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Enforcers #1
Misconduct Zone
Two men. One Team. Love changes the game.
My sexy, straight teammate might be off-limits, but my heart claims him as mine. The image of his broken body on a stretcher imprints in my brain. And when Dylon begs me not to leave him, I promise to stay by his side. I’ll drag him out of hell on my back to prevent history from repeating itself. It’s torturous keeping my feelings a secret. But I’ll suffer in silence to remain close to him.
I owe Lars my life, literally. When my addiction and bad choices nearly stole all that I love, Lars was there to protect me. No one has ever put me first or cares as fiercely as him. I don’t understand why I crave spending time with him and begin to question everything about myself. Telling him could shatter not only our friendship but our team’s goal to win the Cup. I’d be risking everything—again—for the chance to have it all.
Misconduct Zone is the first book in the Enforcers MM Hockey Romance series. A friends to lovers, off-limits, possessive protector and hurt/comfort romance.
My sexy, straight teammate might be off-limits, but my heart claims him as mine. The image of his broken body on a stretcher imprints in my brain. And when Dylon begs me not to leave him, I promise to stay by his side. I’ll drag him out of hell on my back to prevent history from repeating itself. It’s torturous keeping my feelings a secret. But I’ll suffer in silence to remain close to him.
I owe Lars my life, literally. When my addiction and bad choices nearly stole all that I love, Lars was there to protect me. No one has ever put me first or cares as fiercely as him. I don’t understand why I crave spending time with him and begin to question everything about myself. Telling him could shatter not only our friendship but our team’s goal to win the Cup. I’d be risking everything—again—for the chance to have it all.
Misconduct Zone is the first book in the Enforcers MM Hockey Romance series. A friends to lovers, off-limits, possessive protector and hurt/comfort romance.
277 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 14, 2025
149 people are currently reading
1622 people want to read
About the author
Heather Leighson
7 books108 followersHeather has always been an obsessive reader and is prone to staying up all night to binge books. Follow me on BooKBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/heath...
She’s a skeptic, a hopeless romantic, a jaded book addict, and in love with love.
Heather's books contain spicy scenes with a bit of kink, lots of heart, and angst to make the happily ever after even sweeter. Heather falls madly in love with her leading men and hopes you will too. She creates stories to take readers on a journey of broken men finding and accepting love. She believes everyone deserves their happy ending especially people who have been hurt or denied love in the past. Love is the best human experience.
Heather read her first romance that she snuck off her mother’s bookshelf as a pre-teen. Her favorite books break her heart and then put it back together. She wants to do the same, so her goal is to write books that unbreak your heart.
She’s a skeptic, a hopeless romantic, a jaded book addict, and in love with love.
Heather's books contain spicy scenes with a bit of kink, lots of heart, and angst to make the happily ever after even sweeter. Heather falls madly in love with her leading men and hopes you will too. She creates stories to take readers on a journey of broken men finding and accepting love. She believes everyone deserves their happy ending especially people who have been hurt or denied love in the past. Love is the best human experience.
Heather read her first romance that she snuck off her mother’s bookshelf as a pre-teen. Her favorite books break her heart and then put it back together. She wants to do the same, so her goal is to write books that unbreak your heart.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 107 reviews
March 16, 2025
I had a bit of a hard time getting into this, because the writing isn’t really my thing. There was a lot of telling and not showing and the conversations between the characters as well as their inner monologues felt stilted and chopped to me.
There were also so many side characters that didn’t really interest me but took up a lot of page time, especially in the beginning and before our main characters were properly established. I was mostly confused for the first 20% of the book, ngl. Like, did I miss 3 prequels to this?
At last the focus shifted to our MCs Lucky and Lars and that’s when things got more enjoyable for me. Thank god I‘m a sucker for pining, hurt/comfort and possessiveness because we have this in abundance here!
Also the smut was good! These two could not control their boners or keep their hands off each other which led to many a steamy situation 😏
Kinks and CW
Praise
Dirty talk
Spit as lube
Light exhibitionism
‚Mine‘
Light bondage
Orgasm control
Felching
Breeding
Drug addiction and overdosing
Codependency
Alcoholism
Emotionally abusive parents
Thanks to netgalley for the arc!
There were also so many side characters that didn’t really interest me but took up a lot of page time, especially in the beginning and before our main characters were properly established. I was mostly confused for the first 20% of the book, ngl. Like, did I miss 3 prequels to this?
At last the focus shifted to our MCs Lucky and Lars and that’s when things got more enjoyable for me. Thank god I‘m a sucker for pining, hurt/comfort and possessiveness because we have this in abundance here!
Also the smut was good! These two could not control their boners or keep their hands off each other which led to many a steamy situation 😏
Kinks and CW
Praise
Dirty talk
Spit as lube
Light exhibitionism
‚Mine‘
Light bondage
Orgasm control
Felching
Breeding
Drug addiction and overdosing
Codependency
Alcoholism
Emotionally abusive parents
Thanks to netgalley for the arc!
March 11, 2025
3.5/5 ⭐️ 3.5/5 🌶️
I found this a little hard to get into in the beginning because there were so many already established characters and couples. I just felt so out of the loop for this book to be book one in a series and not knowing some information to be fully immersed in the story.
However, once our couple finally admit their feelings towards one another I was hooked with the story. You can’t help but love this couple. You have the grumpy Lars who has been in love with his straight best friend/teammate/roommate for a while, trying not to show his feelings. Then you have Dylon, this extrovert who is a recovering addict that realises he may not be as straight as he thought as he discovers his feelings for his best friend/teammate/roommate after all they’ve been through with his recovery.
Their love was so sweet, filled with lingering looks and touches, possessiveness, intense love making and a fear of not deserving one another. They hid their relationship from others for a while as to not be targets of the media and the fear of being traded to different teams.
I enjoyed all the players on their team and could see all of the potential couples we’ll be gets books for and l’m excited to read their stories. They were all supportive of Dylon and his recovery and of course of Dylon and Lars as a couple when they finally announce it to the team.
I would recommend reading the authors other books to fully enjoy this one like I wish I had. But it’s still an amazing read purely for the relationship between our couple. This is a great friends to lovers romance with lots of hockey and goofy teammates.
- Friends to lovers
- Hockey teammates
- Roommates
- Grumpy X sunshine
- Recovering addict
- Secret relationship
I found this a little hard to get into in the beginning because there were so many already established characters and couples. I just felt so out of the loop for this book to be book one in a series and not knowing some information to be fully immersed in the story.
However, once our couple finally admit their feelings towards one another I was hooked with the story. You can’t help but love this couple. You have the grumpy Lars who has been in love with his straight best friend/teammate/roommate for a while, trying not to show his feelings. Then you have Dylon, this extrovert who is a recovering addict that realises he may not be as straight as he thought as he discovers his feelings for his best friend/teammate/roommate after all they’ve been through with his recovery.
Their love was so sweet, filled with lingering looks and touches, possessiveness, intense love making and a fear of not deserving one another. They hid their relationship from others for a while as to not be targets of the media and the fear of being traded to different teams.
I enjoyed all the players on their team and could see all of the potential couples we’ll be gets books for and l’m excited to read their stories. They were all supportive of Dylon and his recovery and of course of Dylon and Lars as a couple when they finally announce it to the team.
I would recommend reading the authors other books to fully enjoy this one like I wish I had. But it’s still an amazing read purely for the relationship between our couple. This is a great friends to lovers romance with lots of hockey and goofy teammates.
- Friends to lovers
- Hockey teammates
- Roommates
- Grumpy X sunshine
- Recovering addict
- Secret relationship
March 17, 2025
D.N.F. 32%
For the longest time I felt confused and actually went back to the author's book list to see if there has been a series I'd missed, books I should have read first. So many names and situations. Then you have Lars who sort of acts like a robot (except internally burning for Dylon)
Dylon is more extroverted and finally is the one who has the guts to come out about his feelings to Lars.
But still, for some reason I just could not connect with this book, I think it's the writing, too busy, too many things happening (other than the romance)
I'm dropping it for now (at least). Perhaps I'll try again some other time.
It's not what I need to read right now.
For the longest time I felt confused and actually went back to the author's book list to see if there has been a series I'd missed, books I should have read first. So many names and situations. Then you have Lars who sort of acts like a robot (except internally burning for Dylon)
Dylon is more extroverted and finally is the one who has the guts to come out about his feelings to Lars.
But still, for some reason I just could not connect with this book, I think it's the writing, too busy, too many things happening (other than the romance)
I'm dropping it for now (at least). Perhaps I'll try again some other time.
It's not what I need to read right now.
April 15, 2025
3,5 ⭐️
In all honesty, I really enjoyed this book and will definitely be reading book #2!
At first, I was afraid I wouldn’t like it because the beginning threw me off—there were so many already established characters and couples. I felt like I had missed some important moments, and the pacing felt a little rushed. The book could’ve been slowed down, especially at the start. There was a lot of telling rather than showing, and I really wanted to “see” what happened—what led up to the overdose, the recovery, and all those emotional beats.
The couple? What’s not to love?
Best friend → teammate → roommate → lover.
Yes, please!
