Hot Ice, Tennessee

Hard Spot Saloon #2

by Raleigh Ruebins

A hockey hotshot has me wrapped around his finger…
Even after I learn his dirty secret.

Jesse is cocky, charming, tattooed, and even more possessive off the ice.

…He’s also my friend’s younger brother—which I found out like a puck to the face.

He’s too young, too popular, and he knows he has my attention. He’s a college dreamboat, with frat bros riding his jock every day. My world’s different. I spend my days outside on my ranch riding horses, and my nights at the local saloon, looking for something or someone fun.

Jesse’s more than just fun, though. I’ve been a lonely, hot mess, but my first time with a hockey player lit a fire in me I haven’t felt in too long. I got a taste, and I don’t want to stop.

I’m addicted. To his lips, his mouth, his skin on mine.

He should be off-limits, but when he gets all possessive, telling me that I’m his?

Only one word comes out of my mouth.

Yours.

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

238 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 10, 2025

Reviews

[Dani · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really fun read. I loved the dynamic between Mason the 'Cowboy' and Jesse the college hockey player, plus the fact there's a ten year age gap and Mason is Jesse's older brothers best friend pretty much. There's also a lot of hurt/comfort on both sides and the way Jesse and Mason take care of each other was really cute.

There were definitely some frustrating moments where they kept dancing around each other and what they wanted - to the point I wanted to lock them in a room until they made a decision! These two were so good for each other though, because once they stopped hiding what they actually wanted from each other, it turns out to be the exact same thing and they were so sweet.

Some parts of the plot were a little far fetched or hard to believe, but overall I had a really enjoyable time getting to know these characters and I'm hoping Kane will be getting a book too.

*****

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

[Evelyn Bella (there WILL be spoilers) · Rating 3 out of 5]

The idea of a 21 year old taking a 31 year old back to his FRAT house haunts me.

Why? He has a perfectly private ranch. Do you hate privacy? Does the idea of lumbar support on a great bed disgust you? Which part of sharing a small bed excites you?

Am I finally too old? Practical considerations, people!!

“How do you feel?” he asked after a moment, his voice rich and low still.
“Like I’m ass naked in a frat house.”

Well......

I kinda feel bad for Mason because sure, Jesse's nice but he's so young and he thinks it's cool to refer to himself as a 'hockey Batman' because he's 'dark, lone wolf, and I like the nighttime'.

Lord, please, take the cringe away😩because this can't be the same guy that's giving Mason Twitchy Cock Syndrome when he calls him a 'good boy'.

This is your 'Sir'?

I ask, again, IS THIS YOUR DADDY?!

***Spoiler alert. Apparently, yes.

“I’m not trying to fall for a guy who’s 21, unavailable, and completely off-limits to me, anyway."

Mason, baby, you let him take him take you to his frat house💀

Like, you followed him with a skip in your step. How is this you not trying to fall for him? Be for real, stop pretending. You want to be that boy's 'good boy'.

This book had me feeling ageist which is HORRENDOUS because I'm basically Mason's age but the whole time I was thinking, at BEST, they should call him 'good man' because why are you letting a man a decade younger 'boy' you?!

I know it's the sentiment behind the thought but damn, boy💀

That there is a YOUNGIN.

Who calls him 'Cowboy Fuckboy' 💀💀💀💀

This is messy.

But deep down Mason's really lonely and just wants love. And Jesse's had his heart crushed by his ex who kept hiding them and just wants someone to claim him unambiguously.

I won't lie, the dynamic felt awkward to me but somehow they're exactly what the other needs? So there's that.

“What the fuck, though? Jesse, I’ve never known anyone to hate other people as much as you. You are the most introverted athlete I think I’ve ever known, and Mason… you’re like a goddamned pig in shit whenever there’s a party! You can’t survive one day without being around people. Are you two stupid?”

Yes, they're stupid. But in love. So.... Yay?

Overall, this was okay. Like the first book in this series, not paradigm-shifting. I've read books with wider age-gaps but this one bothered me for some reason.

And it's not even because the older one was the more submissive one(there's an Alexis Hall book called For Real that has that EXACT dynamic with bells on.....✨hello,kink✨.....and I loved it).

So I'm not sure why this one didn't feel right for me.

Here's hoping it's a more fun read for others.

[NitaBee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mason runs his families ranch. His best friend calls him Hot Mess.Jesse plays on his University ice hockey team.

Mason meet Jesse and there’s instant chemistry and flirtation… until Mason finds out Jesse is his best friends younger brother.

‘All right, this is war. It should have been illegal for my friends to have hot younger brothers. Completely illegal. ‘

Jesse’s past boyfriend. His teammate, kept him a secret for two years before breaking his heart.

Mason who is 31 finds out Jesse is 21.

‘He gave me a warning glance. “That was before. You’re not allowed to turn me on anymore. You don’t turn me on anymore.” Lies.’

Look, in real life I’d probably be like no run. It’s two different stages of life. But it’s romantic fantasy so I’ll go with it.

More flirting . A hot kiss. Flirting again.

Mason is dealing with his grief over his dads death. He has some shitty user friends. He throws parties and other things to distract himself from the lost feelings and loneliness .

Mason accidentally mixed allergy medication with tequila but Jesse is there to look after him ands it’s aww so cute.

They spend time together and start to fall for each other . There’s sexy times. Adorable times.

But … they are keeping this secret from Jesse’s older brother.

It’s all good, they worried for nothing, Kane was fine.

They are in love and boyfriends.

‘Hell, it was a fucking riot of blooming color, since Mason walked into my world. Always unexpected, and never tame. And you know what? I fucking loved a hot mess.’

[mich ⚘ · Rating 2 out of 5]

This whole thing felt immature and cringe – and normally I enjoy the age gap but something about an established 30 year old with his own place going back to a frat house to sleep with the younger guy rubbed me so wrong. This just was not for me whatsoever which is a huge let down because I was really looking forward to this book.

[Fernanda Parente · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book, just as I loved the first in this new series.
I love ice hockey books and was very curious about this MC, Mason, since the first book. He's a hot mess, since his father died, a party boy so no one can see how much he's lonely.
Jesse is an athlete, a hockey player and the young brother of Mason's best friend Kane. Both met at Kane bar and the attraction is the there but there is so much in their lives and they swore not have sex this summer, but sparks are there all the time.

[m · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cowboy and Hockey player
Age gap with the younger guy having Daddy energy
Hurt/comfort
Slowish burn
We shouldn’t but we can’t help ourselves

I adored this! It’s soooo sweet. RTC.

[Crisana]

DNF. Not feeling their connection and their dynamic isn't for me either.

[Stephanie (NovelBound1813) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Raleigh Ruebins and Gay Romance Reviews for a digital ARC of this book. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.

I kind of went in blind to this book because I didn't read the first one in the series, but I trusted Raleigh Ruebins to do me right. I'm happy to say that it didn't disappoint! I've read a lot of cowboy romance and I've read a lot of hockey romance, but it's rare that the two get combined. This was the best of both worlds with the added trope of best friend's brother, which I love, and a slight age gap trope.

Jesse and Mason have each been through a lot. Mason is lost after the death of his father and hides his pain by being the life of the party. Jesse was burned by a cheating ex who made him hide their relationship and withdraw from his family. Jesse sees Mason in a way that those closest to him have missed and I loved how he took care of Mason. The attraction was instant, but the actual relationship took time to build up and I loved getting to see it. Now I need to go back and read the first book in the series!

[Shawna (endemictoearth) · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I didn't like this one quite as much as the last one, it is a close run thing--both are solidly four stars. I think Ruebins is now cemented as a go-to comfort author; their books just make me feel warm and fuzzy, which is lovely.

I did like the inverted age-gap dynamic, where the younger MC was much more confident and decisive about what he wants, and the older MC is the diffident and unsure one. I would have liked a bit more build up/explanation for their flirting with light D/s dynamics, but that's a small thing that didn't really diminish my enjoyment.

I don't see any more books planned in this particular series, but I already feel like there's one or two characters I'd like to see in a future book or start of series. As long as this author keeps writing, I plan to keep reading!

Thanks to GRR for the advanced copy, apologies for a slightly delayed review!

[Theodore · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mason randomly texting Jesse that he wanted to kiss again felt a little unjustified. We just spent the last chapter having him emphasize that getting involved with Jesse was a bad idea, only for him to begin flirting unprompted. Same for when Mason just started blurting out all his insecurities to Jesse because of allergy pills. Getting sleepy didn't automatically equal unmitigated honesty in my book.

I didn't understand Mason's no sex summer thingy and would've liked to have seen more context as to why he went into self imposed celibacy (but was still seemingly flirting with people at the bar).

Also, not sure I understand how Jesse's brother didn't connect that Jesse was interested in Mason given the weird questions about him (as someone who was only introduced the night before)

The role reversals were pretty interesting. Despite being the younger one, Jesse was the more confident, "daddy" while Mason seemed a little more submissive and wanted to be praised despite being the older of the two.

Mason not coming to the game Jesse invited him to, but that somehow not having a negative effect on their relationship was weird. Like why even have that + a week timeskip only to have the Mason immediately offer Jesse a BJ for winning. It was super jarring not seeing Mason's POV as he decided to actively act on his attraction (similar to him randomly texting Jesse about eanting to kiss again).

I liked Jesse being very open when he was with Mason. Not wanting to hide their time together because that was what his ex did to him. Though not telling his brother felt a little hypocritical there imo.

Mason blurting stuff out just kinda seemed to be his MO and it was sort of annoying. Instead of showing us he was a mess, he just kept on saying he was. Instead of showing us he was lonely and looking for love, he just tells Jesse explicitly.

Having sex and wanting to sleep over in a frat house felt a little counterproductive for Mason's character journey though imo. I feel like of someone told me they fucked a 21 year old frat boy at 30, then slept over at the frat house, I'd call them a hot mess (which is exactly what Mason was trying to get away from).

The last 25% was about as decent a third act adls it could've been given the story.

I felt like I was missing something the entire time I was reading this. Mason's wants and needs weren't explained well enough and we're sort of just expected to assume that he wanted to stop being a hot mess (despite never really seeing him be a hot mess in the first place) and that his relationship with Jesse somehow helped him get the confidence he needed for self improvement. There were dangling plot lines about the ranch and Mason's grief from his dad that went nowhere and nearly all of Mason's character development happened offscreen between chapters with less than a day between sometimes. Jesse was a bit more defined, but also landed in a similar spot imo. He had issues with his ex + school, and I'm not super sure how his relationship with Mason actually helped him move past all of those other than Mason being a rebound to help him stop thinking about Elliot.

TL;DR: The story was fine, but there were some fundamental issues with regards to narrative that made me feel like I was reading a book with half of the material cut out.

[Ashley | adhdandread · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hot Ice, Tennessee by Raleigh Ruebins
Hard Spot Saloon #2
Length: 237 pages
Source: Gay Romance Reviews eARC
Publication date: April 10, 2025

4 ⭐️
3 🌶️

What to expect:
🏒 MM romance
🐴 Small-town cowboy
🏒 Hockey
🐴 Age gap
🏒 Best friend’s brother
🐴 Opposites attract
🏒 Instant attraction
🐴 Light D/s vibes

Summary
Mason Minton is an extrovert by nature, the life of the party. He’s also been grieving the loss of his dad for a year now, which has put his social-butterfly personality into overdrive. He’ll do just about anything to forget his loneliness, including constant parties and copious amounts of alcohol. One night at the local bar, he sees a gorgeous, younger man unimpressed with Mason’s impulsivity, which only makes him more determined to get the guy’s attention. Until he finds out the man he wants to hook up with is his best friend’s little brother. Whoops.

Jesse Sanocki is coming off a bad breakup. Really bad. Hooking up with someone else isn’t even on his radar, especially once he finds out that Mason is his brother’s best friend. But they can’t seem to stay away from each other. Jesse and the cowboy are drawn together even when they aren’t trying. But even if Jesse can get past the way his last relationship ended, what do they do about his brother?

My Thoughts
This is a short, satisfying read with a couple that is somehow both sweet and steamy in the same breath. Jesse's a bit more Daddy than Mason expected, and Mason's a bit more submissive than either of them thought. Both men have valid reasons to avoid getting involved, the least of which is Jesse’s brother. They’re both living with wounds that are still fresh and want to protect themselves. But their attraction—physical and otherwise—is just too strong. Instead of keeping each other at arm’s length, they quickly become each other’s support. It’s uplifting to see them not let their trauma keep them locked in the past.

Similar small-town vibes:
📘 Ruebins’ Fixer Bros Construction series
📕 Sunshine for Sale by Cora Rose and Nicole Dykes (Hometown Hearts series)
📗 D.J. Jamison’s Swallow Cove series

Even though this is a fun, low-angst book, still be aware of sensitive topics like parental loss, grief, homophobia, explicit sexual content, cheating (brief mention, not between MCs), and alcohol use.

— A

Thanks to Gay Romance Reviews and Raleigh Ruebins for an eARC of this book. All opinions are mine. Full reviews regularly available on BlueSky, StoryGraph, Goodreads, BookBub, and Fable.

[Anne Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow what a fantastic read I have got to say I could not get enough of Jesse and Mason. Both these men are hurting for totally different reasons and they find that between them they can bring happiness.
Mason runs a ranch and riding school but since the loss of his father a year ago, he just didn’t have the heart to continue. He hated being alone so he would go down to hard spot saloon where his was friends with the owner Kane. He would buy everyone drinks for, and throw parties at his house anything so he didn’t feel alone but one night when he was acting the fool he spotted the most gorgeous man. He was younger, but that didn’t stop Mason from following him when he left the patio.
Jesse is hurting. He had just got out of a two year relationship with Elliot who hid their relationship and cheated on him numerous times. But what finally broke the camels back was the fact that he got a girl pregnant. So now he found himself away from the frat house reconnecting with his brother Kane And hoping this summer he would get all of his summer classes complete and concentrate on his college hockey team. He is going to take a year off from relationships. He is just gonna concentrate on college and hockey, but that will changes when he sees a man doing a handstand whilst drinking a beer.
There is an electric energy between these two straight away and Mason really thought that he had a chance with Jess that was until he found out he was Kane‘s brother. And the fact that he was 10 years he senior but 31 wasn’t old. There is so much hurt in this book but these two together find this connection that helps the pain go away. I don’t want to give it all away but this is a fantastic story. The passion they share is just skin tingling. I was absolutely gutted at the end that I had finished this book because I just wanted to keep reading about their lives. An absolutely brilliant read can’t wait for the next book in this series.

[Vicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is book two in the author’s Hard Spot Saloon series and features Mason, aka Hot Mess from book one, Best Friends, Tennessee.

Mason truly was a hot mess after his dad passed. He couldn’t sleep, partied too hard, pulled too many stupid stunts and would do anything with anyone not to have to be alone. When he first met the cute hockey player in the Hard Spot Saloon he decided his s3x free summer to learn to love himself had run its course and he was about to end his dry spell. Too bad the cute hockey player was his best friend’s little brother and his best friend would NOT appreciate him messing around with his little brother.

Jesse was hanging out at his brother’s bar, trying to forget his ex when the handsome cowboy started flirting with him, suddenly he was glad he’d came even though he’d intended to be off the market for a while. Until they each realized who the other was; that changed things significantly.

Even at 21 and a college student, Jesse was pretty mature for his age and a lot more dominant than Mason expected. For his part, Mason enjoyed being more submissive than he had previously realized in his 31 years and though they fought their attraction, it was impossible.

Unlike book one (or any of the other books I’ve read by this author) this one had hints of BDSM. Nothing hard or anything so I didn’t really have a problem with it but I kind of like to know about that beforehand as I’m not a huge fan. I absolutely loved the ending though…how the two finally recognized and admitted their own feelings…it was so sweet. Although I enjoyed this one, book one was my favorite but I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t been looking forward to Hot Mess’s book and finding out who would be the one to rein him in and help him settle down. Hockey romances are some of my favorite, for readers who feel the same way, check it out. 4 stars!

I received a copy of this book for free from GRR but am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Eileen Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

I love this author and every book they write. I really look forward to the next book in every series they write.

Jesse is a college hockey star. He is trying to get over a loss of his ex who is a hockey team mate as well as a frat brother, but he is not out and he needed to hide the relationship, now he got girl pregnant. Jesse is very out and proud. He is an A student and the little brother to Kane the bar owner. Kane allows him to be who he is but also keeps a close eye on him and who he is with.

Mason is getting over his dad's passing. They ran the family ranch together and now that it is all in Mason's hands he is falling a little behind. Going to the bar and hitting on a gorgeous man he could not be more surprised to realize he was hitting on his friend's little brother the hockey star, Sanoki, err Jesse. Now he is in trouble so he decides to walk home even though he is a little tipsy. Thankfully a car stops to offer him a ride. UGH it just happens to be Jesse. How can this go wrong?

Will Mason continue to push Jesse away? Will Jesse keep on trying to show Mason it could be real? Will they decide to keep it from Kane? Does Mason share with Jesse his fears about the ranch? Will Jesse's ex show up at the bar with someone new? Does Mason support Jesse playing hockey? How does Kane find out about the two dating? Will he approve?

I CAN NOT WAIT FOR THE NEXT BOOK..

[Melissa Polk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alright. So I loved book one in this series, but this one has beaten Best Friends, Tennessee easily. Mason is such a wonderfully complex, but ultimately easy to understand, man. While this book could be read as a standalone, I think readers would benefit from getting to know Mason in Finn and Ori's book. It's not necessary but definitely heightens the experience.

As for Jesse? I was leery at first--which is all on me. Younger characters often aren't my thing. But Jesse was written in such a way that I actually struggled to remember how young he was. In fact, Mason was often the more outwardly immature of the pair. It made me stop and think about how different experiences shape people into who they are in a way I didn't expect a romance novel to do--which just lent another layer of enjoyment to the whole thing.

The dynamic between Jesse and Mason was everything I could have asked for. The push and pull, the tension, even the angsty bits. They all had me turning pages faster and deeply invested in the outcome. That said, it's a pretty angst-free story. I mean, there's conflict but it doesn't come out of left field or feel anything other than a part of the natural progression.

I can't wait to see what comes next. This series is fast becoming one I know I'll want to come back to over and over again. Still wanting Max's book, though. Gimme more ghost cat, please-and-thank-you.

[Xanthe · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm so glad to have Mason's story after meeting him in book one of the series, and you could feel the grief pouring from him. His partying ways trying to cover up the loneliness and pain at the loss of his father but it's meeting Jesse, his friend's younger brother, that changes things up for him.
Jesse has had a hard time recently as well, but due to a horrible ex who kept them a secret and then got a girl pregnant! Mason is a breath of fresh air, very outgoing to Jesse's introverted ways and an unexpected bright spot in his days. Hockey is his first love but having to play alongside the ex definitely takes the shine off.
These two together are such a great match in what they can each give to the other in a relationship, as well as that support that having a person in your corner. They ignite the page together and it's easy to feel the chemistry that they share. Both have reasons to pull back due to recent hurts and wanting to protect their hearts but the chance to heal, move forward, and be happy makes the risk worth it. Although, Kane, Mason's best friend and Jesse's older brother, is the one to truly be feared.
Another recommended read from Raleigh that is fairly low angst but deals with grief and a very annoying ex-boyfriend.
I received an ARC and am happily giving a review.

[Tara Bennett · Rating 4 out of 5]

MY OPINION: This is the second book in the series, and I was really looking forward to seeing Hot Mess find his person. I enjoyed it a lot, but not nearly as much as book one. These are some great characters and a good story, but I didn’t get all emotional, which can be good. Generally, this is a very low angst, slow-burn love story. It takes some time for them to give in to what they are feeling and embrace each other.

Mason has been stuck in his grief for a long time, and the young hockey player breaks through all that. He knows he shouldn’t and tries hard not to because he is ten years his junior and his friend’s little brother, but something about being with him, near him, feels right. It doesn’t take much when told by the man what to do for him to give in to the need he feels.

Jesse is a hockey superstar and came out of a bad relationship. He wasn’t ready to commit to someone; he was still licking his wounds. No strings attached, maybe? He couldn’t help his draw to the sexy cowboy, it was like he was the salve he needed to heal and feel complete.

There are some great spice scenes, and you get to know the characters quite well. The Hard Spot Saloon is the central part of a lot of the story, and watching these two find their way with the support of their friends makes for a great book. It’s a nice addition to the series.

[Richelle Zirkle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this one better than expected, and that's because the Mason that was described in book one is not the Mason we get. This is very much a man who is grieving for the loss of his dad, his whole world, realizing his whole world can change in a minute and trying to make the most of the time he has left. He absolutely makes poor decisions, but it's not coming from a bad place. Jesse is a college hockey standout. He has the worst ex in the world—someone who not only hid him, but is a habitual liar and user. He still has to see his ex in the frat house and on the ice as his teammate. Jesse's finally trying to reclaim his life and reestablish his relationship with his older brother Kane, who owns the bar and is Mason's friend. Rightfully, Kane feels protective of Jesse, knowing what he's been through. These two just work even though everything says they shouldn't and they should stay far away from each other. The way they look out for each other and put one another first definitely made me smile, especially after knowing they really needed to find some happiness. More than ever, I'm looking forward to the next book.

[Jack Harkness · Rating 5 out of 5]

small chocolate Hostess cakes, yellow sticky note, basil syrup, Zoombimi, froyo, ghost cat, sucker punch, crab-walk

It's a touching romance between two unlikely MCs. One's 21, the other 31; an introverted college hockey center paired with an extroverted wild-child horse rancher. Both are experiencing their own type of grief. And they have mad chemistry.

Mason's father died suddenly last year. He's achingly lonely. So he throws parties and often hooks up at the Hard Spot Saloon. His searching eyes land on a new customer/meat sitting in a dark corner. The young stranger is stunningly handsome. Mason's flirting is rebuffed. But, it's undeniable they are attracted to each other.

It turns out that Jesse is a college hockey player going through a recent bad breakup. AND, he's The Hard Spot's owner, Kane. Kane is Mason's best friend who probably not approve of the two hooking up. That itself puts the kibosh on the hope of a hookup.

I enjoyed the book for what it is: a fictional MM romance. And I gobbled up the story in a day. It kept me that interested and got me that invested until the end. We met most of the characters in Book 1, "Best Friends, Tennessee". I recommend it.

[Bailie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Another amazing book! While I loved the first book in this series, I think I loved this book even more! I love the hockey aspect, but I also love the pain that both characters in this book have to overcome in order to truly be together! I love the way that Jesse never gives up on Mason and continues to fight for what he wants with him even though he is fighting his own fears. And I love that Mason is trying his best to give Jesse what he thinks Jesse wants but also trying to better himself and failing to deny that it’s Jesse that he truly wants and needs in his life. I also love that mason realizes that he has a family even if his dad is no longer with him and that Jesse helps him to realize that. And I love how everything goes down with Elliot because he finally got what he deserves and it only pushes Jesse and mason closer together! The epilogue is everything too, because Jesse knows who mason is and he loves and supports him exactly as he is by giving him exactly what mason never knew he needed! Overall, I love this book and I so wish that there were more books in this series!!!

[Tashyka · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Hard Spot Saloon series continues with Raleigh Ruebins's Hot Ice, Tennessee, the second installment. This book was even more amazing than the first. Mason, better known as Hot Mess, is on the hunt. He has been seeking acceptance through hookups and bar visits ever since his father passed away and left him the ranch. Since then, he has been unable to teach riding lessons. Jesse is a hockey player for his college team who is heartbroken after his ex-girlfriend cheated on him and hid their relationship. Although there are several obstacles that prevent them from pursuing a relationship upon meeting (such as the age difference and the fact that Mason's friend is Jesse's brother), the attraction between them is obvious. Their personalities were a perfect match, and they both yearned for affection. Jesse was there to provide Mason the steadiness he needed. It was hot, too, with the spicy situations. This one was fantastic, and I can't wait for the next one!I received a copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews, and this is my honest review.

[C.B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

So HOT, fingertips singing holding the kindle! Jessie, nicknamed The Plow, puts off confident vibes, but he is shielding a world of betrayal and hurt. Mason, nicknamed The Mess, is missing his resently transitioned Dad, is alone in his big house and lonely. He seeks company from random available sources. Then again, Jessis is the 21 year old brother of Mason's best friend, Kane. Jesse is working through dealing with his betraying ex, current team mate, Elliot, keeping his grades up and hoping to get to the NHL. Both men are working through what they are looking for, what they need and what they want. The author does an amazing job bringing the reality of their good points, bad points, what makes them tick and their dilemmas in a clear relatable way. They are everyday men trying to make the best of life and find their places. They are likeable men and their friend support structure are fun. It was good seing Finn and Ori again and I look forward to reading about the other men. Well done! I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Amanda Winter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hot Ice Tennessee was everything I want in a short, steamy romance—emotional depth, delicious tension, and characters I instantly fell for. Mason, the broody cowboy and Jesse, the younger, driven hockey player, had insane chemistry from the start. With a ten-year age gap, a best friend’s little brother dynamic, and a vow of “no sex this summer”... yeah, we knew that wasn’t going to last.

The slow burn was so worth it. The build-up made their eventual connection feel earned and so satisfying. There was just enough angst to tug at your heart without overwhelming the story, and the hurt/comfort between them was tender and beautifully done.

Mason’s grief and party-boy mask, Jesse’s determination and vulnerability—these two brought out the best in each other. And once they finally stopped dancing around what they both wanted? Pure sweetness.

This was a quick read with a perfect spice-to-plot ratio, easy prose, and lots of heart. I adored the first book in the series and this one made me love Mason even more. Can’t wait for what’s next from Raleigh Ruebins.

[L H · Rating 4 out of 5]

​Jesse and Mason met and instantly there was interest. Mason could not help being drawn to the one guy on the patio who was not mesmerized by his party trick. Jesse is a young guy who is laboring under a lot of expectations. He also has to deal with a crappy ex that is still in his face both at home in the frat house where they live and on the ice where Jesse is a talented hockey player. Kane, who owns the bar where they met, is a good friend of Mason's and Jesse's older brother. This is a wrinkle but not a deal breaker for a pair of guys who have a lot going on individually but it turns out being together helps them do just that. They are good for one another and although there is an age difference there is enough caring and synergy there. These two just work as a couple and that makes them each stronger individuals. And they are sweet in the way they encourage one another to boot.
I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Joyfully Jay · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Joyfully Jay review.

3.75 stars

This is the second book in the Hard Spot Saloon series, following Mason and his romantic adventures with his best friend’s baby brother. It’s also an age gap romance, as Mason is ten years older than Jesse. Jesse plays hockey for his college, lives in a frat house, and is doing his best to get past his ex, Elliot, who kept Jesse a secret for two years. His ex who lives in the frat house with him, who plays on the same team, and who Jesse still has to face every day. He’s tired of the schoolyard shit Elliot keeps rubbing in his face. Is it any wonder he finds himself caught by Mason’s easy affability, his all-encompassing generosity? To the thought of having someone he could be out with, open with, someone he could trust to behave like an adult?

Read Elizabeth’s review in its entirety here.

[CatOnABlueBackground · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved book #1 - #2 is just as good. You don't have to read the first book to understand this one.

It's a love story between a college hockey planer (Jesse) and a rancher (Mason). One's getting over a bad breakup, and the other is getting over losing his father. They see each other across the bar, and it's instant attraction - although it takes awhile for them to realize they are each other's person. Note: while Jesse is a hockey player, the emphasis of this book is NOT on hockey - in fact there's not a lot of hockey in it. In fact, there's not a lot about the ranch that Mason owns either - it's really more about who these characters are as people and their journey to leave their pasts behind & move towards each other.

Loved the characters, loved the writing (I love all of Ruebins' books).

[Showarst · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hot Ice, Tennessee by Raleigh Ruebins is book 2 in the Hard Spot Saloon series. I loved book one and this one was even better. Mason, aka Hot Mess, is looking for something. Ever since his dad died and left him the ranch, he is unable to give riding lessons and looks for acceptance in hook-ups and trips to the bar. Jesse is a college hockey player who is hurting from his ex cheating on him and hiding their relationship. When these two meet, there are lots of reasons that they don’t seek a relationship (age gap, Jesse’s brother being Mason’s friend, etc), but the chemistry is palpable. They fit so well and both of them just wanted to be loved. Mason needed stability and Jesse was there to help. The spicy scenes were hot too. I loved this one quite a bit and cannot wait to read the next one!

I received an ARC from GRR for my honest review

[Mandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one was so fun! I love the grumpy jock/ sunshiney playboy who's actually lonely dynamic in this one. :) I love that Jesse saw Mason almost immediately and wanted to get to know him deeper than the fun-loving party boy that everyone else assumed he was. I loved the "forbidden" aspect of their relationship, even if it was mostly in their minds. :) AKA trying to do what they thought was the right thing. These 2 were instantly drawn to each other - physically, yes, but also Jesse's need to take care of Mason and make sure he was okay was endearing. Ruebins does small-town found family so well and I'm here for all of it. Once again, we have a central meeting place where all the characters hang out, and I look forward to more adventures at the Hard Spot. There are a few characters I'd love to see get their own stories. (cough... Matt, Andrew, Kane...cough) LOL

[Joanne Mccorkell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved our Hot Mess and The Plow together. Despite the fact both men were hurting, they were in the right place at the right time, to help the other heal

Mason was feeling lost and lonely, grieving for the only blood family member he had, his dad. Yes he had another family, a found one, but in grief, he wasnt thinking along those lines.
Jesse was hurt, he was forced into the closet by the partner he thought he loved. The same partner that cheated on him repeatedly, this same relationship made him turn away from the brother who helped raise him.

Despite Kane being Jesses brother, he was also one of Mason best friends, and when Mason was willing to be there, beside and in front of Jesse, Kane knew they were right for eachother..Hell, even Robbie said Jesse smiled more over the last few months, than before

[Teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed these two together. I don’t mind an age gap romance aslong as it’s done right and this one was for me. They have an interesting dynamic that might not work for some but I think it’s written really well. You normally expect the oldest person to be more dominant but it’s not always the case. Jessie had intense alpha vibes that suited Mason perfectly. I like when two slightly lost souls find their person. Mason’s had a rough time of it with the loss of his father, he’s been feeling lost for a while and needed someone to ground him again. He needs a lot of care and understanding with a firm hand. Jessie is recovering himself from a bad break up so Mason is a good distraction for him. They both fall quick and hard and it’s fun to see them both try and play it cool. The chemistry is spicy and it doesn’t take long to see how good they are for each other. They have a lot of fun alongside the intense moments, it’s a good balance.

This is shaping up to be a really good series and I look forward to the next book.