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The Saints of Westmont U #3
Rules of Play
He was supposed to be my study subject, not my obsession.
Shane
I study elite athletes: their focus, their flaws, their fire. But Patrick Callahan? He’s a category of his own.
Too loud, too confident, and way too hot to be safe for science.
He’s all swagger and sweat and reckless charm.
Tracking his heartbeat was easy.
Keeping mine under control? Impossible.
Now I’m kissing this bi-curious jock in dark corners and pretending this isn’t the most unprofessional thing I’ve ever done.
He’s not just messing with my research—he’s messing with my heart.
If I’m not careful, he might just break it.
Patrick
I agreed to let the shy nerd shadow me for a psych project.
Discovering the range of my sexuality and falling for him was never part of the plan.
But Shane—my sweet, brilliant, rule-following Shane—has no idea how much I crave him.
He thinks I don’t see how he stares when I stretch after practice, or how red his ears get when I take off my shirt.
He thinks I’m just a jock with no heart. I’ll show him just how wrong he is.
I’ll make him feel it—on the ice, in my bed, and everywhere in between.
Because once I’ve got him, I’m keeping him.
Rules of Play is a hockey romance and the third in The Saints of Westmont U series. It follows a shy nerd and a cocky jock in a forced proximity thesis research, gay awakening, and first times. While each book can be read on its own, reading in order will be more fun.
Shane
I study elite athletes: their focus, their flaws, their fire. But Patrick Callahan? He’s a category of his own.
Too loud, too confident, and way too hot to be safe for science.
He’s all swagger and sweat and reckless charm.
Tracking his heartbeat was easy.
Keeping mine under control? Impossible.
Now I’m kissing this bi-curious jock in dark corners and pretending this isn’t the most unprofessional thing I’ve ever done.
He’s not just messing with my research—he’s messing with my heart.
If I’m not careful, he might just break it.
Patrick
I agreed to let the shy nerd shadow me for a psych project.
Discovering the range of my sexuality and falling for him was never part of the plan.
But Shane—my sweet, brilliant, rule-following Shane—has no idea how much I crave him.
He thinks I don’t see how he stares when I stretch after practice, or how red his ears get when I take off my shirt.
He thinks I’m just a jock with no heart. I’ll show him just how wrong he is.
I’ll make him feel it—on the ice, in my bed, and everywhere in between.
Because once I’ve got him, I’m keeping him.
Rules of Play is a hockey romance and the third in The Saints of Westmont U series. It follows a shy nerd and a cocky jock in a forced proximity thesis research, gay awakening, and first times. While each book can be read on its own, reading in order will be more fun.
312 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 17, 2025
103 people are currently reading
260 people want to read
About the author
Hayden Hall
72 books768 followersGay. Sweet. Steamy.
Hayden Hall writes MM romance novels. He is a boyfriend, a globetrotter, and an avid romance reader.
Hayden's mission is to author a catalog of captivating and steamy MM romance novels which gather a devoted community around the Happily Ever Afters.
His stories are sweet with just the right amount of naughty.
You can get in touch with Hayden on Facebook or through his website at haydenhallwrites.com
Hayden Hall writes MM romance novels. He is a boyfriend, a globetrotter, and an avid romance reader.
Hayden's mission is to author a catalog of captivating and steamy MM romance novels which gather a devoted community around the Happily Ever Afters.
His stories are sweet with just the right amount of naughty.
You can get in touch with Hayden on Facebook or through his website at haydenhallwrites.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 144 reviews
June 13, 2025
Rules of Play is a low-angst opposites-attract featuring hockey player Patrick and psychology student Shane, who shadows Patrick and his hockey team for his psychology project. The close proximity leads to feelings developing between Patrick and Shane.
I really enjoyed this story; I love an entertaining opposites-attract story, and Shane and Patrick could not be more different. Shane is reserved, introverted, and bookish, while Patrick is friendly, extroverted, and demanding. The chemistry between Patrick and Shane is obvious, resulting in many jokes from Patrick's teammates. I enjoyed the playful push/pull between these two while patiently waiting for them to acknowledge their shared feelings.
Overall, this is another great addition to the series. It has heart, romance, and excellent chemistry between the two main characters. I enjoyed it from start to finish and cannot wait for the next one.
*** I reviewed a complimentary copy of this story.***
I really enjoyed this story; I love an entertaining opposites-attract story, and Shane and Patrick could not be more different. Shane is reserved, introverted, and bookish, while Patrick is friendly, extroverted, and demanding. The chemistry between Patrick and Shane is obvious, resulting in many jokes from Patrick's teammates. I enjoyed the playful push/pull between these two while patiently waiting for them to acknowledge their shared feelings.
Overall, this is another great addition to the series. It has heart, romance, and excellent chemistry between the two main characters. I enjoyed it from start to finish and cannot wait for the next one.
*** I reviewed a complimentary copy of this story.***
June 19, 2025
ALL THE STARS
✨✨✨✨✨🪄✨✨✨✨✨
I loved everything about this gorgeously hot falling in love bi awakening - virgin story. It gives hope that dreams do come true in the most profound and amazing ways. A forever story that makes you all warm and fuzzy. I can't stop smiling from the joy Patrick and Shane bring.
This hockey world Hayden Hall has brought us is everything.🤗🌈♥️🤗🌈🏒🏒🏒
*favorites
*to reread
*to buy paperback
✨✨✨✨✨🪄✨✨✨✨✨
I loved everything about this gorgeously hot falling in love bi awakening - virgin story. It gives hope that dreams do come true in the most profound and amazing ways. A forever story that makes you all warm and fuzzy. I can't stop smiling from the joy Patrick and Shane bring.
This hockey world Hayden Hall has brought us is everything.🤗🌈♥️🤗🌈🏒🏒🏒
*favorites
*to reread
*to buy paperback
June 26, 2025
Rules of Play is book three in The Saints of Westmont U series. This MM college hockey romance story is about Patrick and Shane.
We met Patrick in the previous books as the hockey player and teammate/friend of Easton and Elio. Shane is the lanky nerd doing a semester long thesis in which he needs to shadow a study subject. Patrick has agreed to let Shane monitor his vitals while observing his routines, which includes following him to his practices, gym sessions and games.
Shane is gay and inexperienced while Patrick is straight and into casual hookups. Shane is easily attracted to Patrick, and it isn’t long before Patrick realizes he is attracted to Shane. Since this was all new to Patrick, I can understand why he was confused and hesitant. But I didn’t like how it made him act so hot and cold with Shane. I was relieved that once Patrick finally gave in, he was all in with Shane.
Patrick and Shane’s story was sweet and spicy. They are definitely opposites, but I found it interesting that they both had insecurities. I will say I wasn’t a big fan of what happened between them towards the end, but Patrick and Shane were great guys and I couldn’t help but root for things to work out for them.
I received an advanced copy of this book, and this is my honest review.
We met Patrick in the previous books as the hockey player and teammate/friend of Easton and Elio. Shane is the lanky nerd doing a semester long thesis in which he needs to shadow a study subject. Patrick has agreed to let Shane monitor his vitals while observing his routines, which includes following him to his practices, gym sessions and games.
Shane is gay and inexperienced while Patrick is straight and into casual hookups. Shane is easily attracted to Patrick, and it isn’t long before Patrick realizes he is attracted to Shane. Since this was all new to Patrick, I can understand why he was confused and hesitant. But I didn’t like how it made him act so hot and cold with Shane. I was relieved that once Patrick finally gave in, he was all in with Shane.
Patrick and Shane’s story was sweet and spicy. They are definitely opposites, but I found it interesting that they both had insecurities. I will say I wasn’t a big fan of what happened between them towards the end, but Patrick and Shane were great guys and I couldn’t help but root for things to work out for them.
I received an advanced copy of this book, and this is my honest review.
September 19, 2025
Sadly, I wasn’t exactly excited to read this one — I mostly pushed through just to finish it. It wasn’t bad, though. I liked that there was more hockey here than in the earlier books, and I really love the whole nerd x hockey player trope. I also loved the idea of Shane’s study, but in the end nothing was explained about it — it just felt like a convenient way for the author to create their first meeting and I don’t hate it.
I can even say that I would have loved Patrick, but there just wasn’t enough depth to him for me to get there. I liked the personality we did see, but I wished for more. His confusion about what he was feeling toward Shane was barely touched on, just a speck in the whole book. I liked Shane; he was a cute character, but there just wasn’t anything about him that made him memorable to me.
I guess I just like my books to have complexity and more depth. I enjoy lighthearted stories too, but they still need a well-developed plot and a romance with real substance. Here, the plot felt like it was written just to be written, which is frustrating because I can see the potential in every couple and storyline of this series. Instead, everything stayed surface-level and in the end, it just wasn’t for me.
That said, I am glad I finished the series. It wasn’t great, but I didn’t hate it either. Looking back, all four books feel the same way to me: characters that aren’t fully developed, plots that feel rushed, and tropes that had so much potential but never fully landed for me.
I can even say that I would have loved Patrick, but there just wasn’t enough depth to him for me to get there. I liked the personality we did see, but I wished for more. His confusion about what he was feeling toward Shane was barely touched on, just a speck in the whole book. I liked Shane; he was a cute character, but there just wasn’t anything about him that made him memorable to me.
I guess I just like my books to have complexity and more depth. I enjoy lighthearted stories too, but they still need a well-developed plot and a romance with real substance. Here, the plot felt like it was written just to be written, which is frustrating because I can see the potential in every couple and storyline of this series. Instead, everything stayed surface-level and in the end, it just wasn’t for me.
That said, I am glad I finished the series. It wasn’t great, but I didn’t hate it either. Looking back, all four books feel the same way to me: characters that aren’t fully developed, plots that feel rushed, and tropes that had so much potential but never fully landed for me.
June 30, 2025
I thought this was pretty good, but it felt a bit rushed. I don't think we got enough of Patrick figuring out why he was attracted to Shane. I also thought the 3rd act drama was OTT and unnecessary. Patrick was very underdeveloped in the previous books, so it was nice to see him fleshed out here. As always, Hall writes very well and his steamy scenes are probably the best in the genre.
June 18, 2025
4 stars
Very good emotional love story from Hayden Hall.
Patrick, hockey player for the Saints, is the typical handsome cocky jock. Shane is the invisible shy student who wants to observe him for his psychology project.
The two of them couldn't be more different and yet they are drawn to each other and can't really stay away. Shane is gay and Patrick represents all he wanted to be when he still had his dream, while Patrick is supposedly straight but he craves Shane's attention and he flirts with him endlessly.
I found Patrick's bi awakening very well written: every conflicted emotions, every doubts, every fickle behaviour were realistic.
As usual, the physical scenes are amazing: emotional, intimate, beautiful. Hayden Hall doesn't just narrate what the men are doing but he goes deep into their souls and gives us all their feelings.
Their first time is absolutely wonderful, I felt like I was intruding in a utterly precious moment.
What prevented me from giving a higher rate:
I didn't really understand the reason of the third act breakup, it seemed just an overreacting from both of them.
The side character are great: Easton, Jace, Jaxon and Elio are very good friends, especially Elio: I loved his conversation with Patrick.
Next book will be about Lennox and Oliver and I'm very curious to see what their story will be.
I received an ARC of this book from the author and this is my honest review.
Very good emotional love story from Hayden Hall.
Patrick, hockey player for the Saints, is the typical handsome cocky jock. Shane is the invisible shy student who wants to observe him for his psychology project.
The two of them couldn't be more different and yet they are drawn to each other and can't really stay away. Shane is gay and Patrick represents all he wanted to be when he still had his dream, while Patrick is supposedly straight but he craves Shane's attention and he flirts with him endlessly.
I found Patrick's bi awakening very well written: every conflicted emotions, every doubts, every fickle behaviour were realistic.
As usual, the physical scenes are amazing: emotional, intimate, beautiful. Hayden Hall doesn't just narrate what the men are doing but he goes deep into their souls and gives us all their feelings.
Their first time is absolutely wonderful, I felt like I was intruding in a utterly precious moment.
What prevented me from giving a higher rate:
I didn't really understand the reason of the third act breakup, it seemed just an overreacting from both of them.
The side character are great: Easton, Jace, Jaxon and Elio are very good friends, especially Elio: I loved his conversation with Patrick.
Next book will be about Lennox and Oliver and I'm very curious to see what their story will be.
I received an ARC of this book from the author and this is my honest review.
June 20, 2025
Such a great book. The best of this series.
Loved Patrick since the beginning, but Shane...OMG Shane is the sweetest. I want to have him as bestie
This book can be read as standalone but it's much more fun to read in order of release, because Patrick's friends, especially Elio are very important for this romance.
I loved it
Loved Patrick since the beginning, but Shane...OMG Shane is the sweetest. I want to have him as bestie
This book can be read as standalone but it's much more fun to read in order of release, because Patrick's friends, especially Elio are very important for this romance.
I loved it
June 25, 2025
Thank you so much GRR for the arc!
This was my first Hayden Hall book, and I'm happy to report that I enjoyed it.
This story follows a very shy, nerd named Shane who is looking for a specimen to study for his thesis on athlete's performances.
He finds Patrick and is instantly obsessed, and pleased to hear that he agrees to be his subject.
I loved the forced prox of all of this, and with the monitoring ??? It was perfection!
Shane fears that his feelings may be one sided, but when he sees spikes in heart rate whenever they're close, it makes him question if there is something more going on.
The characters didn't really seem memorable to me, unfortunately and the plot was kind of thin. I felt like the attraction Patrick felt was just him liking that someone wanted him.
I also wasn't a huge fan of some of the conflict in the book bc it felt forced, but I enjoyed this short read and will look out for more HH books in the future! 💖
This was my first Hayden Hall book, and I'm happy to report that I enjoyed it.
This story follows a very shy, nerd named Shane who is looking for a specimen to study for his thesis on athlete's performances.
He finds Patrick and is instantly obsessed, and pleased to hear that he agrees to be his subject.
I loved the forced prox of all of this, and with the monitoring ??? It was perfection!
Shane fears that his feelings may be one sided, but when he sees spikes in heart rate whenever they're close, it makes him question if there is something more going on.
The characters didn't really seem memorable to me, unfortunately and the plot was kind of thin. I felt like the attraction Patrick felt was just him liking that someone wanted him.
I also wasn't a huge fan of some of the conflict in the book bc it felt forced, but I enjoyed this short read and will look out for more HH books in the future! 💖
June 16, 2025
Rules of Pay by Hayden Hall is the third installment in The Saints of Westmont U series, and honestly, it's probably my favorite so far. This story centers on Shane, a shy, endearing psych student gathering data for his thesis, and his research subject, Patrick—the charismatic, cocky hockey star who loves to be the center of attention.
