Rule #.5: Never Crush on the Captain

Hockey Rules #0.5

by Portia Blake

Vinnie

The unwritten rule in hockey? Never crush on the captain.
Too bad I’m doing exactly that.
Single dad Evan McAllister is our fantastic team captain—handsome, grounded, and my all-around amazing former best friend. Oh, and he’s straight. So that’s... inconvenient.
I’ve been pulling away from him to smother my feelings, but that’s only confused him and done absolutely nothing to lessen my crush.
When Evan gets injured on the ice, I step in to help him and his daughter Stella. Evan’s not exactly thrilled with me barging back into his life after I ghosted him, and the more time we spend together, the harder it is for me to pretend I’m not completely in love with him.

Rule #.5: Never Crush on the Captain is a 25,000 prequel novella to the Hockey Rules series.

Genres: M M Romance, Hockey, Sports Romance, Friends To Lovers, Sports, Novella, Romance

126 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 9, 2024

Reviews

[Dani · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a really cute introduction to the series and I'm definitely intrigued enough to read more from this author.

There were a few things I didn't particularly like, such as saying clean instead of negative when referring to sexual health; and when they actually have penetrative sex for the first time ever (for both of them with a guy) they just wing it with lotion or shampoo and it's the best thing ever, no pain because they're manly man hockey dudes who eat nails for breakfast obvs.... It just came off as a little unbelievable!

The pacing was quick which worked well with the length of the story, and we get a good idea of the team dynamics and the main players too. I would have liked a little more emotional depth and backstory about these two because Vinnie and Evan were adorable and I wanted to see more of their previous friendship, but overall it was a fun, quick read.

*****

I received an ARC of this book from Gay Romance Reviews, and this is my honest review

[m · Rating 4 out of 5]

“I wasn’t supposed to fall for my captain. It’s a rule. And I don’t like breaking rules.”

“I don’t think they literally put that in the rule book.”

Vinnie puts some distance between him and his best friend Evan when his feelings grow too big. But when Evan ends up with a concussion and needs help looking after himself and his daughter, Vinnie volunteers. Playing house for a weekend changes things for them all.

Cute, super low-angst prequel to a new mm hockey romance series. It serves as a nice intro to some of the characters and sets the tone but theres not a lot going on so it’s more of a 3.5-star than a 4 for me.

“Maybe you should just kiss me.”

“Well, I gotta listen to my captain.”

If book two is as sweet and spicy but with more plot, I’ll be one happy reader 🥰

Thanks GRR for the ARC. This is my honest review.

[Natalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Vinnie & Evan
Rating: 3.4⭐

- Hockey Romance
- Teammates
- Former Best Friends to Lovers
- Single Dad
- Bi-awakening
- First Times

Content Warnings (may contain spoilers):
- Graphic sexual content between consenting adults
- Explicit language
- Mentions of sports injury and recovery

Verse: No
HEA: HFN
POV: Dual
Breakup: No
Cheat: No
OM/OW Drama: No
Ages: 30's

[b00ks_in_nature · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novella is really well-written (minus a small need for proofreading) and descriptive. The characters were very likable, especially Stella! This was fast paced, but it’s also a short novella so it made sense. A great introduction to the team for the upcoming series.

[Chloe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rule #.5: Never Crush on the Captain by Portia Blake

🩵 Single Dad
🩵 Teammates to Lovers
🩵 Hockey Romance
🩵 Novella

Overall: ⭐⭐.75
Spice: 🌶️🌶️
Humour: 🤭🤭
Intimacy: 🫂🫂🫂
Angst: 🥺🥺

First person dual pov 👀

CW: head injury, concussion, vomiting.

[Nick Vallina (MisterGhostReads) · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was exactly fine.
It feels like the author doesn't know much about hockey but I'll wait to read the first full novel to determine if that's true.

Some of the dialogue felt choppy or unnatural almost?

I felt like Evan and Vinnie did NOT have unique voices and often found myself confused about whose POV I was reading, which is alarming.
Hoping the first full novel is better?

[Maureen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novella is an intro to a hockey team series, a nice opening with great characters, some who will show up in the future. Vinnie and Evan have been friends for a long time on and off the ice, but Vinnie's secret love for Evan slowly breaks his heart and he decides to distance himself. It's a well written, enjoyable tale, even with the lack of proof reading, but it was only one instance, although it did cause a touch of confusion.