We’ve got grumpy Lars, who isn’t openly bi and ends up falling for his best friend, and then there’s bubbly, broken Dylon “Lucky” who’s recovering from a meds addiction and slowly realizing he’s catching feelings for not just the opposite sex, but for HIS BFF in particular.
Their relationship is so, so sweet. The friends-to-lovers tension is full of inner longing, lingering touches, loaded looks, playful flirting, and just the right amount of possessiveness. I'm a sucker for that kind of slow-burn pining between two main characters i wanted more. This is a good friends-to-lovers romance with a great dose of hockey and a group of hilarious, goofy teammates.
And the spice? 👌🏻
They could no* get their boners under control—haha. There are some seriously steamy scenes filled with praise and passion.
Tropes:
💜 Friends to lovers
🏒 Roommates
💜 Grumpy x Sunshine
🏒 Recovering addict
💜 Found family
---
Thank you Netgalley for this ARC
In all honesty, I really enjoyed this book and will definitely be reading book #2!
At first, I was afraid I wouldn’t like it because the beginning threw me off—there were so many already established characters and couples. I felt like I had missed some important moments, and the pacing felt a little rushed. The book could’ve been slowed down, especially at the start. There was a lot of telling rather than showing, and I really wanted to “see” what happened—what led up to the overdose, the recovery, and all those emotional beats.
The couple? What’s not to love?
Best friend → teammate → roommate → lover.
Yes, please!
We’ve got grumpy Lars, who isn’t openly bi and ends up falling for his best friend, and then there’s bubbly, broken Dylon “Lucky” who’s recovering from a meds addiction and slowly realizing he’s catching feelings for not just the opposite sex, but for HIS BFF in particular.
Their relationship is so, so sweet. The friends-to-lovers tension is full of inner longing, lingering touches, loaded looks, playful flirting, and just the right amount of possessiveness. I'm a sucker for that kind of slow-burn pining between two main characters i wanted more. This is a good friends-to-lovers romance with a great dose of hockey and a group of hilarious, goofy teammates.
And the spice? 👌🏻
They could no* get their boners under control—haha. There are some seriously steamy scenes filled with praise and passion.
Tropes:
💜 Friends to lovers
🏒 Roommates
💜 Grumpy x Sunshine
🏒 Recovering addict
💜 Found family
---
Thank you Netgalley for this ARC
March 25, 2025
||3.5||
Initially, I was ready to give this book 4 stars. It captivated me with its deep discussions, the yearning between the characters, and the way it addressed important issues that resonated with me. However, as the story progressed, I found myself lowering my rating to 3 stars, as it ultimately fell into some familiar patterns.
The book is a solid read with a central focus on a mlm in sports industry. The emotional depth of the characters, particularly in their personal struggles, stood out. Themes such as addiction and addiction recovery, dysfunctional families, mental health, and therapy were explored thoughtfully and added complexity to the plot. The Swedish nicknames were also my personal undoing.
However, where the book stumbled for me was in its predictability, especially toward the end. While the early part of the story felt fresh and engaging, the plot became increasingly cliché. The repetitive theme of coming out to the league and the potential fallout from it started to feel overused. It’s not that this isn’t a relevant and important issue— it absolutely is. But I found myself wishing that the author had approached this aspect of the story differently, perhaps without letting it consume the entire plot. The constant focus on how the main character’s skills and coming out would be judged by others felt a bit limiting, especially in a world where more diverse narratives are being told.
That said, the book still has its merits, which include the found family, intimacy, chemistry and proper communication explored between both male leads.
I’m very excited for the next book in the series as I cannot wait to see characters that amused me in this story get their own happy ending. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.
Initially, I was ready to give this book 4 stars. It captivated me with its deep discussions, the yearning between the characters, and the way it addressed important issues that resonated with me. However, as the story progressed, I found myself lowering my rating to 3 stars, as it ultimately fell into some familiar patterns.
The book is a solid read with a central focus on a mlm in sports industry. The emotional depth of the characters, particularly in their personal struggles, stood out. Themes such as addiction and addiction recovery, dysfunctional families, mental health, and therapy were explored thoughtfully and added complexity to the plot. The Swedish nicknames were also my personal undoing.
However, where the book stumbled for me was in its predictability, especially toward the end. While the early part of the story felt fresh and engaging, the plot became increasingly cliché. The repetitive theme of coming out to the league and the potential fallout from it started to feel overused. It’s not that this isn’t a relevant and important issue— it absolutely is. But I found myself wishing that the author had approached this aspect of the story differently, perhaps without letting it consume the entire plot. The constant focus on how the main character’s skills and coming out would be judged by others felt a bit limiting, especially in a world where more diverse narratives are being told.
That said, the book still has its merits, which include the found family, intimacy, chemistry and proper communication explored between both male leads.
I’m very excited for the next book in the series as I cannot wait to see characters that amused me in this story get their own happy ending. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.
March 18, 2025
This Book Gives Me FOMO
FOMO, but not in a fun way. There are so many things that happened in some other time and place that keeps getting brought up in this. Multiple couples have already come out, people are already comfortable with each other. Like, does this series take place in an already a established universe? Amazon makes it hard with how they notate things. This free trial of KU isn't exactly winning me over.
Pacing also needs some work. I feel like everything that needed to happen occurred in the first 25% of the book and everything else was filler. Even the 3rd act shenanigans happened at the 50% mark.
FOMO, but not in a fun way. There are so many things that happened in some other time and place that keeps getting brought up in this. Multiple couples have already come out, people are already comfortable with each other. Like, does this series take place in an already a established universe? Amazon makes it hard with how they notate things. This free trial of KU isn't exactly winning me over.
Pacing also needs some work. I feel like everything that needed to happen occurred in the first 25% of the book and everything else was filler. Even the 3rd act shenanigans happened at the 50% mark.
February 17, 2025
Rating: 3.5 (rounded to 4 for GR) : Thank you to the Author for the ARC.
Plot: 3/5
Spice: 3/5 (Numerous open door scenes)
Characters: 4/5
Overall reco:It was like most MM hockey reads. Enjoyable, and mostly digestible. There were some sticking points along the way that disrupted the book. This didn't feel like an independent series from the other series that author has out, it feels like a continuation of that series. There are references to events of those books and while the author seems to give run downs in the middle of the book of parts of those stories, it tended to feel like I was again jumping into the middle of a series where I should have read all the prior books. I did end up finding myself skimming or reading an not absorbing the book and having to reread a lot. In the end, it was enjoyable. I've ready worse. I would recommend going and reading all the other books this author has out before starting this series though...
(rants)
Jamal King? Right.
My biggest standing out/complaint about the book is the amount of backstory we got on other characters. After a pervious ARC where I jumped into the 4th book in a series, I've been careful to check. This was listed as the first in a series and while the author had other works I didn't think it would be a problem. Right well, it felt like one. There was a lot of "this is X who is the lover of Y and they had all this drama last year with Z event" And it'll be paragraphs about that event or who they are and not always relevant. I expected it in the beginning of the book, prior to the 20% but it was happening all the way up to the 60% line. There is a prequel novel for their other series and those 2 are featured heavily and references are often made to other events that either get glossed over (when it feels like we should get more) or given too much (when I don't give a fuck).
Finally, one that bugged me and actually kept fucking up my reading was maybe not the authors fault? The first few words of every chapter are capitalized, unfortunately this author likes to start chapters with people talking. So, it often comes across as a person shouting half a sentence. For example: "DUDE, STOP WORRYING ABOUT me." sounds a lot different in my head than "Dude, stop worrying about me." It took a while into the book before I noticed it and going back it clouded my impression of the scenes. It might have been my kindle font choice but I'm looking at it now in another app and its the same.. it's a dumb thing to hang my had on but fuck it
“More dirty talk.” I groan. “Jesus.”
“No need for formal names. Call me Lars.”
Plot: 3/5
Spice: 3/5 (Numerous open door scenes)
Characters: 4/5
Overall reco:It was like most MM hockey reads. Enjoyable, and mostly digestible. There were some sticking points along the way that disrupted the book. This didn't feel like an independent series from the other series that author has out, it feels like a continuation of that series. There are references to events of those books and while the author seems to give run downs in the middle of the book of parts of those stories, it tended to feel like I was again jumping into the middle of a series where I should have read all the prior books. I did end up finding myself skimming or reading an not absorbing the book and having to reread a lot. In the end, it was enjoyable. I've ready worse. I would recommend going and reading all the other books this author has out before starting this series though...
(rants)
Jamal King? Right.
My biggest standing out/complaint about the book is the amount of backstory we got on other characters. After a pervious ARC where I jumped into the 4th book in a series, I've been careful to check. This was listed as the first in a series and while the author had other works I didn't think it would be a problem. Right well, it felt like one. There was a lot of "this is X who is the lover of Y and they had all this drama last year with Z event" And it'll be paragraphs about that event or who they are and not always relevant. I expected it in the beginning of the book, prior to the 20% but it was happening all the way up to the 60% line. There is a prequel novel for their other series and those 2 are featured heavily and references are often made to other events that either get glossed over (when it feels like we should get more) or given too much (when I don't give a fuck).