Shane’s research requires him to shadow Patrick throughout his daily life, observing and recording his behavior in every context. Patrick, ever the showman, expects to enjoy the spotlight—but he doesn't anticipate just how much he’ll crave Shane’s quiet, focused gaze.
Part of the project involves Patrick wearing a smartwatch that tracks his heart rate and other metrics 24/7. And when Shane starts analyzing the data… let’s just say the spikes aren’t what either of them expected.
Things really heat up when they’re stuck sharing a room—and a bed—during an away game. It’s the perfect storm of tension, desire, and vulnerability, and when they finally give in to their feelings, the chemistry is electric.
The spicy scenes? Long, detailed, and absolutely delicious. But what truly stands out is how Patrick balances the heat with genuine tenderness. He’s attentive and gentle with Shane, making his inexperience feel seen and cherished, and going out of his way to ensure their first time is special.
Beyond the romance, the plot is genuinely compelling. There's enough drama to keep the pages turning without tipping into full-on angst. It strikes that sweet spot between emotional depth and feel-good fun.
I have such a soft spot for the nerd/jock trope, and this hit all the right notes for me. Hayden’s writing continues to impress—it’s vibrant, heartfelt, and totally addictive.
Vibes:
• One bed
• Nerd/jock
• First times
• Virgin MC
• Forced proximity
• Queer-awakening
Rating: 4.5⭐️
Spice: 2🌶
Shane’s research requires him to shadow Patrick throughout his daily life, observing and recording his behavior in every context. Patrick, ever the showman, expects to enjoy the spotlight—but he doesn't anticipate just how much he’ll crave Shane’s quiet, focused gaze.
Part of the project involves Patrick wearing a smartwatch that tracks his heart rate and other metrics 24/7. And when Shane starts analyzing the data… let’s just say the spikes aren’t what either of them expected.
Things really heat up when they’re stuck sharing a room—and a bed—during an away game. It’s the perfect storm of tension, desire, and vulnerability, and when they finally give in to their feelings, the chemistry is electric.
The spicy scenes? Long, detailed, and absolutely delicious. But what truly stands out is how Patrick balances the heat with genuine tenderness. He’s attentive and gentle with Shane, making his inexperience feel seen and cherished, and going out of his way to ensure their first time is special.
Beyond the romance, the plot is genuinely compelling. There's enough drama to keep the pages turning without tipping into full-on angst. It strikes that sweet spot between emotional depth and feel-good fun.
I have such a soft spot for the nerd/jock trope, and this hit all the right notes for me. Hayden’s writing continues to impress—it’s vibrant, heartfelt, and totally addictive.
Vibes:
• One bed
• Nerd/jock
• First times
• Virgin MC
• Forced proximity
• Queer-awakening
Rating: 4.5⭐️
Spice: 2🌶
June 21, 2025
When I read the blurb I was intrigued… but as the story went on I found myself just reading to finish. Shane and Patrick just didn’t draw me in. There was a lot of internal dialogue which at times was really wordy. There were times that I was lost in what day or scene it was because the events were being talked about in the present but also in the past. It just confused me. Some of the wording used during hockey drills and games was weird for me as a hockey fan. And the most confusing part of the story for me was that I didn’t understand the actual point of the thesis that Shane was writing. The conflict felt like a nonissue which was resolved super quick. But the reason for the conflict/breakup was actually a pretty big deal.
The spice was good. Some scenes just got lost in the internal dialogue. Patrick was a typical hockey character. Shane was a bit harder for me to connect to. He was really insecure but I never fully understood why. Neither character made me want to know more about their lives which was okay because we didn’t learn anything about where they came from.
I liked the premise but it just wasn’t my favorite read.
The spice was good. Some scenes just got lost in the internal dialogue. Patrick was a typical hockey character. Shane was a bit harder for me to connect to. He was really insecure but I never fully understood why. Neither character made me want to know more about their lives which was okay because we didn’t learn anything about where they came from.
I liked the premise but it just wasn’t my favorite read.
June 15, 2025
This is the third book in this series and I think it might be my favorite so far. It can definitely be read as a standalone, but it's better read in order.
Shane, who is a sports psychology student will be shadowing and closely observing Patrick as part of a semester long thesis. Their whole story felt very sweet and it was a great low-angst read. I enjoyed seeing the chemistry and tension between Shane and Patrick, it was fun seeing the accidental flirting between these two. It was also fun to watch Shane's little experiment to be sure about the cause Patrick's pulse skyrocketing at certain times. I loved how they understood each other and how swoony and sweet they were. There was a depth of emotions here that I really appreciated. They made each other feel things they were missing and I loved how gone they were for each other.
I feel like the pacing of the book was really good and it felt like a quick and easy read with sweet and swoony moments, but also funny and hot moments as well.
If you want a strangers to lovers hockey romance that is full of cuteness and is low-angst, then this is the book for you!
Shane, who is a sports psychology student will be shadowing and closely observing Patrick as part of a semester long thesis. Their whole story felt very sweet and it was a great low-angst read. I enjoyed seeing the chemistry and tension between Shane and Patrick, it was fun seeing the accidental flirting between these two. It was also fun to watch Shane's little experiment to be sure about the cause Patrick's pulse skyrocketing at certain times. I loved how they understood each other and how swoony and sweet they were. There was a depth of emotions here that I really appreciated. They made each other feel things they were missing and I loved how gone they were for each other.
I feel like the pacing of the book was really good and it felt like a quick and easy read with sweet and swoony moments, but also funny and hot moments as well.
If you want a strangers to lovers hockey romance that is full of cuteness and is low-angst, then this is the book for you!
June 27, 2025
"He toyed with me as if for the simple pleasure of an increased blood pressure. He teased me as if it were a ride at an amusement park, and he just wanted to feel the thrill of it. And at the end of the day, I locked the door of my room, closed my eyes, and used him the same way. I used him to get high. The thrill I hadn’t felt for someone in ages."
Hayden Hall continues his fabulous The Saints of Westmont u series, with Rules of Play, which is an absolute cracker! This is Shane and Patrick's story and I LOVED them.
What To Expect
❣️MM romance
❣️Opposites attract
❣️Nerd/jock
❣️First times
❣️Found family
❣️Virgin MC
❣️Forced proximity
❣️Bi-awakening
❣️All the spice
❣️HEA
4.25 stars
Hayden Hall continues his fabulous The Saints of Westmont u series, with Rules of Play, which is an absolute cracker! This is Shane and Patrick's story and I LOVED them.
What To Expect
❣️MM romance
❣️Opposites attract
❣️Nerd/jock
❣️First times
❣️Found family
❣️Virgin MC
❣️Forced proximity
❣️Bi-awakening
❣️All the spice
❣️HEA
4.25 stars
June 12, 2025
Rules of Play is the third book in The Saints of Westmont U series. While each book can be read on its own, reading in order will be more fun. Shane a shy nerd and Patrick a cocky hockey player. This was a fun read as I have always had a love for shy nerds. The attraction between these two was quick but admitting it and accepting it takes longer. I loved seeing the other characters from previous books pop in. This felt like a real life story not a book. I could definitely see something like this happening in real life. I can't wait for the next book in the series. I would definitely recommend this book and series.
June 15, 2025
This is a great addition to the Saints of Westmount University series! This is Shane and Patrick's story! What I love about this series is that each story is super engaging, complex and filled with wonderful characters that you will root for! I can't wait for book four! I read an advanced copy of this story and this is my unbiased review! I loved it!
June 19, 2025
This is the third installment in the Saints of Westmont U series by author Hayden Hall. It took Shane and Patrick so long to realize how perfect they are for each other. It was such a fun take on the hockey romance genre to throw introverted Shane into the mix and have him shadowing the hockey team. I loved their chemistry and the spice was fabulous.
July 12, 2025
Review to come
June 15, 2025
Rules of Play by Hayden Hall is the 3rd book in his Saints of Westmont U series. It is the story of two college students, one a nerd and one a jock, who come together over a research project and fall in love. Shane is often clumsy, has social anxiety, and has a desperate need for other people, even though he is often solitary. He is studying to be a psychologist at Westmont U and has an idea for a thesis that involves shadowing a study subject and observing his routines, activities, and personal life while recording his physiological responses and conversations about them and researching how his emotional regulation influences his performance and mental state. His chosen subject is Patrick Callahan, a hockey player for the Saints who has the reputation of being a hothead and for playing rough. Shane doesn’t do well with interpersonal communication and is hoping Patrick will say no to the research but when they meet to talk, he says yes and even at that meeting Shane starts to feel an attraction that he thinks could never be returned. As Shane begins his shadowing, he gives Patrick a smart watch that will record his physical responses to different activities and he introduces Shane to the team and tells them to treat him like one of them. He then starts his routine of watching him play, work out, and be with his friends while taking notes in his notebooks, and checking his watch for changes in his heartbeat during different activities. As they debrief they talk and learn more about each other. Shane feels his attraction growing and decides to try something risky by working out with Patrick and the results, when looking at the smart watch data shock him as it appears that Patrick might be reacting to him. However, he feels guilty because he is supposed to be a neutral participant in this experiment and his actions are getting in the way. Meanwhile Patrick is having some doubts because he has always thought himself to be straight but is developing feelings for Shane but he needs time to figure things out. Because of this he would tease and touch him but then turn away and shut down, frustrating Shane to no end. Then on a road trip to Detroit they end up sharing a room and a single bed together and Patrick gets a little jealous when another guy flirts with Shane which leads to a hot love scene where both feel a connection they haven’t felt with anyone in the past. Patrick didn’t have any regrets over what they did and had never felt worshipped before like he does with Shane. Shane knew they had a bond and that he could just be himself and they both trusted and felt safe with each other. So their lives continued together, although they didn’t let the team know yet, with more games, working out, and being together. Then it was time for Shane to use his data to write his thesis and things started to fall apart when Patrick read what he had written in one of his notebooks that hurt him and broke his trust. Luckily his best friend gave him some good advice that led him back to Shane and their realization that they loved each other, were worth fighting for, and were looking forward to the future together. I really enjoyed this story. Patrick and Shane were opposites in every way at the beginning of the story but grew in many ways throughout the book. Shane was socially inept and dressed in baggy clothes to hide himself but as he spent time with Patrick this changed and he became more confident. Patrick was like two different people: in regular life he was a flirt and loved attention, but on the ice his singular purpose was to score and win and he wouldn’t let anyone get in his way. He was also caring and wanted to meet Shane’s needs, especially when they were together. Shane saw the real him and he could just be himself with him. The other guys on the team played a part in their story, especially when they had their falling out, and were able to help them find their way back to each other. I highly recommend this book, especially if you like opposite attract stories involving hockey, nerds doing research, and that research leading them to find love together.
June 24, 2025
I loved this story of hockey player Patrick and lovable nerd researcher Shane. Shane is working on his thesis “how emotional regulation influences an athlete’s performance and mental state” and has chosen Patrick as his research subject - confident, handsome, cocky, good sense of humor, but on ice a hothead who plays rough and sometimes lets his temper get the best of him, - Patrick, the man Shane will shadow for the entire semester in all parts of his life!
Shane is afraid he has taken on more than he can handle, this guy is so beautiful, everything he wanted to be, and Shane is in danger of being in so much trouble! Things start out well but quickly attraction is evident on both sides, but each is thinking the other one couldn’t possibly be interested since Patrick is straight and Shane is gay, until one night at an away game, things definitely change. Then attraction becomes almost an obsession, they can’t get enough of each other, until actions and words leave both reeling, neither able to give in. Both have their own insecurities to overcome to get back to the place both were so happy, but since it is a romance, we know they will at least get a happy for now, if not a happy ever after. And they do, but the entire journey, beginning to end, pulled me in and kept me engaged with them to all the way.
The characters were well developed, obviously opposites with Patrick’s outgoing personality and Shane’s discomfort around really confident people, but they learned so much about each other as Shane shadowed Patrick, both were able to overcome many of the insecurities in their relationship. These guys were so realistic and relatable, I often felt I was in the same room, maybe at the next table or in the adjoining room, able to “shadow” them as they discovered each other and let the relationship develop naturally. Patrick’s sensitivity with Shane in their intimate moments was so beautiful, even though both were new to these feelings, and Shane really blossomed under Patrick’s care. The support of Patrick’s friends, also Shane’s now too, really helped them navigate the divide they had created, leading them back to each other, and Patrick shone there, too, in his devotion to Shane. It was very satisfying for me to see Patrick bring out a side of Shane that had been dormant for too long, giving him back a joy he had lost. Lots of really good feels for me in this story.
If you like hockey romances and characters you would like to claim as friends, Hayden is an author I would heartily recommend. I have yet to read a book by him I didn’t like.
I received an ARC from the author and this is my voluntary review.
Shane is afraid he has taken on more than he can handle, this guy is so beautiful, everything he wanted to be, and Shane is in danger of being in so much trouble! Things start out well but quickly attraction is evident on both sides, but each is thinking the other one couldn’t possibly be interested since Patrick is straight and Shane is gay, until one night at an away game, things definitely change. Then attraction becomes almost an obsession, they can’t get enough of each other, until actions and words leave both reeling, neither able to give in. Both have their own insecurities to overcome to get back to the place both were so happy, but since it is a romance, we know they will at least get a happy for now, if not a happy ever after. And they do, but the entire journey, beginning to end, pulled me in and kept me engaged with them to all the way.
The characters were well developed, obviously opposites with Patrick’s outgoing personality and Shane’s discomfort around really confident people, but they learned so much about each other as Shane shadowed Patrick, both were able to overcome many of the insecurities in their relationship. These guys were so realistic and relatable, I often felt I was in the same room, maybe at the next table or in the adjoining room, able to “shadow” them as they discovered each other and let the relationship develop naturally. Patrick’s sensitivity with Shane in their intimate moments was so beautiful, even though both were new to these feelings, and Shane really blossomed under Patrick’s care. The support of Patrick’s friends, also Shane’s now too, really helped them navigate the divide they had created, leading them back to each other, and Patrick shone there, too, in his devotion to Shane. It was very satisfying for me to see Patrick bring out a side of Shane that had been dormant for too long, giving him back a joy he had lost. Lots of really good feels for me in this story.
If you like hockey romances and characters you would like to claim as friends, Hayden is an author I would heartily recommend. I have yet to read a book by him I didn’t like.
I received an ARC from the author and this is my voluntary review.
June 23, 2025
I would like to thank GRR for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.
Rules of Play was wayyyyyyyyyyyyy more chill than the first two books in the The Saints of Westmont U series and, honestly, i liked the cute low angst vibe this had going on.
The only reason this read didn't climb above a mid-rating was because:
1. i felt like i've read this "shadowing bae for science" plot contrivance recently and this jock x nerd romance needed a touch more pizazz than relying on forced proximity and smartwatch data.
2. As a hockey fan, the way the sports commentary/Shane's perspective of the hockey game between the Titans and the Saints was conveyed came off a bit weird. Especially as an ex-player. I would have expected his interiority/commentary to be more aligned with pro takes/play by play. But that's just me and ymmv.
I thought Shane and Patrick were adorable together and their sexy loving was hot to read! But the romance itself was a bit limp noodle-ish, and then the 3rd act destabilization was pretty extra imo.
It's the 21st century. You're in college. A deep breath and a heartfelt question should dethrone "shout first-feel sorry later" emo flexes.
But also, that was like one sentence of drama and they were back to being in love in like a page lol so it wasn't that devastating...i mean for me. Being young and in love these days seems like a violent sport sometimes, so if this was a real scenario, and emotional regulation wasn't in the room, then i'm sure the situation would feel like the world was ending.
But i digress.
Overall i was surprised at how soft this installment was after the tumultuous first 2 books in this series. But i did like the vibe, and i thought both MCs were really sweet. And even though i thought that their love story would have benefitted from more plot dimension and some higher stakes tension, it was still a nice read.
Depths of Desire is up next and i really hope the levels of pining will make my heart feel like a squishy mess by the time Lennox and Oliver get together! Because straight up i'm VERY ready for some crazy hot intensity after this soft sweet installment in a series that i know can BRING. IT! Can't wait!
Rules of Play was wayyyyyyyyyyyyy more chill than the first two books in the The Saints of Westmont U series and, honestly, i liked the cute low angst vibe this had going on.
The only reason this read didn't climb above a mid-rating was because:
1. i felt like i've read this "shadowing bae for science" plot contrivance recently and this jock x nerd romance needed a touch more pizazz than relying on forced proximity and smartwatch data.
2. As a hockey fan, the way the sports commentary/Shane's perspective of the hockey game between the Titans and the Saints was conveyed came off a bit weird. Especially as an ex-player. I would have expected his interiority/commentary to be more aligned with pro takes/play by play. But that's just me and ymmv.
I thought Shane and Patrick were adorable together and their sexy loving was hot to read! But the romance itself was a bit limp noodle-ish, and then the 3rd act destabilization was pretty extra imo.
It's the 21st century. You're in college. A deep breath and a heartfelt question should dethrone "shout first-feel sorry later" emo flexes.
But also, that was like one sentence of drama and they were back to being in love in like a page lol so it wasn't that devastating...i mean for me. Being young and in love these days seems like a violent sport sometimes, so if this was a real scenario, and emotional regulation wasn't in the room, then i'm sure the situation would feel like the world was ending.
But i digress.
Overall i was surprised at how soft this installment was after the tumultuous first 2 books in this series. But i did like the vibe, and i thought both MCs were really sweet. And even though i thought that their love story would have benefitted from more plot dimension and some higher stakes tension, it was still a nice read.
Depths of Desire is up next and i really hope the levels of pining will make my heart feel like a squishy mess by the time Lennox and Oliver get together! Because straight up i'm VERY ready for some crazy hot intensity after this soft sweet installment in a series that i know can BRING. IT! Can't wait!
June 12, 2025
Here's Hayden Hall's "Rules of Play." It's the third novel in his new Saints of Westmont U series.
["He was supposed to be my study subject, not my obsession.
Shane
I study elite athletes: their focus, their flaws, their fire. But Patrick Callahan? He’s a category of his own.
Too loud, too confident, and way too hot to be safe for science.
He’s all swagger and sweat and reckless charm.
Tracking his heartbeat was easy.
Keeping mine under control? Impossible.
Now I’m kissing this bi-curious jock in dark corners and pretending this isn’t the most unprofessional thing I’ve ever done.
He’s not just messing with my research—he’s messing with my heart.
If I’m not careful, he might just break it.
Patrick
I agreed to let the shy nerd shadow me for a psych project.
Discovering the range of my sexuality and falling for him was never part of the plan.
But Shane—my sweet, brilliant, rule-following Shane—has no idea how much I crave him.
He thinks I don’t see how he stares when I stretch after practice, or how red his ears get when I take off my shirt.
He thinks I’m just a jock with no heart. I’ll show him just how wrong he is.
I’ll make him feel it—on the ice, in my bed, and everywhere in between.
Because once I’ve got him, I’m keeping him."]
These two were complicated but beautiful. It took a while for their feelings to evolve. Well, no. The feelings were almost immediate, but it took them a while for them to accept, acknowledge, and be okay with their feelings. After that, it was easy. Their love was loud and strong and not-always-easy, but it was theirs.
Also, I really appreciated all of the cameos from the previous books in this series, as well as the other books that Hayden wrote. And I can't wait for the next one!
#gayromancereviews #grr #arcs #arcteammember
#edgeoftemptation #costofredemption #rulesofplay #depthsofdesire #haydenhall #thesaintsofwestmontu #thesaintsofwestmontuseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks
["He was supposed to be my study subject, not my obsession.
Shane
I study elite athletes: their focus, their flaws, their fire. But Patrick Callahan? He’s a category of his own.
Too loud, too confident, and way too hot to be safe for science.
He’s all swagger and sweat and reckless charm.
Tracking his heartbeat was easy.
Keeping mine under control? Impossible.
Now I’m kissing this bi-curious jock in dark corners and pretending this isn’t the most unprofessional thing I’ve ever done.
He’s not just messing with my research—he’s messing with my heart.
If I’m not careful, he might just break it.
Patrick
I agreed to let the shy nerd shadow me for a psych project.
Discovering the range of my sexuality and falling for him was never part of the plan.
But Shane—my sweet, brilliant, rule-following Shane—has no idea how much I crave him.
He thinks I don’t see how he stares when I stretch after practice, or how red his ears get when I take off my shirt.
He thinks I’m just a jock with no heart. I’ll show him just how wrong he is.
I’ll make him feel it—on the ice, in my bed, and everywhere in between.
Because once I’ve got him, I’m keeping him."]
These two were complicated but beautiful. It took a while for their feelings to evolve. Well, no. The feelings were almost immediate, but it took them a while for them to accept, acknowledge, and be okay with their feelings. After that, it was easy. Their love was loud and strong and not-always-easy, but it was theirs.
Also, I really appreciated all of the cameos from the previous books in this series, as well as the other books that Hayden wrote. And I can't wait for the next one!
#gayromancereviews #grr #arcs #arcteammember
#edgeoftemptation #costofredemption #rulesofplay #depthsofdesire #haydenhall #thesaintsofwestmontu #thesaintsofwestmontuseries #books #queerbooks #queererotica #bodicerippers #bookstagram #bookphotography #ilovebooks
June 26, 2025
4.5 stars!
This is book three of the author’s Saints of Westmont U series and this one features playboy, Patrick, the final member of the trio of friends including Easton and Elio from the first two books in the series. It also includes Shane, a somewhat nerdy guy hoping for Patrick’s cooperation in gathering scientific data for his thesis regarding player’s temperaments in hockey.
There’s no way I could choose a favorite here, I loved both Shane and Patrick. They each had struggles of their own that ultimately helped them see they weren’t alone in their fears—Shane, due to a hockey injury as a teen in which it changed the way he saw himself, felt invisible and unseen, almost unworthy, by everyone around him and Patrick, who felt his only worth was in how well he played hockey. They both broke my heart, I wanted to hug both of ‘em. It kinda made me want to be their own personal cheerleader so they would finally recognize their worth.
This book was a lot lighter than the previous two. Book one, The Edge of Temptation, with Easton, was downright dark (to me); book two, The Cost of Redemption, with Elio, wasn’t a whole lot better but, thank goodness, Rules of Play was much lighter and sweeter, I needed it after the other two. Even though Patrick and Shane stumbled a bit, they were absolutely perfect for each other and made for such a wonderful read. I can totally see myself rereading all three books again now that I know how they ended. The first time, I was so busy waiting for the other shoe to drop that I couldn’t properly enjoy any of them but now I think I’d get a lot more out of them, probably even find some things I missed the first time in my rush to get them together. Which reminds me, this ended in an HFN but I prefer to picture them all loved up in an HEA instead so, with that in mind, 4.5 stars!
I received a copy of this book for free but am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is book three of the author’s Saints of Westmont U series and this one features playboy, Patrick, the final member of the trio of friends including Easton and Elio from the first two books in the series. It also includes Shane, a somewhat nerdy guy hoping for Patrick’s cooperation in gathering scientific data for his thesis regarding player’s temperaments in hockey.
There’s no way I could choose a favorite here, I loved both Shane and Patrick. They each had struggles of their own that ultimately helped them see they weren’t alone in their fears—Shane, due to a hockey injury as a teen in which it changed the way he saw himself, felt invisible and unseen, almost unworthy, by everyone around him and Patrick, who felt his only worth was in how well he played hockey. They both broke my heart, I wanted to hug both of ‘em. It kinda made me want to be their own personal cheerleader so they would finally recognize their worth.
This book was a lot lighter than the previous two. Book one, The Edge of Temptation, with Easton, was downright dark (to me); book two, The Cost of Redemption, with Elio, wasn’t a whole lot better but, thank goodness, Rules of Play was much lighter and sweeter, I needed it after the other two. Even though Patrick and Shane stumbled a bit, they were absolutely perfect for each other and made for such a wonderful read. I can totally see myself rereading all three books again now that I know how they ended. The first time, I was so busy waiting for the other shoe to drop that I couldn’t properly enjoy any of them but now I think I’d get a lot more out of them, probably even find some things I missed the first time in my rush to get them together. Which reminds me, this ended in an HFN but I prefer to picture them all loved up in an HEA instead so, with that in mind, 4.5 stars!
I received a copy of this book for free but am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 19, 2025
MY OPINION: I love a hockey romance where it’s not two hockey players but someone they meet outside of the rink. This is one of those and its really good.
These two men are similar but come at things in a different way. They run in different crowds and one is more intellectual where the other is a jock. Neither are in a stereotypical role which I greatlly appreciated. It seems they simply fit in thos categories if you are looking to label them.
Shane was a hockey player but injury took him out early in his career, he stayed around sports by going into sports psychology. This puts him in a unique position of writing a thesis, and what would be a better subject than one of the star athletes on the hockey team—Patrick Callahan—being his subject. It would be weird and uncomfortable but if he can get Patrick to agree his thesis should be the key to graduation. So he does that … he shadows this amazing athlete, and learns a lot. Some of that information was private and he used it to learn how Patrick felt about him.
Patrick was confused and his emotions were mixed between lust, and anger. He had things to work through. Things that he wasn’t sure how to handle. It wasn’t terrible, but he had a persona everyone saw, and when Shane started following him, there were things Shane knew that nobody ever had.
This was a good read. I was confused about some of the motivation behind Patrick’s physical responses, initially feeling like it was more of a voyeuristic situation. Things did change and tightened up revealing a love story. Our virgin nerd and straight jock find their way to each other with a few bumps and bruises.
There is quite a bit of hockey, a lot of insights, a not-so-shy virgin—he jumped right in head first-- and lots of spice. It was a great MM romance. Certainly another wonderful book by Hayden Hall.
These two men are similar but come at things in a different way. They run in different crowds and one is more intellectual where the other is a jock. Neither are in a stereotypical role which I greatlly appreciated. It seems they simply fit in thos categories if you are looking to label them.
Shane was a hockey player but injury took him out early in his career, he stayed around sports by going into sports psychology. This puts him in a unique position of writing a thesis, and what would be a better subject than one of the star athletes on the hockey team—Patrick Callahan—being his subject. It would be weird and uncomfortable but if he can get Patrick to agree his thesis should be the key to graduation. So he does that … he shadows this amazing athlete, and learns a lot. Some of that information was private and he used it to learn how Patrick felt about him.
Patrick was confused and his emotions were mixed between lust, and anger. He had things to work through. Things that he wasn’t sure how to handle. It wasn’t terrible, but he had a persona everyone saw, and when Shane started following him, there were things Shane knew that nobody ever had.
This was a good read. I was confused about some of the motivation behind Patrick’s physical responses, initially feeling like it was more of a voyeuristic situation. Things did change and tightened up revealing a love story. Our virgin nerd and straight jock find their way to each other with a few bumps and bruises.
There is quite a bit of hockey, a lot of insights, a not-so-shy virgin—he jumped right in head first-- and lots of spice. It was a great MM romance. Certainly another wonderful book by Hayden Hall.
June 24, 2025
This might just be my favourite book in the series so far! You can read it as a standalone, but honestly, reading the whole series in order makes it that much better—especially because the side characters are such a fun part of the world.
Rules of Play gives us a low-angst, opposites-attract romance that hits all the right spots. Shane is the quiet, bookish psychology student assigned to shadow Patrick, the charming, cocky hockey player, for a semester-long project. Naturally, chaos (and flirting) ensues.
I loved how different they were—Shane, the overthinking introvert with a heart of gold, and Patrick, the loud, lovable jock who doesn’t realise what he’s feeling until it hits him like a freight train. The chemistry is there from the start, but the accidental flirting, the tension, and Shane’s little “pulse experiment” were just adorable. Their banter had me smiling so much, and when things got emotional, it really landed. They both bring out something in each other that feels healing, like they're finally seen.
Patrick’s bi awakening was also really well done—his confusion, vulnerability, and eventual clarity were all treated with care. And when the steam hits? Whew. It’s hot, yes, but also full of emotional depth. Their first time together genuinely felt special.
Expect:
- Psychology student x hockey player
- Strangers to lovers
- Opposites attract
- Slow-burn with so much swoon
- Emotional intimacy + steamy scenes
- Supportive teammates & found family vibes
- Bi awakening done right
- Soft moments that will melt you
The pacing felt great—easy to read, emotionally satisfying, with just enough tension to keep you flipping pages. If you're looking for something sweet, flirty, and heartfelt (with a good dash of heat), Rules of Play is a great pick. I already can’t wait for Lennox and Oliver’s story next!
Rules of Play gives us a low-angst, opposites-attract romance that hits all the right spots. Shane is the quiet, bookish psychology student assigned to shadow Patrick, the charming, cocky hockey player, for a semester-long project. Naturally, chaos (and flirting) ensues.
I loved how different they were—Shane, the overthinking introvert with a heart of gold, and Patrick, the loud, lovable jock who doesn’t realise what he’s feeling until it hits him like a freight train. The chemistry is there from the start, but the accidental flirting, the tension, and Shane’s little “pulse experiment” were just adorable. Their banter had me smiling so much, and when things got emotional, it really landed. They both bring out something in each other that feels healing, like they're finally seen.
Patrick’s bi awakening was also really well done—his confusion, vulnerability, and eventual clarity were all treated with care. And when the steam hits? Whew. It’s hot, yes, but also full of emotional depth. Their first time together genuinely felt special.
Expect:
- Psychology student x hockey player
- Strangers to lovers
- Opposites attract
- Slow-burn with so much swoon
- Emotional intimacy + steamy scenes
- Supportive teammates & found family vibes
- Bi awakening done right
- Soft moments that will melt you
The pacing felt great—easy to read, emotionally satisfying, with just enough tension to keep you flipping pages. If you're looking for something sweet, flirty, and heartfelt (with a good dash of heat), Rules of Play is a great pick. I already can’t wait for Lennox and Oliver’s story next!
June 30, 2025
Fired Up Hockey Player & Psychology Major
Really 3.75 stars.
Reading the blurb for this the 3rd book in the series which, for once, I’m reading in sequence, I loved the theory of Shane the Psychology student carrying out a serious study on the life of a fellow student, who was an Ice Hockey Player.
Patrick Callahan, a major force in the Westmont U Ice Hockey Team, has featured in all the previous books in the series, so I felt I knew all about the sort of person he was. He was an excellent friend to his teammates, Elio and Easton, when they were struggling in their own lives. He was a huge force to be reckoned with on the ice during games and training. He’s a huge hit with the female fans and has different dates whenever he wants them. But he knows he’s missing something. Here in his own book, ‘Rules of Play’ we see another side of him completely.
Shane, is a very nerdy, quiet and shy person, a bit like Clarke Kent, who hates crowds, especially if they are strangers. He’s never been on a date, even though he knew he was gay since he was 12. He has no self confidence, since he hurt his knee very early on in his efforts to become an NHL Player and shrunk inside himself. Now he is concentrating on becoming a Sports Psychologist, and so, he wants to write his thesis on the day to day life of Ice Hockey Player, Patrick Callahan.
It was all going so well, they enjoyed working together until they crossed a line and eventually they disappointed each other.
I was loving the sparking of the chemistry between them and how they were so happy together, but I was so disappointed at the flimsiness of the ‘shoe dropping’ reason at the 80% point.
I loved the characters and the interesting principle behind the story, just felt a bit let down as I mentioned above. Still, I’ll await for Book 4 and Lennox, another Saints player for Westmont U at end of July.
Really 3.75 stars.
Reading the blurb for this the 3rd book in the series which, for once, I’m reading in sequence, I loved the theory of Shane the Psychology student carrying out a serious study on the life of a fellow student, who was an Ice Hockey Player.
Patrick Callahan, a major force in the Westmont U Ice Hockey Team, has featured in all the previous books in the series, so I felt I knew all about the sort of person he was. He was an excellent friend to his teammates, Elio and Easton, when they were struggling in their own lives. He was a huge force to be reckoned with on the ice during games and training. He’s a huge hit with the female fans and has different dates whenever he wants them. But he knows he’s missing something. Here in his own book, ‘Rules of Play’ we see another side of him completely.
Shane, is a very nerdy, quiet and shy person, a bit like Clarke Kent, who hates crowds, especially if they are strangers. He’s never been on a date, even though he knew he was gay since he was 12. He has no self confidence, since he hurt his knee very early on in his efforts to become an NHL Player and shrunk inside himself. Now he is concentrating on becoming a Sports Psychologist, and so, he wants to write his thesis on the day to day life of Ice Hockey Player, Patrick Callahan.
It was all going so well, they enjoyed working together until they crossed a line and eventually they disappointed each other.
I was loving the sparking of the chemistry between them and how they were so happy together, but I was so disappointed at the flimsiness of the ‘shoe dropping’ reason at the 80% point.
I loved the characters and the interesting principle behind the story, just felt a bit let down as I mentioned above. Still, I’ll await for Book 4 and Lennox, another Saints player for Westmont U at end of July.
August 7, 2025
Okay I feel like with every book this series gets better?? I think this one is my favourite so far, I absolutely inhaled it and stayed up way too late to finish it. I read the second book and this book in a row and although I really love them, they're kind of heavy so I'm going to take a break before I continue with the series. Hayden's writing style reminds me of Jesse H Reign (and vice versa) who is another author I love, flowery prose (in a good way obviously), good banter, and really nicely developed characters.
Patrick and Shane and the dynamic between them was great. I also liked seeing how each of them saw the other through their point of view. Shane saw Patrick as a hot, confident hockey player who had zero issues with hooking up or socializing, and in reality Patrick was showboating and showing off for Shane before he even knew he was attracted to him. Patrick saw Shane as a sneaky hot guy who was probably way too smart for him, and was also super impressed with his fitness level when they worked out together, and Shane saw himself as a skinny nerd and was convinced no one would find him attractive.
I really liked how I had one image of each of them in my head as they described themselves, and then later finding out other people perceived them totally different. For example, Shane described himself physically as a mousey skinny nerd with a boring face and literally no muscles, and when Patrick saw him changing he described him as lean with defined muscles, and when he saw him with a haircut he was thinking about how stylish he looked and how Patrick could see Shane was actually handsome now that his hair was out of his face.
Overall a really great read! I don't think you need to read the other books in the series before this to understand everything, but it does make it more enjoyable to have background knowledge of all the characters.
Patrick and Shane and the dynamic between them was great. I also liked seeing how each of them saw the other through their point of view. Shane saw Patrick as a hot, confident hockey player who had zero issues with hooking up or socializing, and in reality Patrick was showboating and showing off for Shane before he even knew he was attracted to him. Patrick saw Shane as a sneaky hot guy who was probably way too smart for him, and was also super impressed with his fitness level when they worked out together, and Shane saw himself as a skinny nerd and was convinced no one would find him attractive.
I really liked how I had one image of each of them in my head as they described themselves, and then later finding out other people perceived them totally different. For example, Shane described himself physically as a mousey skinny nerd with a boring face and literally no muscles, and when Patrick saw him changing he described him as lean with defined muscles, and when he saw him with a haircut he was thinking about how stylish he looked and how Patrick could see Shane was actually handsome now that his hair was out of his face.
Overall a really great read! I don't think you need to read the other books in the series before this to understand everything, but it does make it more enjoyable to have background knowledge of all the characters.
June 21, 2025
It took me a little while to warm up to Shane and Patrick, but I ended up really enjoying their romance. Shane was a crazy smart psychology student who'd chosen to study athletes for his thesis, and Patrick was his subject matter of choice. It was fascinating to experience Shane's anxiety and excitement as he started his observations, and he was determined to be a shadow and not center stage in Patrick's life. Patrick turned all that on its head when he couldn't stop showing off for Shane, his unexpected attraction making his heart race with possibilities. When Shane finally grew brave enough to test his theory, sparks flew, and suddenly what felt like an impossibility was right in front of them. Shane and Patrick had fantastic chemistry, and even as they blurred the lines of the research project into something that felt a lot more like dating, I reveled in the happiness it brought them. Patrick turned out to be such a sweetheart, showering Shane with attention and affection in a way he'd never experienced. The only thing preventing them from sprinting into their happy ending was the little blue notebook Shane had been keeping all of his observations in, and its contents were a rude awakening that the two of them had to work through. Overall I'd still characterize this book as a low angst story, because Patrick and Shane were never so divided that I didn't see a path for them to come back together. If anything I was waiting for something to go wrong for the two of them after the start of their relationship was so smooth, and I do think it was valuable to see how they tackled conflict.
**I voluntarily read an ARC of this book. This review expresses my honest thoughts and opinions.
**I voluntarily read an ARC of this book. This review expresses my honest thoughts and opinions.
June 25, 2025
Firstly, let me say I got this book from gay romance reviews and this is me leaving my honest review.
I have got to say, I thoroughly enjoyed this Read there was something really magical about the interactions with Shane and Patrick.
Shane needs to do a study and after talking with his professor it’s decided that he will study a guy who is on the hockey team called Patrick . He would need to be his shadow for months and hand on heart Shane hopes that Patrick turned him down. Shane is a complex person he’s got so many insecurities about himself, but he is so attracted to Patrick. He doesn’t think he’ll look at him in that light as he is straight But some of the fantasies that go on in Shane’s head hot hot hot.
Patrick played for the Saints of Westmount University on the hockey team he was good looking he had swagger. He had no problems getting hook up with girls. Life was getting better as the team was coming back together. But when he met Shane, a nerd in black glasses something changed for Patrick. He had never been attracted to a man before, but he really enjoyed spending time with Shane and it’s not until the players are out at an away game and Shane and Patrick have to share a room.
This is such a sweet emotional read. I’ve got to say I really liked each main character they had something vulnerable sometimes it was so well hidden you wasn’t even sure that they knew. But when they’re together, everything is easy it’s effortless and the connection oh my goodness these two guys just perfection for one another. I really enjoy the banter between them and the passion woohooo these two guys are very happy to be together. A really good read a great Read. I can’t wait for more books in this series..
I have got to say, I thoroughly enjoyed this Read there was something really magical about the interactions with Shane and Patrick.
Shane needs to do a study and after talking with his professor it’s decided that he will study a guy who is on the hockey team called Patrick . He would need to be his shadow for months and hand on heart Shane hopes that Patrick turned him down. Shane is a complex person he’s got so many insecurities about himself, but he is so attracted to Patrick. He doesn’t think he’ll look at him in that light as he is straight But some of the fantasies that go on in Shane’s head hot hot hot.
Patrick played for the Saints of Westmount University on the hockey team he was good looking he had swagger. He had no problems getting hook up with girls. Life was getting better as the team was coming back together. But when he met Shane, a nerd in black glasses something changed for Patrick. He had never been attracted to a man before, but he really enjoyed spending time with Shane and it’s not until the players are out at an away game and Shane and Patrick have to share a room.
This is such a sweet emotional read. I’ve got to say I really liked each main character they had something vulnerable sometimes it was so well hidden you wasn’t even sure that they knew. But when they’re together, everything is easy it’s effortless and the connection oh my goodness these two guys just perfection for one another. I really enjoy the banter between them and the passion woohooo these two guys are very happy to be together. A really good read a great Read. I can’t wait for more books in this series..
June 23, 2025
RULES OF PLAY is the third installment of The Saints of Westmont series. It follows a shy nerd and a cocky jock in a forced proximity thesis research, gay awakening, and first times. It can be read as a standalone but reads better in the order the author intended.
Shane is doing his thesis and the best way to do his research is on a live subject he can follow and track. Patrick is the perfect subject to use for research. He's exceptional on the ice, he works out consistently, hangs out with other athletes. Shane needs to study his focus, see where his flaws lie, find out if he's faking any of his confidence. But when one surprising result keeps showing itself when Shane least expects he's starting to question what he knows about Patrick.
Patrick knows he's good at hockey. He takes care of his body. He's straight (or so he thinks). So there is no reason not to let Shane follow him around and track his heartrate and other vitals. But when Patrick is alone with Shane there is something that makes him almost nervous. That is something that he isn't used to, he doesn't get nervous. The more they are together Patrick is starting to question what he knows about himself. Unfortunately he's not the only one seeing his reactions to Shane.
I loved the chemistry between Shane and Patrick. They aren't my favorite couple in the series but their story was definitely cute. This book is not as team heavy as the others but they are still an important part of the series. I can't wait to see where the rest of the series goes!
I was given a free copy of this book to read and review by the author.
Shane is doing his thesis and the best way to do his research is on a live subject he can follow and track. Patrick is the perfect subject to use for research. He's exceptional on the ice, he works out consistently, hangs out with other athletes. Shane needs to study his focus, see where his flaws lie, find out if he's faking any of his confidence. But when one surprising result keeps showing itself when Shane least expects he's starting to question what he knows about Patrick.
Patrick knows he's good at hockey. He takes care of his body. He's straight (or so he thinks). So there is no reason not to let Shane follow him around and track his heartrate and other vitals. But when Patrick is alone with Shane there is something that makes him almost nervous. That is something that he isn't used to, he doesn't get nervous. The more they are together Patrick is starting to question what he knows about himself. Unfortunately he's not the only one seeing his reactions to Shane.
I loved the chemistry between Shane and Patrick. They aren't my favorite couple in the series but their story was definitely cute. This book is not as team heavy as the others but they are still an important part of the series. I can't wait to see where the rest of the series goes!
I was given a free copy of this book to read and review by the author.
July 26, 2025
“The cost of caring this deeply was losing everything.”
Oh baby was this the cutest little nerd/jock book I have read in a while.
Patrick & Shane couldn’t be more different but also the same in the one way that counted to them both, hockey.
A player who had it all going for him until tragedy struck and too it all away.
A player who has it all now but is also the campus playboy who is also a hothead.
How could these two fit together?
I was sucked in immediately. These two coming together under the guise of a school project, while we know how it would end we don’t know the journey there and boy is it a journey.
Shane has to let go a little of his walls in order to see what’s right in front of him but when he does, he doesn’t believe it. It’s only supposed to be a project.
Patrick is straight.. erm right? He doesn’t know honestly and really who care right, he can have friends but also get flustered when that friend comes around. No big deal.
These two will keep you on your toes and wondering what is coming next, I was surprised and teary eyed. I understood where they both were coming from, didn’t make it hurt any less.
The friendship that builds first between these two is what matters here and stands out the most and then the more comes after. The more turns into everything and everything means always. We love this for them so damn much.
Hayden once again does it, I couldn’t put this down except for that pesky job I have, otherwise this would’ve been a one sitting read for sure.
This is a “hockey” romance but the plot is more the building of a friendship than to a relationship.
Oh baby was this the cutest little nerd/jock book I have read in a while.
Patrick & Shane couldn’t be more different but also the same in the one way that counted to them both, hockey.
A player who had it all going for him until tragedy struck and too it all away.
A player who has it all now but is also the campus playboy who is also a hothead.
How could these two fit together?
I was sucked in immediately. These two coming together under the guise of a school project, while we know how it would end we don’t know the journey there and boy is it a journey.
Shane has to let go a little of his walls in order to see what’s right in front of him but when he does, he doesn’t believe it. It’s only supposed to be a project.
Patrick is straight.. erm right? He doesn’t know honestly and really who care right, he can have friends but also get flustered when that friend comes around. No big deal.
These two will keep you on your toes and wondering what is coming next, I was surprised and teary eyed. I understood where they both were coming from, didn’t make it hurt any less.
The friendship that builds first between these two is what matters here and stands out the most and then the more comes after. The more turns into everything and everything means always. We love this for them so damn much.
Hayden once again does it, I couldn’t put this down except for that pesky job I have, otherwise this would’ve been a one sitting read for sure.
This is a “hockey” romance but the plot is more the building of a friendship than to a relationship.
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