[Anita Otten · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is such a cute story! Love that they got wingwoman’d by Evan’s 7 yo daughter 😂♥️ definitely gonna read all the books in this series!

[Capreacula · Rating 1 out of 5]

Bad.

Doesn't read like hockey.
Doesn't feel like real players.
Doesn't feel right.

No build up.

If anyone wants to read a GREAT book with a similar premise (team captain and best friend on the team falling for each other, go and get Delay of Game by Ari Baran. This author knows his hockey AND how to write a great sports romance that makes sense!!).

Here:
Chemistry is essential on a team. When you were best friends and then not for SOME time, how come they don't confront this. It would affect the game!!

The concussion is nothing but a prop to bring them together, have them spend time together.
Concussions are far too dangerous to use them as prop for a story. And have it downplayed like a bit of a headache.
Picture me fuming.

I really don't like the authors style of writing.
The going from zero to full throttle (neither Vinnie nor Evan are experienced in gay sex yet they don't need a build up??? As if you HAVE to have anal sex for it to be sex, grrr).

And of course, Evan has to have been gay all along. Bi doesn't exist???? Grrrr again.

Will NOT try any more by this author.

[The Word Nerd Reviews Blog · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rule #.5: Never Crush on the Captain by Portia Blake is a heartwarming romance that delves into the complexities of unspoken feelings and second chances. The story revolves around Evan McAllister, a single dad and the adored captain of his hockey team, and Vinnie, his former best friend who harbors a secret crush on him.

Evan and Vinnie share a deep history, having been close friends before Vinnie’s feelings for Evan complicated their relationship. Vinnie, struggling with his unrequited love, distances himself from Evan to manage his emotions. This separation leaves Evan confused and hurt, unaware of the true reason behind Vinnie’s withdrawal.

The turning point in their relationship comes when Evan suffers a concussion during a game. Vinnie steps in to care for Evan and his young daughter, Stella, despite the awkwardness between them. This act of kindness rekindles their connection and forces them into close quarters, where old feelings resurface and new dynamics emerge.

As they navigate this new phase, Vinnie finds it increasingly difficult to hide his feelings. The intimate moments they share, coupled with Evan’s vulnerability, bring them closer together. Evan begins to see Vinnie in a new light, questioning his own feelings and the nature of their bond.

These intimate moments lead me to my only criticism of the book. Their first time together, with both of them new to things and they use only lotion. The scene was awkward and not in a they are both fumbling way through things way, but in what was used and how it was done. It left me grimacing and I certainly wasn’t in the moment with the two of them.

Regardless of the above, which is just one small criticism, the author portrays the tension and chemistry between Evan and Vinnie, making their journey both poignant and relatable. The story explores themes of love, trust, and the courage to embrace one’s true feelings, set against the backdrop of the fast-paced world of hockey.

Rule #.5: Never Crush on the Captain is a touching tale of love and friendship, perfect for anyone who enjoys sports romances with emotional depth and well-developed characters.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

********** Contains Spoilers**********

I rated this book 3.5 stars, so I rounded it up to 4 stars. This is the first book that I’ve read of Portia Blake’s and it won’t be my last. I thought that it was a good prequel to the Hockey Rules Series. This was a quick and enjoyable read. I thought Evan and Vinnie were good together and Stella, Evan’s 7 year old daughter made the reading experience even better. I usually don’t like reading novellas as there isn’t much time to buildup the relationship between the characters so doesn’t feel as realistic for me. Even though Evan and Vinnie’s relationship moves at warp speed it didn’t bother me as much since they were very close previously until Vinnie started distancing himself so he could smother his feelings for Evan since Evan’s straight.

When Evan gets a concussion after he was injured during a game and needs someone to help care for him and Stella, Vinnie steps up. Things are awkward initially due to Vinnie ghosting him but the longer they spend together, the closer they get. I thought things went a bit too smoothly when Vinnie admitted to Evan that he’s had feelings for him and that’s why he distanced himself. Yes, there was still a bit of angst but no major blowups. I think that’s mainly due to the short length of the book. I’m really looking forward to reading book 1, Rule #1: Never Accidentally Marry Your Teammate next. I’d recommend this book, series and author to others.