Finally, one that bugged me and actually kept fucking up my reading was maybe not the authors fault? The first few words of every chapter are capitalized, unfortunately this author likes to start chapters with people talking. So, it often comes across as a person shouting half a sentence. For example: "DUDE, STOP WORRYING ABOUT me." sounds a lot different in my head than "Dude, stop worrying about me." It took a while into the book before I noticed it and going back it clouded my impression of the scenes. It might have been my kindle font choice but I'm looking at it now in another app and its the same.. it's a dumb thing to hang my had on but fuck it
March 23, 2025
Thank you to Heather Leighson and NetGalley for giving me early access to this book.
This book had me on the verge of pulling my hair out! The tension in this boom is absolutely insane, especially the sexual tension, which was through the roof. The constant dirty talk and flirting? Yes, please! This story is undeniably hot—like, holy hell levels of hot.
But beyond the steam, there’s a real depth to this book. Emotional baggage, past traumas, and the struggles of alcoholism are also part of the story, making it more than just a spicy romance. And let’s not forget how adorable these two are together.
This book had me on the verge of pulling my hair out! The tension in this boom is absolutely insane, especially the sexual tension, which was through the roof. The constant dirty talk and flirting? Yes, please! This story is undeniably hot—like, holy hell levels of hot.
But beyond the steam, there’s a real depth to this book. Emotional baggage, past traumas, and the struggles of alcoholism are also part of the story, making it more than just a spicy romance. And let’s not forget how adorable these two are together.
February 23, 2025
This was a great book! It has the perfect amount of spice, romance, and hockey that makes a hockey romance good. Dylon’s arc was beautifully written. He is such a strong character who brings humor to the book while also driving much of the plot. The love between the two mmc and the team was really well written and great to read.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 6, 2025
Received this book as an ARC. This is also my first book of this author.
Rating 4.5⭐️
Tropes:
Bi awakening
Friends to lovers
Hurt/comfort
Protectiveness
No third act breakup
I enjoyed the book oh so much. This is the first book of the Enforcers Series but it may help to read the 3 books of the Unframed Art Series and the prequel novella to the Enforcers Series.
Dylon is so damn lovable with his animal facts. His progress through the book on his addiction was well portrayed. Lars was just amazing at being Dylon’s support through not only his addiction but with his issues with his family. And his possessiveness and protectiveness over Dylon is just the cherry on top!
Can’t wait for Ace’s book!
Definitely gonna read the prior books and wait patiently for the rest of this series!
“It's as if he's opened all of me. Flayed me wide for the onslaught of sensations. Stripped to the core, submitting to the rightness of us. This is who I'm meant to be with him, for him. Only him.”
Rating 4.5⭐️
Tropes:
Bi awakening
Friends to lovers
Hurt/comfort
Protectiveness
No third act breakup
I enjoyed the book oh so much. This is the first book of the Enforcers Series but it may help to read the 3 books of the Unframed Art Series and the prequel novella to the Enforcers Series.
Dylon is so damn lovable with his animal facts. His progress through the book on his addiction was well portrayed. Lars was just amazing at being Dylon’s support through not only his addiction but with his issues with his family. And his possessiveness and protectiveness over Dylon is just the cherry on top!
Can’t wait for Ace’s book!
Definitely gonna read the prior books and wait patiently for the rest of this series!
“It's as if he's opened all of me. Flayed me wide for the onslaught of sensations. Stripped to the core, submitting to the rightness of us. This is who I'm meant to be with him, for him. Only him.”
February 20, 2025
Lars has supported Dylon through the roughest period of his professional and personal life. As team mates and housemates they have become close because of their respective life journies and traumas. They are a little stuck as both have feelings for one another but don’t know how to progress that part of their relationship for fear of ruining their friendship.
Misconduct Zone tackles addiction and co-dependence amongst a range of hard hitting issues. The issues are managed sensitively and Lars particularly is as supportive and as understanding as can be. There’s a mix of hockey and relationships throughout. It’s a fairly male-centric book (one of the females is incredibly objectionable but there are a couple of other females depicted more positively, though their roles are pretty fleeting).
This became fairly intense once feelings were recognised (still waters run deep with Lars) and I was worried it was going to overwhelm the story but that didn’t end up happening. There were some loose ends throughout but I’m hopeful these will be addressed in future books.
This is the first work of the author I have read and appreciate being able to do so through Netgalley.
Great book!
Misconduct Zone tackles addiction and co-dependence amongst a range of hard hitting issues. The issues are managed sensitively and Lars particularly is as supportive and as understanding as can be. There’s a mix of hockey and relationships throughout. It’s a fairly male-centric book (one of the females is incredibly objectionable but there are a couple of other females depicted more positively, though their roles are pretty fleeting).
This became fairly intense once feelings were recognised (still waters run deep with Lars) and I was worried it was going to overwhelm the story but that didn’t end up happening. There were some loose ends throughout but I’m hopeful these will be addressed in future books.
This is the first work of the author I have read and appreciate being able to do so through Netgalley.
Great book!
March 13, 2025
Overall it's a great friends to lovers sport romance. It was sweet and quick read. But also it deals with rather serious topics such as addiction, overdose, toxic family, emotionally abusive parents. So you might want to check out trigger warnings for it.
After reading the synopsis I was so ready for all the tension, ready for Dylon and Lars pinning for each other. But I feel like they got together way too soon. I just needed more of all that tension. And before I got enough of it, it all became sugar coma level of sweetens.
One more thing - I am not a huge fan of misunderstandings and/or someone assuming things without actually talking it out. I can see where it came from, but it's just my least favorite as it comes to reasons of some sort of conflicts.
After everything I said, i still found it very enjoyable read.
Thanks to Netgalley for the arc!
3.5✨
After reading the synopsis I was so ready for all the tension, ready for Dylon and Lars pinning for each other. But I feel like they got together way too soon. I just needed more of all that tension. And before I got enough of it, it all became sugar coma level of sweetens.
One more thing - I am not a huge fan of misunderstandings and/or someone assuming things without actually talking it out. I can see where it came from, but it's just my least favorite as it comes to reasons of some sort of conflicts.
After everything I said, i still found it very enjoyable read.
Thanks to Netgalley for the arc!
3.5✨
March 23, 2025
This is my first read from the author, but I already want more. Right from the beginning it alreasy set the tone of two people struggling but devoted with one another. Reading how Lars helped Dylon face his internal demons and work through everything was so touching. This read really squeezed at my heart with their interactions! I already want to reread this, it's definitely making my love for hockey romance really grow!
Recieved an arc from NetGalley, thank you!
Recieved an arc from NetGalley, thank you!
March 19, 2025
This is the first book by Heather Leighson that I have read and I enjoyed it. I struggled a bit to get into it, but I feel like that can be expected with the first book in a series, where there are a lot of characters being introduced and their world is being built. In the end I enjoyed Lars and Dylon, they were the perfect opposites who went from best friends to lovers. I enjoyed the mental health and addiction rep in this book. I loved caretaking Lars a lot, he was such a rock for Dylon. And Dylon really needed someone in his corner, who he could count on no matter what and Lars was the perfect person for that. Dylon was so fearless and eager to explore his attraction towards Lars and I loved that. Lars's dirty talk was great all throughout the book. They spent a big chunk of the book running from important discussions, but with Dylon being 24 I feel like that is par for the course for a person his age. They were both trying to be selfless and do best by the other, while also having huge feelings for each other, so there were mistakes and miscommunucation, but they worked it out. It was great to see them be happy and navigate their new life together. I loved all the swedish endearments. They were sweet and very cute together.
The book was somewhat angsty, had some funny moments, issues to work through, but also some very sweet and swoony moments, and a great amount of steam.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The book was somewhat angsty, had some funny moments, issues to work through, but also some very sweet and swoony moments, and a great amount of steam.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 20, 2025
I really enjoyed the MCs and their very different histories and issues. The addiction part was written with good sensitivity. I was glad I read the prequel (Truth Zone) and some of the previous series as otherwise all the detailed characters could have easily become too complicated. There are a lot of other likable people who I'd enjoy reading about in the following books in the series.
June 16, 2025
This felt like it was book 4 of a series opposed to being the first. There was so many characters and things that have happened previously that were just mentioned like we should have already read about them?
March 16, 2025
I understand that this is the author’s first foray into hockey romances but the hockey was severely lacking in this story. Instead, this reads like a melodrama in which the characters happen to be hockey players but could be anything else.
I’m not a big fan of over dramatic stories and right from the start, that was the vibe I got. Also the writing style is not my favorite. It’s choppy and too fast paced but then it drags on when you want it to pick up the pace. It felt like reading fanfiction tbh (and not a good one)
I’m not a big fan of over dramatic stories and right from the start, that was the vibe I got. Also the writing style is not my favorite. It’s choppy and too fast paced but then it drags on when you want it to pick up the pace. It felt like reading fanfiction tbh (and not a good one)
March 15, 2025
Misconduct zone
By: Heather Leighson
📚💕⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💕📚
Everything mean more together!
