ice hockey league and Travis - the recently turned professional ice hockey player who has to come to terms with life as a vampire, a new way of playing ice hockey and a new emerging sexuality.
The story started off a bit slow for me but as I got into it I really started to enjoy it. No skimming of pages for me!!
I really enjoyed the way the author introduces the reader to a world in which vampires exist alongside humans. Through the laws and processes for newly turned vampires humans seek to integrate the vamps into human society but don't fully acknowledge their true predatory nature. Travis - newly turned vampire having completed this assimilation process now finds himself having to get to grips with the reality of his new vampire nature and his burgeoning attraction to Marc, his fellow team player and vampire and neighbour.
I am not a sports person but the descriptions of ice hockey and the players was really engaging especially when Travis started playing as a vampire. After being denied the recognition due to him by the human leagues he vindicates himself in the vampire league and the descriptions of the bloody ice hockey game were just riveting.
Best of all was the way the story tells about underlying discrimination and difficulties that Travis experienced as a vampire, and his need to find out what had really happened to him when he was turned, as well as his need to understand his new nature and his sexual attraction to a man. mm readers need to be aware that the book does feature some mf blood feeding scenes.
This is the first time I have read anything from this author and I was really pleased with the story. It was well written, really well pace, drew me in and kept me interested and invested in the characters. I wanted Travis to succeed at his new life, new game and new love but I also wanted justice for him.
I loved the way the game of ice hockey came alive for me with the no holds barred way the vampires played and their different characteristics and histories. Ice hockey now intrigues me especially with its permitted rough and tumble and fights.
All in all this is a great story.
It would be great to have stories focused on some of the other players too.
An engaging read! Thoroughly enjoyable.
May 1, 2016
3.5 stars.
This was very well written, with a well thought out, detailed, interesting world. Unfortunately, I don't really think it was the sort of vampire world for me. I thought the vampires here were just a bit too mainstream, a bit too unvamplike. I think the author took a lot of notes from the True Blood show, with the vamps out of the coffin, so to speak. Vamp bars, bottled blood, even what amounted to lunch carts on the street, with random people selling shots of their own blood. I also didn't really care for the vampire groupies after the hockey games, with what pretty much amounted to big orgies of feeding and sex. Just not really my thing, I prefer partners equally committed to each other, even if it's more than just two.
I also wish there had been more focus on the romance. It was mostly about Travis getting turned, how he learned to live again as a vampire, and all the things that changed for him. I kinda felt like Travis' reaction to him being turned was a lot like many people have had to deal with when they came out. His family totally cut him out of their lives, not understanding that he was the same person, really. On the inside, where it counted, he totally was, he just had a different diet now.
Still though, all in all, this was a very interesting take on vampires.
This was very well written, with a well thought out, detailed, interesting world. Unfortunately, I don't really think it was the sort of vampire world for me. I thought the vampires here were just a bit too mainstream, a bit too unvamplike. I think the author took a lot of notes from the True Blood show, with the vamps out of the coffin, so to speak. Vamp bars, bottled blood, even what amounted to lunch carts on the street, with random people selling shots of their own blood. I also didn't really care for the vampire groupies after the hockey games, with what pretty much amounted to big orgies of feeding and sex. Just not really my thing, I prefer partners equally committed to each other, even if it's more than just two.
I also wish there had been more focus on the romance. It was mostly about Travis getting turned, how he learned to live again as a vampire, and all the things that changed for him. I kinda felt like Travis' reaction to him being turned was a lot like many people have had to deal with when they came out. His family totally cut him out of their lives, not understanding that he was the same person, really. On the inside, where it counted, he totally was, he just had a different diet now.
Still though, all in all, this was a very interesting take on vampires.
November 30, 2014
Pretty much hockey and MM are my loves. This one started super strong - action, drama, coming to terms. Around mid way through it seemed to drag a bit. I think it took a little too long a pathway to get to the end. The newly made vampire was interesting as a concept - and mostly it delivered well on multiple levels. However there were a few times when it was so perfunctory that it seemed mundane and, well, boring. That might have been the point but it made my attention wander a bit.