******I received a complimentary copy of this book through GRR. I would still happily review this book even if I purchased it myself. My thoughts and feelings about this book are completely unbiased******

[Tara Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vinnie had been avoiding his best friend for a while now, and it’s getting more difficult. It was the best thing he could do since he had feelings about him. Inappropriate feelings about his straight best friend, his captain, the father of an adorable seven-year-old. Putting distance between them was safe and made it easier for his heart. They can be great on the ice, but nothing more. When Evan, the very man he was avoiding, is injured and needs someone to care for him, Vinnie is there because he cares, and he can’t help himself. It’s finally time to tell his best friend the real reason he ghosted him.

OPINION: Usually, I don’t read novellas in a series. I am not even sure why, but that’s been my habit. I enjoyed the first book in this series so much that finding out how one of the couples got together was required. I am a fan of this series and look forward to the next one already. These characters are so much fun, and the story is so easy to read. I loved this short intro to the team and the people in it. Learning how they ended up together filled in some information from the first book, but it certainly isn’t necessary. I am really glad to know, though, and it rounds out where we are in the series. These two men are wonderful; their story is lovely, and for a short story, it was packed with emotion and spice; I loved everything about it and could have read more about them for sure. The daughter is amazing and steals the show for sure. If you plan to read the books, read this too. It doesn’t matter if it’s before or after, but it's for sure worth the time, and I loved it as much as the first book.

[Bill Bottomley · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

Vinnie is a defenceman for the Boston Blizzards, an NHL team. He has been in love with his team captain and former best friend, Evan, for as long as he can remember. He has distanced himself from the latter, whom he presumes to be straight. Evan has tried talking with Vinnie, with no success until Evan ends up with a concussion during the game that evening. Concussion protocol requires that someone be with him and Vinnie volunteers to care for Evan and his daughter Stella. One thing leads to another, and they end up hooking up. However, the next morning Evan’s ex-wife, an international model, shows up, making Vinnie feel quite guilty because he thinks they might be getting back together. Unfortunately, while Evan and Vinnie are sitting out on Evan’s porch where Evan is explaining the reality to Vinnie, someone takes a photo of them holding hands and by the time they get back into the house, the picture is already on the internet. At that point Vinnie takes off, starting the trial they go through getting their happy ending.

The book is relatively short (it took me only ½ day to read it) and angst-free. The plot is straightforward with essentially no diversions along the way. The two main characters are quite sympathetic, though perhaps a bit too “good”. This is perhaps explained by the shortness of the book. The secondary characters are not overly numerous but certainly contribute to advancement of the plot.

I found that the book made for light but pleasant reading.

[Hope Reads27 · Rating 2 out of 5]

I feel like you get dropped into the middle of a story right of the bat. We don’t get to see their friendship and the ghosting. We don’t know how long they’ve been friends, it’s alluded since they were rookies and since they’re in their 30s that’s a good amount of time. But some how teammates don’t know they were ever close. Which is confusing. Evan’s daughter doesn’t really know Vinnie which is strange. Then when it comes out that Vinnie has feelings for Evan, Evan’s just like “ok cool, let’s kiss”. Evan developing feelings, accepting his sexuality, and having sex with a man for the first time all happens within a couple of days. I found that hard to believe. Then Vinnie who has been in love with Evan for awhile now, flakes on Evan the minute they get together. Panics and leaves him, then comes back and is like “I want to date you”. Duh dude you could have stayed and had a good time but you just up and left. I thought Evan who has newly developed feelings for a guy would have panicked. Also it’s mentioned that Evan has an ex girlfriend in the beginning but then she’s mentioned as an ex wife so I was confused on that as well. Why did they get a divorce, how long have they been separated, was Vinnie around to support his friend through all that? Unfortunately none of this is discussed. Also at times people said stuff that boarded on homophobic comments and I didn’t really see the reasoning behind this. This book was all over the place, I wanted to enjoy the premise but I felt confused for the most of it.

[Katy · Rating 3 out of 5]

(I received an ARC for this book)

Trigger Warnings include:
on ice injury on page

This had a whole lot of great ingredients, just not sure they were measured out right. Single dad, hockey romance, 'straight' BFF. I mean, it all looked delicious, it was just a bit off for my taste. Evan and Vinnie were best friends and teammates, but when Vinnie had to distance himself to protect his heart, Evan is left completely confused. So you can imagine his anger when Vinnie steps up to help Evan out of the blue. He's not particularly a welcomed house guest. But Stella loved having him there (and we all love Stella). Then came the parts I didn't have fun with like I had hoped. The 'straight' ex-best friend suddenly becoming more than just friends as if things weren't uncomfortable between them just the day before. This felt very "dream scenario and outcome". I would have loved a little more meat, a little more in depth conversations.