In book 1 of the Enforcers MM Hockey series a spine-off from the Unframed are series. We get team mates Lars and Dylon’s story. These two are so good together, so kind and so incredibly selfless when it come to one another. Both have past and secrets yet both a truly good to each other. The authors writing is flawless and the words are so captivating, the plot had so many twists and turns and none that I was expecting, and many shockingly intimate I have become a huge fan of this author. The author writes with so much intensity and emotion pulled from each book it’s felt page after page. Some are quick witted story lines are so perfect and lets you believe you have a front row seat. So being able to read this love story didn’t disappoint. The authors ability to have two separate individuals struggling in their everyday life and try to navigate someone else’s thoughts, needs and desires was intense and gives all the fills.
Authors blurb: Two men. One Team. Love changes the game.
Lars:
My sexy, straight teammate might be off-limits, but my heart claims him as mine. The image of his broken body on a stretcher imprints in my brain. And when Dylon begs me not to leave him, I promise to stay by his side. I’ll drag him out of hell on my back to prevent history from repeating itself. It’s torturous keeping my feelings a secret. But I’ll suffer in silence to remain close to him.
Dylon:
I owe Lars my life, literally. When my addiction and bad choices nearly stole all that I love, Lars was there to protect me. No one has ever put me first or cares as fiercely as him. I don’t understand why I crave spending time with him and begin to question everything about myself. Telling him could shatter not only our friendship but our team’s goal to win the Cup. I’d be risking everything again for the chance to have it all.
Misconduct Zone is the first book in the Enforcers MM Hockey Romance series. A friends to lovers, off-limits, possessive protector and hurt/comfort romance.
This book has everything I love in a book. Then you add that it's beautifully written and believable. It is easily a five star read. Written in single POV this story flows so incredibly well that the next thing you know your 80% into the book and loving every second of it. The believable way the characters interact is perfect. Run, Hop, Jump or use your (1 click) finger to do whatever you have to do and get this amazing book. It'll break your heart, you'll want to scream with frustration and it'll let you discover that love just might conquer all. The chemistry is steamy and sweet and oh so romantic.
By: Heather Leighson
📚💕⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💕📚
Everything mean more together!
In book 1 of the Enforcers MM Hockey series a spine-off from the Unframed are series. We get team mates Lars and Dylon’s story. These two are so good together, so kind and so incredibly selfless when it come to one another. Both have past and secrets yet both a truly good to each other. The authors writing is flawless and the words are so captivating, the plot had so many twists and turns and none that I was expecting, and many shockingly intimate I have become a huge fan of this author. The author writes with so much intensity and emotion pulled from each book it’s felt page after page. Some are quick witted story lines are so perfect and lets you believe you have a front row seat. So being able to read this love story didn’t disappoint. The authors ability to have two separate individuals struggling in their everyday life and try to navigate someone else’s thoughts, needs and desires was intense and gives all the fills.
Authors blurb: Two men. One Team. Love changes the game.
Lars:
My sexy, straight teammate might be off-limits, but my heart claims him as mine. The image of his broken body on a stretcher imprints in my brain. And when Dylon begs me not to leave him, I promise to stay by his side. I’ll drag him out of hell on my back to prevent history from repeating itself. It’s torturous keeping my feelings a secret. But I’ll suffer in silence to remain close to him.
Dylon:
I owe Lars my life, literally. When my addiction and bad choices nearly stole all that I love, Lars was there to protect me. No one has ever put me first or cares as fiercely as him. I don’t understand why I crave spending time with him and begin to question everything about myself. Telling him could shatter not only our friendship but our team’s goal to win the Cup. I’d be risking everything again for the chance to have it all.
Misconduct Zone is the first book in the Enforcers MM Hockey Romance series. A friends to lovers, off-limits, possessive protector and hurt/comfort romance.
This book has everything I love in a book. Then you add that it's beautifully written and believable. It is easily a five star read. Written in single POV this story flows so incredibly well that the next thing you know your 80% into the book and loving every second of it. The believable way the characters interact is perfect. Run, Hop, Jump or use your (1 click) finger to do whatever you have to do and get this amazing book. It'll break your heart, you'll want to scream with frustration and it'll let you discover that love just might conquer all. The chemistry is steamy and sweet and oh so romantic.
May 7, 2025
Originally reviewed on StoryGraph: 4 ⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley and HL Books Co for providing me an ARC of this book. An honest review was requested in exchange for this book, all opinions are my own.
This book was a super cute, easy palate cleanser. I haven't read another book by this author, but this was the first in the series and I didn't think it would be an issue, but apparently all of her books are connected. I'm a-okay with a little nod to previous books, but this one was full of references that I feel like I missed. Even at the beginning, the author lists the characters, some basic info, and in what story they were featured in. There were also so many characters, I found it hard to keep track of most of them and their dynamics. It probably would've been easier if I'd read all of her other books before this one, but that's too much of a commitment for a smutty hockey romance in my opinion.
I like hockey, I'm definitely not an expert by any means, but I felt like the author came across as knowledgeable when talking about practice and games and the action on the ice. I felt like I could picture how the plays went and I was so invested to see if they'd make the goal like in a real game, so kudos to the author for that. I don't think you need to be a fan of hockey to read this, while it is a part of the story, it's easy to understand and a lot of the book takes place off the ice.
This book had a lot of things I love: pining, sexual awakening, realistic struggles, and a good support system. The way that Lars was absolutely gone for Dylon from the very beginning was so cute. I love that he had the biggest crush, but prioritized Dylon in a way that I'm not sure I've ever read before. Even after they got together, Lars was so understanding if Dylon wanted to explore his sexuality with other people before committing and let him be in charge of how fast their relationship progressed.
I totally applaud the way this author wrote about Dylon's addiction. I don't think I've read another book that portrays addiction so accurately and made it relatable. I personally don't struggle with addiction, but I have family members in AA and I could see the behaviors represented. The scene with Dylon and the alcohol in the hotel room was just perfect. I could absolutely see myself testing my restraint in that way just to prove a point that no one asked for because I felt like I didn't deserve something so good.
The spice was definitely spicing in this book. I thought it was well written, especially that first kiss. It lives rent free in my mind, so good 10/10. I didn't vibe with all the kinks, but honestly, I appreciate that the author just threw it out there and it was stuff I hadn't read before, so I got to see if I was into it. Although I wasn't, I'm happy to have read something that was new to me and not the same old spicy scenes that I've seen before.
I also wasn't crazy about how the author wrote Patrik's speaking lines. He's from the Czech Republic. So I understand that he has an accent, but his lines would have the w's changed to v's to represent that. It threw off my reading a bit. I think it would have been fine to just have his line and say that he spoke with an accent. Especially since other characters in the book aren't American, but their dialogue wasn't written differently. It wasn't a huge drawback of the book, just something that tripped me up. It could also be that his dialogue was written that way in the prequel which focused on his relationship, so it was a continuity thing to keep the writing the same. I didn't read the prequel, so I'm not sure about that.
Overall, this book was very enjoyable and I really liked seeing these characters grow. The things that I didn't like about the book were honestly minor compared to all the things I liked. I saw the next relationship that the sequel will focus on and I'll probably read it because it's a totally different dynamic and I'm interested to see how it'll play out. I also won a giveaway for another book by this author in a different series, so I'll be reading that as well. I'm not sure if I'll read everything by this author, but as long as the characters and dynamic interest me, I'd give it a shot. I'd recommend this book to anyone that likes MM romances, regardless if they like hockey or not, as long as they're OK with a large cast of interconnected characters.
Thank you to NetGalley and HL Books Co for providing me an ARC of this book. An honest review was requested in exchange for this book, all opinions are my own.
This book was a super cute, easy palate cleanser. I haven't read another book by this author, but this was the first in the series and I didn't think it would be an issue, but apparently all of her books are connected. I'm a-okay with a little nod to previous books, but this one was full of references that I feel like I missed. Even at the beginning, the author lists the characters, some basic info, and in what story they were featured in. There were also so many characters, I found it hard to keep track of most of them and their dynamics. It probably would've been easier if I'd read all of her other books before this one, but that's too much of a commitment for a smutty hockey romance in my opinion.
I like hockey, I'm definitely not an expert by any means, but I felt like the author came across as knowledgeable when talking about practice and games and the action on the ice. I felt like I could picture how the plays went and I was so invested to see if they'd make the goal like in a real game, so kudos to the author for that. I don't think you need to be a fan of hockey to read this, while it is a part of the story, it's easy to understand and a lot of the book takes place off the ice.
This book had a lot of things I love: pining, sexual awakening, realistic struggles, and a good support system. The way that Lars was absolutely gone for Dylon from the very beginning was so cute. I love that he had the biggest crush, but prioritized Dylon in a way that I'm not sure I've ever read before. Even after they got together, Lars was so understanding if Dylon wanted to explore his sexuality with other people before committing and let him be in charge of how fast their relationship progressed.
I totally applaud the way this author wrote about Dylon's addiction. I don't think I've read another book that portrays addiction so accurately and made it relatable. I personally don't struggle with addiction, but I have family members in AA and I could see the behaviors represented. The scene with Dylon and the alcohol in the hotel room was just perfect. I could absolutely see myself testing my restraint in that way just to prove a point that no one asked for because I felt like I didn't deserve something so good.