Although I think the guys had some chemistry they seem more like FB's than men who want a more serious relationship or who are falling in love. I kept wanting them to get it on together with at least one other person (and, in a rare moment, would have been fine with a couple of the women who appeared in this..I know I know..sue me...I almost want to sue myself..I normally am vocal about hating this!). I think the vampire lore needed more explaining. It appeared it was meant to be just Caz but I think I needed to know more. I could not figure out how folks could be so carefree with that type of risk in their midst.
The sex was hot - and the hockey was great. Those items were delivered with a bang. If there was another book in this universe I'd definitely read it.
Although I think the guys had some chemistry they seem more like FB's than men who want a more serious relationship or who are falling in love. I kept wanting them to get it on together with at least one other person (and, in a rare moment, would have been fine with a couple of the women who appeared in this..I know I know..sue me...I almost want to sue myself..I normally am vocal about hating this!). I think the vampire lore needed more explaining. It appeared it was meant to be just Caz but I think I needed to know more. I could not figure out how folks could be so carefree with that type of risk in their midst.
The sex was hot - and the hockey was great. Those items were delivered with a bang. If there was another book in this universe I'd definitely read it.
June 28, 2014
Wow! Where did this come from. I'll admit I have never read this author before. I just liked the blurb so I thought I would give the book a try.
I'm glad I did.
The vampire world that is created is unique and sexy. There is even a hockey division just for night walkers.
This unique spin on this book was well written, the sex was hot, and the characters so likeable.
The only reason this isn't a five star review is because I was hoping for a little more substance for vmpires instead of so much of the whole holy water, crosses, sunlight deal.
Still this is a book you should pick up if you enjoy any paranormal read. It is fast paced and fun. Sweet and Sexy. A book that can hold it's own!
I'm glad I did.
The vampire world that is created is unique and sexy. There is even a hockey division just for night walkers.
This unique spin on this book was well written, the sex was hot, and the characters so likeable.
The only reason this isn't a five star review is because I was hoping for a little more substance for vmpires instead of so much of the whole holy water, crosses, sunlight deal.
Still this is a book you should pick up if you enjoy any paranormal read. It is fast paced and fun. Sweet and Sexy. A book that can hold it's own!
March 19, 2015
Vamps + Hockey = Total Win!!! First this had Blackhawks in it... so 5 stars just for that. The bonus is that I really liked the story. Like a LOT!
This isn't a romance book because it was more of just a minor point to the story and was more about acceptance. The story if I had to sum it up, is more about the MC acceptance to let go of something he can't change and accept his new life.
I wish there was more... I really wanted to see how things continued with Marc. Love me some Marc!
This isn't a romance book because it was more of just a minor point to the story and was more about acceptance. The story if I had to sum it up, is more about the MC acceptance to let go of something he can't change and accept his new life.
I wish there was more... I really wanted to see how things continued with Marc. Love me some Marc!
September 17, 2014
This was really fun. I liked the world-building - it was effectively communicated while not getting in the way of the story - and the characters were interesting, not least because there were plenty of three dimensional background characters as well. Fun romance, the hockey descriptions worked for me as well, and I'd definitely read more in this universe. MORE ABOUT KARASOV PLS.
June 28, 2014
I love M/M sport stories. I love M/M paranormal stories. This just hit my sweet spot. Hockey and vampires and a M/M love story, I just loved this book.
November 7, 2017
I am a huge hockey fan. What I am not is a fan of supernatural books. I have to say I enjoyed this spin on it. This was different from your average vampire book. There were ups and downs. I loved that you got to read a lot about hockey. Though my complaint is that this book was so slow going in the beginning that I don't know if I could do it. I am glad I did. It picked up at about halfway.
This book is about hockey and vampires as I said. The difference is that the humans and vampires mingle and the humans know about the vampires. Actually, they help them in their new or old vampire life. Keeping them supplied with blood.