My Favorite Quotes:
• “You’re pretty hot, Mr. Defender.”
• “I wouldn’t want you any other way.”
• “What I want is you.”
• “Maybe you should just kiss me.” “Well, I gotta listen to my captain.”
• “I’ll like it because it’s with you.”

5/10 Dirty Birdy
3/10 Forced Proximity
5/10 Friends to Lovers
6/10 Single Parent
6/10 Sport Romance
4/10 Workplace Romance

This is my review for Never Accidentally Marry Your Teammate

[S.B. Barnes]

Never Crush on the Captain follows Vinnie, D-man for the Boston Blizzards and Evan, the Captain of the team.

What worked for me:
-Stella was a good kid character, the shenanigans with her were fun and good reads
-Vinnie's pining was pretty well-done

What worked less for me:
-The more I read the more I think the novella format in romance novels is not for me, the shortened story means we miss out on the part where Evan and Vinnie are best friends with Vinnie pining and jumps right in to them being estranged for Vinnie to protect himself. This makes them read more as strangers who barely know each other to me.
-Evan's gay awakening was kind of confusing to me, his internal monologue frequently indicated he was having a sexuality crisis but he never said so in as many words, and definitely not in dialogue.
-The third act break-up is fueled only by miscommunication, which would be fine and a genre staple but neither character indicated why they weren't talking about things
-A few continuity errors
-The way Vinnie especially talks and thinks about Valentina comes off kind of sexist. This could be intentional to show his jealousy which is fine as a character trait, it just didn't endear him to me personally

I received a free ARC from Gay Romance Reviews and this is my honest review

[Angel_2822 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rule #.5: Never Crush on the Captain by Portia Blake is a sweet and feel-good start to her Hockey Rules series. It’s a friends-to-lovers and second chances' book that’s warm, tender and a little angsty in the best way.

Vinnie is a defenseman of the Boston Blizzards, who’s been crushing for his best friend and captain, for a while. Evan is a single dad with an adorable daughter, Stella, who’s an exceptional side character which adds even more heart to the story.

Vinnie’s been keeping his distance, convinced Evan wouldn’t ever feel the same way, so when Evan ends un with a concussion and Vinnie steps in to help, sparks fly. Even though it’s a novella and the pacing is quick, their long history makes their chemistry real. I would have wished for it to be a book and not a novella. I liked both Vinnie and Evan and I think they deserved more.

I’ll be waiting for the next book in the series, Rule #1: Never Accidentally Marry Your Teammate. This series is off to a fantastic start.

I received an ARC from GRR for free, and I am voluntarily leaving my honest review and recommendation. 

[S.M. Harshell · Rating 4 out of 5]

RULE #.5: NEVER CRUSH ON THE CAPTAIN is the prequel in the Hockey Rules series.

Evan is the captain of the team. He's a straight single dad. Evan and Vinnie, another player on the team, were very close at one time but Vinnie sort of ghosted him and pulled back on the friendship and it isn't like it was before. After a particularly hard hit on the ice Evan is in need of someone to watch over him. When Vinnie immediately jumps in to help Evan is confused as to why.

Vinnie loved everything about his friendship with Evan but when he starts falling for his friend he doesn't want to make things weird between either of them he pulls back on the friendship. When he sees Evan take the hit on the ice all he wants to do is be by his side. When he finds out he needs someone with him of course Vinnie is going to want to be that person. He loves spending time with Evan and his daughter and when they are together Vinnie can't help his feelings growing.

After reading book 1 I was super interested in Vinnie and Evan's story. I unfortunately feel like their story is rushed and we get the full story but I wished it was so much more. Evan and Vinnie both feel so easily into their relationship. It was a good read but I wish there was more.

I was given a free copy of this book to read and review for GRR.