The spice was definitely spicing in this book. I thought it was well written, especially that first kiss. It lives rent free in my mind, so good 10/10. I didn't vibe with all the kinks, but honestly, I appreciate that the author just threw it out there and it was stuff I hadn't read before, so I got to see if I was into it. Although I wasn't, I'm happy to have read something that was new to me and not the same old spicy scenes that I've seen before.
I also wasn't crazy about how the author wrote Patrik's speaking lines. He's from the Czech Republic. So I understand that he has an accent, but his lines would have the w's changed to v's to represent that. It threw off my reading a bit. I think it would have been fine to just have his line and say that he spoke with an accent. Especially since other characters in the book aren't American, but their dialogue wasn't written differently. It wasn't a huge drawback of the book, just something that tripped me up. It could also be that his dialogue was written that way in the prequel which focused on his relationship, so it was a continuity thing to keep the writing the same. I didn't read the prequel, so I'm not sure about that.
Overall, this book was very enjoyable and I really liked seeing these characters grow. The things that I didn't like about the book were honestly minor compared to all the things I liked. I saw the next relationship that the sequel will focus on and I'll probably read it because it's a totally different dynamic and I'm interested to see how it'll play out. I also won a giveaway for another book by this author in a different series, so I'll be reading that as well. I'm not sure if I'll read everything by this author, but as long as the characters and dynamic interest me, I'd give it a shot. I'd recommend this book to anyone that likes MM romances, regardless if they like hockey or not, as long as they're OK with a large cast of interconnected characters.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 18, 2025
I want more!
Heather Leighson is a new to me author but she created a cast of men that I fell in love with and can't wait to read their books! This one is about Lars and Dylon. So first there is a prequel to this series and I didn't know until the end but I'll be reading it ASAP but most of the characters in this story are introduced there if you want to start that first. Lars and Dylon are opposites. Lars is stoic and keeps to himself. He has acquaintances and teammates rather than friends. He comes from a family that loves him but isn't very affectionate. Dylon is outgoing and always has a joke or animal fact ready to go. He's a golden retriever and puts people around him at ease. He comes from a family who says they love him but also guilt and mistreat him. But no matter the differences they're best friends. Lars is bi and Dylon is straight but labels can change. Lars has been in love with Dylon in silence for years. He doesn't want to mess up their friendship for feelings that would never be returned. At least he thought they'd never be returned. The book starts with Dylon overdosing after becoming addicted to pain meds after a shoulder injury. Lars had already been in love with him before this but seeing his best friend almost lose his life broke his heart and he is determined to not let Dylon sink any further so he has him move in and he transforms their lives into a dry household with healthy ways of coping. Dylon didn't have it easy while going through withdrawals but Lars never gave up on him. Now it's almost a year of Dylon being sober and he's struggling but he has his sponsor and a support system and is rocking his program. So why after all this time is he just starting to notice how good-looking his best friend is and the way his forearms flex? Things are either about to get more complicated or both men are about to get everything they could have ever imagined and more. I absolutely loved their love story and the journey they both took to get there. Lars has his own trauma from a previous relationship that's scarily similar to Dylon's situation and he has to work to get past that. Not only does Dylon have to work for his sobriety but also deals with his manipulative family and the worries of coming out. Their road isn't easy but their devotion to each other and their growing relationship is so beautiful to read. There was angst but not too much and of course the steam and chemistry between them was on fire. These two couldn't be more different yet more perfect for each other. That epilogue was perfect and the bonus scene was a must-read! I'm so excited for their teammates to get their book and I just so happen to have the ARC for Caleb's story. Until next time!
Heather Leighson is a new to me author but she created a cast of men that I fell in love with and can't wait to read their books! This one is about Lars and Dylon. So first there is a prequel to this series and I didn't know until the end but I'll be reading it ASAP but most of the characters in this story are introduced there if you want to start that first. Lars and Dylon are opposites. Lars is stoic and keeps to himself. He has acquaintances and teammates rather than friends. He comes from a family that loves him but isn't very affectionate. Dylon is outgoing and always has a joke or animal fact ready to go. He's a golden retriever and puts people around him at ease. He comes from a family who says they love him but also guilt and mistreat him. But no matter the differences they're best friends. Lars is bi and Dylon is straight but labels can change. Lars has been in love with Dylon in silence for years. He doesn't want to mess up their friendship for feelings that would never be returned. At least he thought they'd never be returned. The book starts with Dylon overdosing after becoming addicted to pain meds after a shoulder injury. Lars had already been in love with him before this but seeing his best friend almost lose his life broke his heart and he is determined to not let Dylon sink any further so he has him move in and he transforms their lives into a dry household with healthy ways of coping. Dylon didn't have it easy while going through withdrawals but Lars never gave up on him. Now it's almost a year of Dylon being sober and he's struggling but he has his sponsor and a support system and is rocking his program. So why after all this time is he just starting to notice how good-looking his best friend is and the way his forearms flex? Things are either about to get more complicated or both men are about to get everything they could have ever imagined and more. I absolutely loved their love story and the journey they both took to get there. Lars has his own trauma from a previous relationship that's scarily similar to Dylon's situation and he has to work to get past that. Not only does Dylon have to work for his sobriety but also deals with his manipulative family and the worries of coming out. Their road isn't easy but their devotion to each other and their growing relationship is so beautiful to read. There was angst but not too much and of course the steam and chemistry between them was on fire. These two couldn't be more different yet more perfect for each other. That epilogue was perfect and the bonus scene was a must-read! I'm so excited for their teammates to get their book and I just so happen to have the ARC for Caleb's story. Until next time!
March 14, 2025
3.5 stars
Lars and Dylon's love story was a rollercoaster. It was full of complicated feels and emotional turmoil. It was slow burn with many layers of love. It's my first book by the author and I enjoyed it.
🏒 what to expect🏒
* sports romance/ hockey romance
* friends to lovers
* forced proximity/ roommate to lovers
* MM romance
* forbidden romance ( teammates)
* trigger warning - addiction, h0m0phobia
* super spicy
* bi Awakening
Enforcers star player Dylon Felix was saved by his best friend Lars when he overdosed on painkillers after his injury. Lars took care of him even after that and was a strong support through the rehabilitation. He is determined to be his best for the team and his new attraction for Lars is confusing him. The truth is Lars wanted him for a long time but thought Dylon is straight. A lot is at stake. Dylon's recovery. The media perception. Though their team is so supportive.
Lars and Dylon both had issues. Lars had heartbreak before and he is unsure if Dylon won't break his heart again. He is a big man but a softie inside. He loves Dylon so much. He stayed by Dylon's side through some dark time but his heart is scared of getting hurt. He is a bit brooding and silently loving one. On the other hand, Dylon was the life of the team before the injury. He has a boisterous personality. He loves to have fun but the near death experience changed him. His family isn't a good one and the toxicity can take toll on him. His new found sexuality was an adjustment too. But he knew that he cannot live without Lars. His heart was at a constant battle with his demons. That's why he acted like a fool sometimes & hurt Lars but his love guided him. Their freinds and teammates were such positive forces. They faced everything together and finally found their happily ever after. Their chemistry was insane. The dirty talk, the forbidden tension, the filthy times.. all were on point.
I had a bit difficulty getting into the book because it started at Dylon's overdose and I felt like I missed their initial bonding. There are a lot of secondary characters and I was confused so many times. The focus was getting lost in the crowd of the other people. But the author really brought all the pieces together towards the end when the emotions were raw and beautiful.
I reviewed an early copy voluntarily
Lars and Dylon's love story was a rollercoaster. It was full of complicated feels and emotional turmoil. It was slow burn with many layers of love. It's my first book by the author and I enjoyed it.
🏒 what to expect🏒
* sports romance/ hockey romance
* friends to lovers
* forced proximity/ roommate to lovers
* MM romance
* forbidden romance ( teammates)
* trigger warning - addiction, h0m0phobia
* super spicy
* bi Awakening
Enforcers star player Dylon Felix was saved by his best friend Lars when he overdosed on painkillers after his injury. Lars took care of him even after that and was a strong support through the rehabilitation. He is determined to be his best for the team and his new attraction for Lars is confusing him. The truth is Lars wanted him for a long time but thought Dylon is straight. A lot is at stake. Dylon's recovery. The media perception. Though their team is so supportive.
Lars and Dylon both had issues. Lars had heartbreak before and he is unsure if Dylon won't break his heart again. He is a big man but a softie inside. He loves Dylon so much. He stayed by Dylon's side through some dark time but his heart is scared of getting hurt. He is a bit brooding and silently loving one. On the other hand, Dylon was the life of the team before the injury. He has a boisterous personality. He loves to have fun but the near death experience changed him. His family isn't a good one and the toxicity can take toll on him. His new found sexuality was an adjustment too. But he knew that he cannot live without Lars. His heart was at a constant battle with his demons. That's why he acted like a fool sometimes & hurt Lars but his love guided him. Their freinds and teammates were such positive forces. They faced everything together and finally found their happily ever after. Their chemistry was insane. The dirty talk, the forbidden tension, the filthy times.. all were on point.
I had a bit difficulty getting into the book because it started at Dylon's overdose and I felt like I missed their initial bonding. There are a lot of secondary characters and I was confused so many times. The focus was getting lost in the crowd of the other people. But the author really brought all the pieces together towards the end when the emotions were raw and beautiful.
I reviewed an early copy voluntarily
February 17, 2025
MY OPINION: I was unfamiliar with this author but I really hope to go back and read some of the other stories because this one got me all over the feels. This was such a wonderful romance but it made me very emotional. I enjoyed the story of these two men so much. There aren’t just a few obstacles they have massive mountains to climb.
Dylon is overcoming big things, that shape how he feels about himself and how he responds to his emotions. The feelings he has toward his best friend are intense and scary. Figuring out what he should do, can do, needs to do, and wants to do takes him down an unexpected path that can lead to everything he could ever want or to immense pain. He has relied on his best friend, and now he has to figure out how to stand on his own and love with all his heart, which means trust.
Lars is an introvert for sure but Dylon brings out the best in him. Together, they make a team that is solid, and there isn’t a force that can break it. Together they have to navigate fears and new realities. There is plenty of interaction with other characters (which I understand are from other books) but this is the start of a new path in a new series. As I mentioned this hit me in the feels. I would say this is a smolder throughout, with lots of flames being fanned and settling back down until the next set of flames that is just around the corner gets ignited. I genuinely liked this book. Unlike most hockey romances, this doesn’t fall under the quick, easy-read category. You have to be invested, and there is a lot of nuance and detail you have to make sure you pick up.
This is a five-star read for me for a lot of reasons. Anything that makes me cry automatically finds its way to my heart and makes me like the book. Evoking emotion through words is tough and having that reaction to a hockey romance is a good thing. It is a little longer than most hockey romances; I think it was necessary to get all the story bits in. I recommend reading this if you want a lot of romance and a lot of story. There is some great spice and a hard-fought HEA. You’ll like traveling with them while they figure out how to turn a friendship into something more while holding the media off and finding solace in each other. Pick it up and give it a read.
Dylon is overcoming big things, that shape how he feels about himself and how he responds to his emotions. The feelings he has toward his best friend are intense and scary. Figuring out what he should do, can do, needs to do, and wants to do takes him down an unexpected path that can lead to everything he could ever want or to immense pain. He has relied on his best friend, and now he has to figure out how to stand on his own and love with all his heart, which means trust.
Lars is an introvert for sure but Dylon brings out the best in him. Together, they make a team that is solid, and there isn’t a force that can break it. Together they have to navigate fears and new realities. There is plenty of interaction with other characters (which I understand are from other books) but this is the start of a new path in a new series. As I mentioned this hit me in the feels. I would say this is a smolder throughout, with lots of flames being fanned and settling back down until the next set of flames that is just around the corner gets ignited. I genuinely liked this book. Unlike most hockey romances, this doesn’t fall under the quick, easy-read category. You have to be invested, and there is a lot of nuance and detail you have to make sure you pick up.
This is a five-star read for me for a lot of reasons. Anything that makes me cry automatically finds its way to my heart and makes me like the book. Evoking emotion through words is tough and having that reaction to a hockey romance is a good thing. It is a little longer than most hockey romances; I think it was necessary to get all the story bits in. I recommend reading this if you want a lot of romance and a lot of story. There is some great spice and a hard-fought HEA. You’ll like traveling with them while they figure out how to turn a friendship into something more while holding the media off and finding solace in each other. Pick it up and give it a read.
December 24, 2025
Okay, rarely am I ever this conflicted with a book. I just want to first acknowledge the author's note in the very beginning, about allyship and normalizing queer love. This was honestly refreshing to see, and helps to set the intentions for the book.
Let's start with what the book gets right:
Healthy conversation about sex, including PrEP, condoms, consent, etc.
Demisexual rep (we love to see it 🙌)
Boundaries with toxic family members
VERY spicy scenes- they truly came out of nowhere and 10/10, probs the best parts of the book
Now, for my concerns about this book:
First, I felt like I was missing out on something or several plot points. Side characters kept being introduced as if we should already know who they were, which was confusing. Like, 'this is Trevor' or something, but like WHO IS THAT? For being the first book in a series, I've never been so confused. I know in the character list in the beginning, it gives the books the side characters are from, but they're from a whole other series, not this one. I'm not sure why this book was not just a continuation of that series, but it made the plot more confusing than it needed to be.
Second, how they treated Dylan's regarding his addiction. In the beginning, I thought Dylan had gotten injured badly, not overdosed, because there was mention of 'blood covering the front of his jersey' (page 1), which as a nurse I am confused by. If he overdosed on pain medication, where's the blood coming from? Also, if he was in his jersey, we have to assume he was either at a game or practice, so HOW DID HIS TEAMMATES NOT KNOW??? And then when mans decided to turn his phone off, buy a bottle of alcohol, and spend the night in a hotel the night before an international game, and how poorly his boo and his teammates treated him? Instead of making sure he was safe when he finally came back, they all made him feel like shit, which was very not helpful and exactly the opposite of what you should actually do.
Third, a reference to Dylan losing his 'male virginity' (page 106). Um, ma'am what's that 🤔 Virginity is the same for men and women. It's his first time with a man, but he's not a virgin so i was confused.
Let's start with what the book gets right:
Healthy conversation about sex, including PrEP, condoms, consent, etc.
Demisexual rep (we love to see it 🙌)
Boundaries with toxic family members
VERY spicy scenes- they truly came out of nowhere and 10/10, probs the best parts of the book
Now, for my concerns about this book:
First, I felt like I was missing out on something or several plot points. Side characters kept being introduced as if we should already know who they were, which was confusing. Like, 'this is Trevor' or something, but like WHO IS THAT? For being the first book in a series, I've never been so confused. I know in the character list in the beginning, it gives the books the side characters are from, but they're from a whole other series, not this one. I'm not sure why this book was not just a continuation of that series, but it made the plot more confusing than it needed to be.
Second, how they treated Dylan's regarding his addiction. In the beginning, I thought Dylan had gotten injured badly, not overdosed, because there was mention of 'blood covering the front of his jersey' (page 1), which as a nurse I am confused by. If he overdosed on pain medication, where's the blood coming from? Also, if he was in his jersey, we have to assume he was either at a game or practice, so HOW DID HIS TEAMMATES NOT KNOW??? And then when mans decided to turn his phone off, buy a bottle of alcohol, and spend the night in a hotel the night before an international game, and how poorly his boo and his teammates treated him? Instead of making sure he was safe when he finally came back, they all made him feel like shit, which was very not helpful and exactly the opposite of what you should actually do.
Third, a reference to Dylan losing his 'male virginity' (page 106). Um, ma'am what's that 🤔 Virginity is the same for men and women. It's his first time with a man, but he's not a virgin so i was confused.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 12, 2025
Misconduct Zone by Heather Leighson is a powerful, emotional, and sizzling friends-to-lovers romance that will captivate readers from start to finish. This book delivers not only a beautiful love story but also deeply tackles the struggles of addiction, self-identity, and the complexities of being a queer athlete in a high-stakes, hyper-masculine environment like hockey.
The story centers around Lars and Dylon, two teammates who have been through thick and thin together. Lars, struggling with addiction, owes his life to Dylon, who was always there to support him during his darkest times. But as their bond deepens, feelings begin to evolve, and what started as a friendship becomes something far more intense.
Lars has always been the protector, but now, he’s the one who needs saving—especially when he’s faced with his own inner demons. The image of Dylon’s broken body after a dangerous injury is burned into his mind, and as Dylon recovers, Lars struggles with his growing love for his straight teammate. The chemistry between the two is palpable, and the way Heather Leighson builds the tension between them is expertly done. The push and pull of their feelings is agonizing but addictive, making their eventual union all the more satisfying.
The author does a remarkable job exploring the difficulties of addiction, particularly Lars’ journey and the role Dylon plays in his recovery. The emotional depth is raw, and Heather doesn’t shy away from showing how devastating addiction can be—not just for the person struggling but for those around them. At the same time, the love story between Lars and Dylon is tender and genuine, with their friendship providing a solid foundation for everything that blooms between them. It’s a true testament to how love can change and shape lives.
The side characters in Misconduct Zone are also intriguing, providing additional layers to the story and setting up future books that readers will no doubt be eager to dive into.
All in all, Misconduct Zone is a thrilling, tender romance that tackles tough topics with grace and emotion. Lars and Dylon’s journey is one of growth, acceptance, and ultimately, love—proving that sometimes the greatest victories come off the ice. If you’re looking for a story filled with passion, heartache, and redemption, look no further.
The story centers around Lars and Dylon, two teammates who have been through thick and thin together. Lars, struggling with addiction, owes his life to Dylon, who was always there to support him during his darkest times. But as their bond deepens, feelings begin to evolve, and what started as a friendship becomes something far more intense.
Lars has always been the protector, but now, he’s the one who needs saving—especially when he’s faced with his own inner demons. The image of Dylon’s broken body after a dangerous injury is burned into his mind, and as Dylon recovers, Lars struggles with his growing love for his straight teammate. The chemistry between the two is palpable, and the way Heather Leighson builds the tension between them is expertly done. The push and pull of their feelings is agonizing but addictive, making their eventual union all the more satisfying.
The author does a remarkable job exploring the difficulties of addiction, particularly Lars’ journey and the role Dylon plays in his recovery. The emotional depth is raw, and Heather doesn’t shy away from showing how devastating addiction can be—not just for the person struggling but for those around them. At the same time, the love story between Lars and Dylon is tender and genuine, with their friendship providing a solid foundation for everything that blooms between them. It’s a true testament to how love can change and shape lives.
The side characters in Misconduct Zone are also intriguing, providing additional layers to the story and setting up future books that readers will no doubt be eager to dive into.
All in all, Misconduct Zone is a thrilling, tender romance that tackles tough topics with grace and emotion. Lars and Dylon’s journey is one of growth, acceptance, and ultimately, love—proving that sometimes the greatest victories come off the ice. If you’re looking for a story filled with passion, heartache, and redemption, look no further.
March 6, 2025
4⭐️ 3🌶
-Best Friends
-Hockey Teammates
-Addiction
-Toxic Family
-Bi-awakening
-Hurt/comfort
Although this can be read as a standalone, I highly recommend reading the free prequel novella Truth Zone beforehand.
The Truth Zone serves as an introduction to the entire Enforcer team, team dynamics, and friends of the team. It really lays the foundation for Misconduct Zone to be understood fully.
This was a beautiful story of unconditional love and how addiction can tear apart many relationships in your life, whether that be your family, friends, work, or even acquaintances. Finding your true family and friends and having their love and support makes dealing with everything manageable. You'll laugh, you'll cry, and you'll want book two!
We all need a Lars in our life ❤️ quiet, introverted, protector, selfless, loyal, sexy accent, dominant, sweet, forgiving, and melts when you call him baby.
Dylon is easygoing, extroverted, all smiles, loves fiercely, spews random animal facts when nervous, craves stability, and needs unconditional love with plenty of reassurance.
Some of the writing is more tell than show and can make the dialogue a little hard to get past, but the hurt/comfort level makes it so worth it.
Quotes:
“The parts of himself that he hides from the world are the best parts of him."
“I do not share.” His words are firm and hit me, body and soul. “You are mine until you decide you are not.”
“The worst thing you can do is give someone else credit for your hard work. You did the work. Own it.”
“Jag älskar dig. You own my heart. My body is yours.” “You are my home. My love. My everything.”
“Love is a verb, and I will take every action you need to feel it in your bones. In your soul. So that when we die, our love lives on.”
-Best Friends
-Hockey Teammates
-Addiction
-Toxic Family
-Bi-awakening
-Hurt/comfort
Although this can be read as a standalone, I highly recommend reading the free prequel novella Truth Zone beforehand.
The Truth Zone serves as an introduction to the entire Enforcer team, team dynamics, and friends of the team. It really lays the foundation for Misconduct Zone to be understood fully.
This was a beautiful story of unconditional love and how addiction can tear apart many relationships in your life, whether that be your family, friends, work, or even acquaintances. Finding your true family and friends and having their love and support makes dealing with everything manageable. You'll laugh, you'll cry, and you'll want book two!
We all need a Lars in our life ❤️ quiet, introverted, protector, selfless, loyal, sexy accent, dominant, sweet, forgiving, and melts when you call him baby.
Dylon is easygoing, extroverted, all smiles, loves fiercely, spews random animal facts when nervous, craves stability, and needs unconditional love with plenty of reassurance.
Some of the writing is more tell than show and can make the dialogue a little hard to get past, but the hurt/comfort level makes it so worth it.
Quotes:
“The parts of himself that he hides from the world are the best parts of him."
“I do not share.” His words are firm and hit me, body and soul. “You are mine until you decide you are not.”
“The worst thing you can do is give someone else credit for your hard work. You did the work. Own it.”
“Jag älskar dig. You own my heart. My body is yours.” “You are my home. My love. My everything.”
“Love is a verb, and I will take every action you need to feel it in your bones. In your soul. So that when we die, our love lives on.”
March 14, 2025
When I first started this ARC I had trouble getting into it because I felt some stuff was missing for a first book in a series. Ofcourse I went to look if there were any other books that played in this universe. And it did. This series has a prequel 'truth zone' wich happens to be free if you join the author's newsletter.
I read the prequel and after that I restarted this book wich ofcourse made it way easier to get into the story.
I really enjoyed reading Misconduct Zone. I love hockey romances and this one delivered cute moments aswell as talk about some serious stuff like addiction, toxic family,...
It was a quick read and I just really liked the chemistery between our main charachters Lars and Dylon.
Misconduct zone is a,
- friends to lovers -no breakup - possesive MMC
-golden retriever\black cat
,book and the author delivered these tropes perfectly for me.
The smut was also very good, those two could not stop touching eachother! You could feel that their affection and love was sincere from pretty much the start.
As someone who has a friend that went to rehab for addiction, I personally found it nice that the author didn´t go over this swiftly and that she portraited the fact that going clean isn´t easy and has some challenges, for the person itself aswell as the people around them.
As a reader that gets attached to the charachters I read about, I´m proud of dylon to get through it with the help of Lars. I feel that together, they can conquer the world.
Overall I really liked this story and I´m defenitly exited to read more of this series once the second book is written. Thank you again, Heather Leighson and Netgally for the chance to be an ARC reader for this masterpiece.
I read the prequel and after that I restarted this book wich ofcourse made it way easier to get into the story.
I really enjoyed reading Misconduct Zone. I love hockey romances and this one delivered cute moments aswell as talk about some serious stuff like addiction, toxic family,...
It was a quick read and I just really liked the chemistery between our main charachters Lars and Dylon.
Misconduct zone is a,
- friends to lovers -no breakup - possesive MMC
-golden retriever\black cat
,book and the author delivered these tropes perfectly for me.
The smut was also very good, those two could not stop touching eachother! You could feel that their affection and love was sincere from pretty much the start.
As someone who has a friend that went to rehab for addiction, I personally found it nice that the author didn´t go over this swiftly and that she portraited the fact that going clean isn´t easy and has some challenges, for the person itself aswell as the people around them.
As a reader that gets attached to the charachters I read about, I´m proud of dylon to get through it with the help of Lars. I feel that together, they can conquer the world.
Overall I really liked this story and I´m defenitly exited to read more of this series once the second book is written. Thank you again, Heather Leighson and Netgally for the chance to be an ARC reader for this masterpiece.
March 9, 2025
“Only the people we care about can truly hurt us.”
Misconduct Zone is the first book in the Enforcers Hockey series by Heather Leighson, and it is a connected work of the Unframed Art series. You don’t have to read this series first, but I think it would help because there are a lot of references to the characters in it. I think that it is also good to read the prequel before reading this book. It’s available to the author’s newsletter subscribers for free. I enjoyed it so I recommend it, too.
I really enjoyed Misconduct Zone. Lars has taken care of Dylon since he had problems with addiction a year ago. He was the perfect steady and supportive presence in his life, never pushing too hard but always being there when it mattered. They are teammates, best friends and roommates.
“… do not underestimate what you have given me—a full life outside of hockey. You have the biggest heart of any man I’ve known, showing me I don’t have to be perfect to matter. I never thought I would find a person to share my life with, and we fit.”
Their journey from best friends to lovers was heartfelt. There was so much tension between them, both afraid to cross that line but clearly wanting to. Their chemistry was undeniable. I loved how much they supported each other, especially with Dylon’s struggles, both in his personal and professional life (I would like to know what happened with Dylon’s parents).
“You are the first person to give me a true home. A place where I’m safe and cared for. Where I can be my weird self and not worry about being judged.”
As the TW hint, this book is not just about a romance between two hockey players, it deals with healing, growth and learning to trust. It is longer than some hockey romances, but the extra length felt necessary to really explore Lars and Dylon’s journey. They have a most well-earned HEA.
“When I meet his eyes, he steals my breath. His reverence and devotion are written all over his face. All my life, I’ve hidden behind my smile, but not with him. It’s an overwhelming act to discard my happy mask and let my heart speak, spilling over my face. To tell him with all that I am, that I’m his and he’s what I want.”
I loved the cameos from the characters of the Unframed Art series and Dylon’s random animal facts.
“But the real truth is I’m a swan… Swans mate for life in bonded pairs. It’s common for black swans to have male-male pairings. They build nests together and are territorial and aggressive in protecting their breeding territory.”
TW: Addiction, past overdose, unsupportive parents, homophobic off-page slurs.
I received an ARC via Booksprout for free, and I am voluntarily leaving my honest review and recommendation. Waiting for the next book in the series.
Misconduct Zone is the first book in the Enforcers Hockey series by Heather Leighson, and it is a connected work of the Unframed Art series. You don’t have to read this series first, but I think it would help because there are a lot of references to the characters in it. I think that it is also good to read the prequel before reading this book. It’s available to the author’s newsletter subscribers for free. I enjoyed it so I recommend it, too.
I really enjoyed Misconduct Zone. Lars has taken care of Dylon since he had problems with addiction a year ago. He was the perfect steady and supportive presence in his life, never pushing too hard but always being there when it mattered. They are teammates, best friends and roommates.
“… do not underestimate what you have given me—a full life outside of hockey. You have the biggest heart of any man I’ve known, showing me I don’t have to be perfect to matter. I never thought I would find a person to share my life with, and we fit.”
Their journey from best friends to lovers was heartfelt. There was so much tension between them, both afraid to cross that line but clearly wanting to. Their chemistry was undeniable. I loved how much they supported each other, especially with Dylon’s struggles, both in his personal and professional life (I would like to know what happened with Dylon’s parents).
“You are the first person to give me a true home. A place where I’m safe and cared for. Where I can be my weird self and not worry about being judged.”
As the TW hint, this book is not just about a romance between two hockey players, it deals with healing, growth and learning to trust. It is longer than some hockey romances, but the extra length felt necessary to really explore Lars and Dylon’s journey. They have a most well-earned HEA.
“When I meet his eyes, he steals my breath. His reverence and devotion are written all over his face. All my life, I’ve hidden behind my smile, but not with him. It’s an overwhelming act to discard my happy mask and let my heart speak, spilling over my face. To tell him with all that I am, that I’m his and he’s what I want.”
I loved the cameos from the characters of the Unframed Art series and Dylon’s random animal facts.
“But the real truth is I’m a swan… Swans mate for life in bonded pairs. It’s common for black swans to have male-male pairings. They build nests together and are territorial and aggressive in protecting their breeding territory.”
TW: Addiction, past overdose, unsupportive parents, homophobic off-page slurs.
I received an ARC via Booksprout for free, and I am voluntarily leaving my honest review and recommendation. Waiting for the next book in the series.
March 16, 2025
I was lucky enough to read this one after already reading Truth Zone (a very lengthy prequel and a very good read). I also read all of the authors titles, so I'm not sure if that made following the character easier for me or not, but either way, as usual, I REALLY enjoyed the read!
I am a huge fan of interconnected series, and this one already has the makings of another of my favorites.
I first remember meeting Lucky in the truth of our secrets when he is having a medical emergency. I was happy to see that I would finally see what happened to him after that. I can't remember if Drake was there, too. Either way, Drake makes it his life's mission to get Lucky through his troubles and ignore his feelings for his "straight" best friend.
Yes, this is very much your typical fall in love with your straight best friend/bi-awakening, but honestly, it's a trope for a reason.
The side characters in this book are also fantastic, again this is the reason I love interconnected, I either get more of previous characters I loved or find new characters I can't wait to read more on as the series continues *cough* Ace and Grayson!
My only complaint would be that the prequel to this book felt longer, and I really wanted more, I suppose this means I will just have to patiently wait for the next installments.
I guess long story short, I will ALWAYS pick up a book written by Heather Leighson as she hasn't steered me wrong yet.
I am a huge fan of interconnected series, and this one already has the makings of another of my favorites.
I first remember meeting Lucky in the truth of our secrets when he is having a medical emergency. I was happy to see that I would finally see what happened to him after that. I can't remember if Drake was there, too. Either way, Drake makes it his life's mission to get Lucky through his troubles and ignore his feelings for his "straight" best friend.
Yes, this is very much your typical fall in love with your straight best friend/bi-awakening, but honestly, it's a trope for a reason.
The side characters in this book are also fantastic, again this is the reason I love interconnected, I either get more of previous characters I loved or find new characters I can't wait to read more on as the series continues *cough* Ace and Grayson!
My only complaint would be that the prequel to this book felt longer, and I really wanted more, I suppose this means I will just have to patiently wait for the next installments.
I guess long story short, I will ALWAYS pick up a book written by Heather Leighson as she hasn't steered me wrong yet.
March 16, 2025
Misconduct Zone (Enforcers MM Hockey Romance, Book 1) by Heather Leighson completely took me by surprise in the best way possible. I went in expecting a steamy, sports-driven romance, and while I definitely got that, I also got a deeply emotional story about love, identity, and the struggles of being in the public eye. This book wasn’t just about hockey, it was about two men fighting for their place in the world, on and off the ice.
Right from the start, I was drawn into the intense, fast-paced world of professional hockey. Leighson does an incredible job of making the sport feel real, from the locker room dynamics to the adrenaline of being on the ice. But what really stood out to me was how well she balanced that action with heartfelt, vulnerable moments between the main characters.
The romance in this book was so well done. The chemistry between the two leads was undeniable, but what I loved most was the emotional depth behind it. It wasn’t just about attraction—it was about trust, fear, and learning to let someone in. The tension between them felt raw and real, especially with the pressures of being in a sport that isn’t always accepting of LGBTQ+ players. Leighson handled these themes with so much care, showing both the struggles and the triumphs of navigating love in a world that isn’t always welcoming.
One scene that really hit me hard was when one of the characters had to make a decision about whether to protect his career or take a risk for love. The emotions in that moment were so strong, I felt every bit of hesitation, fear, and hope that he was feeling. Leighson has a way of writing that makes you feel everything right alongside the characters, and that’s what made this book so powerful.
The supporting characters also added so much to the story. From teammates to coaches, there was a strong sense of camaraderie and tension that felt true to the sports world.
By the time I finished Misconduct Zone, I was completely invested in these characters and their journey. It’s the kind of book that stays with you, making you think about the struggles people face just to be themselves in environments that don’t always allow it. If you love MM romance, sports romance, or just a beautifully written story with heart, this book is a must-read. I’m already looking forward to the next book in the series! I also went back to the first "book" within the series that sets up the Enforcers MM Hockey Romance and read all 4 books prior to Misconduct Zone!
Right from the start, I was drawn into the intense, fast-paced world of professional hockey. Leighson does an incredible job of making the sport feel real, from the locker room dynamics to the adrenaline of being on the ice. But what really stood out to me was how well she balanced that action with heartfelt, vulnerable moments between the main characters.
The romance in this book was so well done. The chemistry between the two leads was undeniable, but what I loved most was the emotional depth behind it. It wasn’t just about attraction—it was about trust, fear, and learning to let someone in. The tension between them felt raw and real, especially with the pressures of being in a sport that isn’t always accepting of LGBTQ+ players. Leighson handled these themes with so much care, showing both the struggles and the triumphs of navigating love in a world that isn’t always welcoming.
One scene that really hit me hard was when one of the characters had to make a decision about whether to protect his career or take a risk for love. The emotions in that moment were so strong, I felt every bit of hesitation, fear, and hope that he was feeling. Leighson has a way of writing that makes you feel everything right alongside the characters, and that’s what made this book so powerful.
The supporting characters also added so much to the story. From teammates to coaches, there was a strong sense of camaraderie and tension that felt true to the sports world.
By the time I finished Misconduct Zone, I was completely invested in these characters and their journey. It’s the kind of book that stays with you, making you think about the struggles people face just to be themselves in environments that don’t always allow it. If you love MM romance, sports romance, or just a beautifully written story with heart, this book is a must-read. I’m already looking forward to the next book in the series! I also went back to the first "book" within the series that sets up the Enforcers MM Hockey Romance and read all 4 books prior to Misconduct Zone!
March 16, 2025
When I reviewed The Truth of Our Past, I mentioned that I wanted to know more about Von's best friend and now I have it. Lars is the best friend and this is his story.
From the moment I started reading I was not expecting that heart stopping moment when Lars sees Dylon, his best friend being worked on by paramedics. Lars has had a crush on Dylon for ages but as Dylon is straight and now trying to stay sober, Lars decides to keep quite.
The scenes involving Dylon's addiction and co-dependence was handled with great sensitivity and Lars was such a great friend to Dylon, with his caring nature, and being fully supportive to Dylon, you can see why Dylon starts to fall for Lars.
Even with a supportive friend you could see the struggles Dylon had and my heart went out to him and whilst it was not all smooth sailng between them, love found a way to survive.
As for the hockey there was enough for me, showing the drama on and off the rink. Reading this I had not realised that I had missed the 3rd in the Unframed Art series featuring Emmet, Jayce and Madyson and there is a prelude to this series but this did not stop me enjoying this books. As for the teasers for the next two books in this series were do I sign up as I for one am so looking forward to Caleb's story and now I am going to catch up with the ones I missed
From the moment I started reading I was not expecting that heart stopping moment when Lars sees Dylon, his best friend being worked on by paramedics. Lars has had a crush on Dylon for ages but as Dylon is straight and now trying to stay sober, Lars decides to keep quite.
The scenes involving Dylon's addiction and co-dependence was handled with great sensitivity and Lars was such a great friend to Dylon, with his caring nature, and being fully supportive to Dylon, you can see why Dylon starts to fall for Lars.
Even with a supportive friend you could see the struggles Dylon had and my heart went out to him and whilst it was not all smooth sailng between them, love found a way to survive.
As for the hockey there was enough for me, showing the drama on and off the rink. Reading this I had not realised that I had missed the 3rd in the Unframed Art series featuring Emmet, Jayce and Madyson and there is a prelude to this series but this did not stop me enjoying this books. As for the teasers for the next two books in this series were do I sign up as I for one am so looking forward to Caleb's story and now I am going to catch up with the ones I missed
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