Travis is the team captain and is coming off a high from the victory in the playoff that will put him in the Stanley Cup finals. He is well known and excellent player. As he is leaving with his girlfriend he hears a scream then he goes to investigate it. When he shows up there is a woman getting attacked and he is doing everything he can to help her. He realizes that he is a vampire, then next thing he knows he is waking up in the morgue as a vampire himself. His life is over as he knows it. All he wants to play for his team in the Stanley Cup, but can't because he was turned and now is in quarantine for the next 6 months at MAP. They will help him transition in his new life. In then comes Marcus.
Marcus is the captain of the Cobras in the LVH league. He is a two thousand-year-old vampire that was a gladiator at one point. He soft and tender and has a huge heart. AN all around good guy, I mean vampire. Ms. Pressman the coach of the Cobras wants Travis for her team. She feels he will breathe life into it, and brings what may be lacking….skill and drive. Travis wants to play he misses the ice. Though he still wants his name on the cup. He feels it is owed to him. Enter the controversy that fuels him. He needs to prove that he was changed involuntarily.
Most of the time the vamps go to bars to get the blood from donors. These have enhancers in it. Drugs to make it taste good. Some are watered down or alcohol is added. Then you have the underground blood donors. Now with that said this book is one of the most erotic books I have read with no actual sex act to start it. You have vampires feeding on humans for their untainted potent blood. The equivalent to a prostitute. Holy moly. I mean they have orgasms just from the drinking and the vamps are right there with them. Like I said erotic. They have no gender preference. They get lost in the moment and it is a haze is like I said, erotic. It matters nothing to them. Just the feeling, thirst then quench for blood. It’s a euphoric high. Now when sex hits the picture, so very hot and sexy. They had a combustible passion that ignited my kindle even more.
I loved the characters and after a while, some of them grew on me. They all have a great friendship and comradery. Even when things get tough during practice and all hell breaks loose they are there for each other. We even get to see the struggle in a sense of when Marcus was turned and forging a new life for himself again.
I really enjoyed this book and I think you will too.
This book is about hockey and vampires as I said. The difference is that the humans and vampires mingle and the humans know about the vampires. Actually, they help them in their new or old vampire life. Keeping them supplied with blood.
Travis is the team captain and is coming off a high from the victory in the playoff that will put him in the Stanley Cup finals. He is well known and excellent player. As he is leaving with his girlfriend he hears a scream then he goes to investigate it. When he shows up there is a woman getting attacked and he is doing everything he can to help her. He realizes that he is a vampire, then next thing he knows he is waking up in the morgue as a vampire himself. His life is over as he knows it. All he wants to play for his team in the Stanley Cup, but can't because he was turned and now is in quarantine for the next 6 months at MAP. They will help him transition in his new life. In then comes Marcus.
Marcus is the captain of the Cobras in the LVH league. He is a two thousand-year-old vampire that was a gladiator at one point. He soft and tender and has a huge heart. AN all around good guy, I mean vampire. Ms. Pressman the coach of the Cobras wants Travis for her team. She feels he will breathe life into it, and brings what may be lacking….skill and drive. Travis wants to play he misses the ice. Though he still wants his name on the cup. He feels it is owed to him. Enter the controversy that fuels him. He needs to prove that he was changed involuntarily.
Most of the time the vamps go to bars to get the blood from donors. These have enhancers in it. Drugs to make it taste good. Some are watered down or alcohol is added. Then you have the underground blood donors. Now with that said this book is one of the most erotic books I have read with no actual sex act to start it. You have vampires feeding on humans for their untainted potent blood. The equivalent to a prostitute. Holy moly. I mean they have orgasms just from the drinking and the vamps are right there with them. Like I said erotic. They have no gender preference. They get lost in the moment and it is a haze is like I said, erotic. It matters nothing to them. Just the feeling, thirst then quench for blood. It’s a euphoric high. Now when sex hits the picture, so very hot and sexy. They had a combustible passion that ignited my kindle even more.