[LGO · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 estrellas

⚪ M/M Romance
⚪ Sports Romance
⚪ Hockey Romance
⚪ Bi Awakening
⚪ Friends to Lovers

Evan es padre soltero y capitán de un equipo de hockey. Sufre una conmoción cerebral y necesita que alguien le controle durante los dos siguientes días. Vinnie, su compañero de equipo y antiguamente mejor amigo aunque ahora se encuentran algo distanciados, se ofrece a cuidarle. Esto reaviva su conexión y les ofrece la oportunidad de aclarar por qué se distanciaron que es porque a Vinnie cada vez le resultaba más complicado mantener su atracción y sus sentimientos hacia Evan en secreto y no quería asustarle sabiendo que él era heterosexual.

Es una historia corta, por lo que en mi opinión han quedado detalles por explorar. Tardé en comprender el motivo de que pasaran tiempo sin hablar siendo amigos. Tampoco me gustó que hablasen tanto durante las escenas sexuales. A veces, también me resultaba confuso quién estaba narrando la escena porque ambos personajes eran demasiado parecidos. Por lo demás, es la precuela que da inicio a una serie de romance entre jugadores de hockey que pinta bien. Es el primer libro de la autora que leo y le daré una oportunidad al resto de la serie ya que me ha parecido una lectura sencilla y divertida para este verano.

[Sabrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vinnie has been in love with his best friend, and hockey captain, for a while now. But knowing that his best friend will never feel the same, becomes too painful. So he felt he had no choice but to pull away. Evan doesn’t know what he did to cause Vinnie to stop hanging out with him. But he does miss his best friend underneath the bit of anger still lurking. And when Evan gets a bad concussion on the ice, Vinnie can’t help but volunteer to take care of him and his daughter, Stella. Because even if it hurts to be near Evan, he still can’t help but want to protect him and care for him. Their time together begins opening Evan’s eyes to how he sees his former best friend. That there is a connection to him that is deeper than just friendship. And when Vinnie finally admits the truth to him, Evan knows what has been missing. But will they be brave enough to truly open themselves up to one another? And the world? These two were very sweet. This was a great way to kick off this series. It’s clearly how much they mean to one another and you are just waiting for them to take that leap of faith. I think this is going to be a fun series!

[Heidi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is my first time reading Portia Blake, and while I didn’t realize going in that this is a prequel novella, I found it mostly enjoyable despite some elements that aren’t my usual favorites. Shorter stories like this can sometimes make it hard for me to fully connect, and instalove isn’t exactly my go-to trope. But Evan and Vinnie really pulled me in! Vinnie’s unrequited love and his struggles with being in the closet gave the story some sweet, tender moments, which I loved.

That said, there were a few things that had me pausing. The whirlwind pace (a bi-awakening, an 'I love you,' and some steamy scenes all within days) was a lot to believe, and “puck bunny” gets repeated more times than necessary (ideally zero times)! Add in one MC getting a concussion, only to be back on the ice the next week, and it’s easy to see how my brain had a hard time letting those things go.

If you’re able to roll with the fast pace and just enjoy the ride, this one has a lot of charm and sweetness to offer!

[Tracy Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded to 4. This was a very quick read and an introduction to the series. Evan and Vinnie are hockey teammates and were supposedly close friends. Vinnie pulled back from the friendship because he had feelings for Evan. When Evan gets a concussion during a game he needs someone to stay with him. Vinnie volunteers for the job. Evan has a little girl, Stella who is pretty cute and quickly bonds with Vinnie. Things move quickly when Vinnie confesses his feelings and Evan is receptive. There is some miscommunication regarding what they want moving forward, but it all works out. I did have a few issues. Initially it’s noted that Evan had an ex-girlfriend who is a model, but then she’s referred to as his wife. It was a little confusing. The other thing was that the first time they have penetrative sex they only use lotion with no real prep. But overall I liked it well enough to move on to book 1.

[Vicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute book, more novella size really but I enjoyed seeing how Evan and Vinnie came to be together.

I actually read Rule 1: Never Accidentally Marry Your Teammate first (and LOVED it!). Compared to that one, this one was just ‘pretty good’. That’s not to say this one wasn’t good, it’s just that one was SO GOOD. There’s no doubt in my mind, if I’d read this one first, I would’ve loved it as well but that’s not the way it worked out. I DO recommend reading this one first though as it serves as sort of a prequel by explaining how Evan and Vinnie got together as they also played a part in the next book. Note that this is a complete standalone though, nothing else is required to get maximum enjoyment out of it, Rule 1 just enhances it. Rating it is hard, if I had read this first, it would’ve been a 4.5 but following Rule 1, I have to give it 4 Stars. Sorry…

[Vols77 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book left me with a big smile on my face as I absolutely loved getting to know Vinnie and Evan. It’s a story about unrequited love and ghosting someone and then having to reconnect, wondering if trust is possible and can it be restored. It reminds us that sometimes you just need to follow your heart and trust no matter what the past has brought done to you. I did appreciate Vinny‘s feelings and his having to distance himself from Evan but I also understand Evan‘s feelings of anger because he didn’t know what he did to upset Vinnie as to why he ghosted him, I love how they were reconnected when Evan needed help after a concussion and the trust begins to thaw as does the heart I did receive an ARC and leave this honest review.

[Elle Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

This ex-best-friends to more novella is sweet and cute and easy to read.

Team captain Evan (& his daughter Stella) are engaging characters who mean the world to each other. Then an injury means Evan needs someone to stay with him for 48 hours. Enter Vinnie, who’s largely ghosted Evan since realizing he maybe broke a teeny tiny hockey rule and is crushing on his captain.

The fictional Boston blizzards add some fast-paced hockey action but the true story is how Evan, Vinnie and Stella navigate being together. Although the tale is sweet and satisfying, it is also wrapped up in a bubble of acceptance and, while that’s nice to read, it doesn’t resound as truthful. Things seemed a bit too easy for this couple in the end. Four stars.

[Ida Umphers · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Vinnie steps in to help his single-dad friend after he receives a concussion the desire to explain to Evan why he's been distancing himself recently becomes hard to ignore. He's not sure how Evan would react to a revelation that he's falling for him, however. Vinnie sort of feels like he's living the saying, "No good deed goes unpunished," as being close to Evan and his daughter Stella is only increasing his desire to make them a family something he doesn't believe can happen. Fortunately, he's wrong about things and eventually these two clear the air and sort their relationship. The characters were wonderful in this one and I'm glad I read it after the first book in the series as I found out more about characters I'd already met there.

[Laísa Aliandro · Rating 3 out of 5]

Achei fofo, mas corrido.

Eu entendo que é uma novella e, portanto, não tem o tempo necessário para um grande desenvolvimento do relacionamento ou dos personagens, mas achei alguns apectos um pouco corridos. Por exemplo, o Evan é o que está se descobrindo bi/gay nessa história, mas ele teve muito mais certeza do relacionamento do que o Vinnie. E eu fiquei muito em dúvida sobre qual era o sentimento do colega de time e da sua namorada sobre o possível relacionamento do Evan e do Vinnie. No final eles apoiaram, mas fiquei preocupada por um momento. Fora isso, a Stella foi a estrela do livro. E juro que eu não sei como ninguém percebeu que ela estava fazendo uma operação cupido, principalmente depois que ela escolheu justamente esse filme para assistir.

[Lois · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet and tender introduction to this new series. I liked both Vinnie and Evan and I really liked them as a couple. At just over 100 pages there was not a lot of time to go into Evan and Vinnie's back stories which was a shame as I think it would have made the story better to understand when Vinnie started to pull away. There's not a great deal of hockey as the story mostly revolves around the weekend that Vinnie spends looking after Evan and his daughter after an accident on the ice. Stella is a fabulous character and I loved her to bits. There was very little angst and a lot of love. I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series

[Alicia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love hockey romance, so I went into this with high hopes. However, the whole thing felt half-baked to me. First, it didn't seem as if the author knew much about hockey. I certainly don't know enough about it to write a book... so when I can tell something's off, that isn't a good sign. Second, I found the characters and dialogue somewhat artificial. I kept getting mixed up as to whose head we were in, which is a problem.

I signed up to read the next book in the series, so I'm hopeful it will be better, but based on this novella, I think the author has a bit more work to do to be ready for prime time.

My thanks to Gay Romance Reviews for a complimentary copy of this book.

[Tanya Blue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet novella that's a great introduction to the Hockey Rules series.
Newly divorced single dad Evan is missing he former best friend. Vinnie has ghosted Evan in a feeble attempt to protect his heart. Vinnie has been in love with Evan forever, but ex-wife, daughter, equals straight right, maybe. When Evan suffers from a concussion during a game, Vinnie offers to watch him over the weekend as required for concussion protocol. Playing house for the weekend allows Evan and Vinnie to reconnect and mash out their botched friendship. Throw in an engaging 7-year-old and you have recipe for an enjoyable evening.