I loved the characters and after a while, some of them grew on me. They all have a great friendship and comradery. Even when things get tough during practice and all hell breaks loose they are there for each other. We even get to see the struggle in a sense of when Marcus was turned and forging a new life for himself again.
I really enjoyed this book and I think you will too.
December 19, 2015
3.5 stars
This reminded me a bit of Chicagoland Vamps (& I mean that in a good way). We have Travis who is a professional hockey player getting ready to start the NHL finals. He helps a girl being attacked behind a bar one night and gets turned in to a vampire. He soon finds himself being recruited to the vampire hockey league and mentored by Marcus. The two men become good friends and eventually fall for each other. This book was well written and had a lot of world building. The world is ours but vampires are part of society. Unfortunately for Travis vampires are not afforded all the rights humans are and a big part of his story is his being denied having his name put on the Stanley Cup (which is a big, big deal if you play, watch hockey). I thought the plot was good and the world building interesting. I liked both Travis and Marcus and the host of side characters. There is quite a bit of hockey in it and I didn't think it overwhelmed the book but I really like hockey (#GoKings). I'm not sure how it would be if you don't know anything about it. I think it would still be an ok balance. My only complaint, which was entirely on me, was that I went in to this expecting it to be a romance. There was romance but it wasn't the main focus. Travis' growth and journey were more focused on. It was good just not what I was in the mood for when I was reading this. Overall though it was a good read. It was creative and different.
This reminded me a bit of Chicagoland Vamps (& I mean that in a good way). We have Travis who is a professional hockey player getting ready to start the NHL finals. He helps a girl being attacked behind a bar one night and gets turned in to a vampire. He soon finds himself being recruited to the vampire hockey league and mentored by Marcus. The two men become good friends and eventually fall for each other. This book was well written and had a lot of world building. The world is ours but vampires are part of society. Unfortunately for Travis vampires are not afforded all the rights humans are and a big part of his story is his being denied having his name put on the Stanley Cup (which is a big, big deal if you play, watch hockey). I thought the plot was good and the world building interesting. I liked both Travis and Marcus and the host of side characters. There is quite a bit of hockey in it and I didn't think it overwhelmed the book but I really like hockey (#GoKings). I'm not sure how it would be if you don't know anything about it. I think it would still be an ok balance. My only complaint, which was entirely on me, was that I went in to this expecting it to be a romance. There was romance but it wasn't the main focus. Travis' growth and journey were more focused on. It was good just not what I was in the mood for when I was reading this. Overall though it was a good read. It was creative and different.
November 2, 2014
Ok so I got this book cause some of my Goodreads friends read it. I thought it would be an interesting read, and it was, however I'm not huge a fan of the whole plot, the writing was good but the story just didn't catch me. I guess it just wasn't what I expected. I liked it, it just didn't touch me. It's my first read from this author and I might read her again but not right away.
October 31, 2015
This is a great book! I was cautious about vampiric hockey players, but it works so damn well. The hockey sections are very believable written. The romance aspect, especially the scenes of the straight main character coming to terms with having feelings for his male team mate are very compelling. The erotic sections are highly satisfying. All in all, one of the best reads I've had this year!
June 30, 2014
I totally enjoyed this story and felt that it had a lot of potential to grow into a series. The main characters are fun and I like the storyline of vampires that play hockey. A nice quick read for a lazy afternoon.
September 15, 2014
See my complete review, along with an author interview at http://puckbuddys.com/2014/09/14/hock...
Read
August 20, 2014This book was reviewed by Love Bytes Reviews!
July 8, 2014
I enjoyed the hell out of this book. I love hockey and vampires. Together they make a very entertaining world.
Read
March 13, 2015My review will post in the June issue of RT Book Review Magazine.
June 15, 2015
I loved this story. The characters were well developed and funny. There was sexual content and violence. There were some twists to the story. Looking forward to her next book.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews