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Portland Storm #5.5
Holiday Hat Trick
Mitchell “Q” Quincey, a journeyman playing for the Portland Storm, has three goals for his three-day Christmas break.
1. Move the rest of his gym equipment out of his ex-wife Mia’s house.
2. Get his lawyer to file a petition for joint custody.
3. Spend every last minute he can with his baby girl.
When he arrives on Mia’s doorstep, things don’t go as planned. With her whole family gathered for the holiday, the only way he can spend time with their daughter is to spend time with the whole clan. The compromise is doable, if not ideal, because he’s still in love with Mia and she won’t take him back.
Having her ex-husband show up completely unannounced at Christmas throws Mia off her game. The least Mitch could have done is called so she could have emotionally prepared herself to face him. Instead, the love and attraction she still feels for him combine to leave her fumbling for excuses. He’s always been able to leave her flustered, but now that he’s making himself part of the family again, she’s afraid she’ll lose her nerve and fall back into old patterns.
Things heat up on a snowy Christmas Eve, and Mitch decides to change his goals on the fly. With assists from Mia’s family and a bit of mistletoe, he might end up with a Holiday Hat Trick.
The Portland Storm series
1) Breakaway
2) On the Fly
2.5) Taking a Shot
3) Light the Lamp
4) Delay of Game
4.5) Double Major
5) In the Zone
5.5) Holiday Hat Trick
6) Comeback - releasing February 19, 2015
7) Dropping Gloves - releasing April 23, 2015
1. Move the rest of his gym equipment out of his ex-wife Mia’s house.
2. Get his lawyer to file a petition for joint custody.
3. Spend every last minute he can with his baby girl.
When he arrives on Mia’s doorstep, things don’t go as planned. With her whole family gathered for the holiday, the only way he can spend time with their daughter is to spend time with the whole clan. The compromise is doable, if not ideal, because he’s still in love with Mia and she won’t take him back.
Having her ex-husband show up completely unannounced at Christmas throws Mia off her game. The least Mitch could have done is called so she could have emotionally prepared herself to face him. Instead, the love and attraction she still feels for him combine to leave her fumbling for excuses. He’s always been able to leave her flustered, but now that he’s making himself part of the family again, she’s afraid she’ll lose her nerve and fall back into old patterns.
Things heat up on a snowy Christmas Eve, and Mitch decides to change his goals on the fly. With assists from Mia’s family and a bit of mistletoe, he might end up with a Holiday Hat Trick.
The Portland Storm series
1) Breakaway
2) On the Fly
2.5) Taking a Shot
3) Light the Lamp
4) Delay of Game
4.5) Double Major
5) In the Zone
5.5) Holiday Hat Trick
6) Comeback - releasing February 19, 2015
7) Dropping Gloves - releasing April 23, 2015
96 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 28, 2014
33 people are currently reading
534 people want to read
About the author
Catherine Gayle
73 books923 followers***Please note that series numbering of the Portland Storm series is different at Goodreads than it is on Catherine's website or at any retailer. Goodreads policy will not allow the series numbering to match anything else. If this confuses you, please complain to Goodreads, as it is not Catherine's fault.***
Catherine Gayle is a USA Today bestselling author of more than forty contemporary hockey romance and Regency-set historical romance novels and novellas. Soon, she'll be launching her debut contemporary small-town romance series. She's sold more than three-quarters of a million books. She’s a transplanted Texan living in North Carolina with two extremely spoiled felines. In her spare time, she watches way too much hockey and reality TV, plans fun things to do for the Nephew Monster’s next visit, and performs experiments in the kitchen which are rarely toxic.
Catherine doesn't check messages on Goodreads very often. Please contact her through her website for a timely response.
Catherine Gayle is a USA Today bestselling author of more than forty contemporary hockey romance and Regency-set historical romance novels and novellas. Soon, she'll be launching her debut contemporary small-town romance series. She's sold more than three-quarters of a million books. She’s a transplanted Texan living in North Carolina with two extremely spoiled felines. In her spare time, she watches way too much hockey and reality TV, plans fun things to do for the Nephew Monster’s next visit, and performs experiments in the kitchen which are rarely toxic.
Catherine doesn't check messages on Goodreads very often. Please contact her through her website for a timely response.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews
December 14, 2025
“It’s killing me to have you so close—close enough I can smell you and touch you and taste you—but to know I can’t have you. I need you to walk away because I can’t. I can’t.”
This is a cute holiday novella, even though I didn’t love it as much as I did the first time around. I think it’s because of Mia, the FMC, and her midlife crisis.
Mia had been with Mitch since high school, but at 31 she wanted a divorce—despite still loving her husband and having a two-year-old daughter with him. She couldn’t bear the life as a hockey wife anymore (with all the moving around and new beginnings) and felt like she had lost herself, being only Mitch’s plus one. I can’t help but wonder if these reasons are good enough to give up a loving husband and wonderful father. It seems rather selfish. On the other hand, though, she is punishing herself as much as she is punishing Mitch and her daughter, so it’s probably more foolish than selfish.
Especially since it's so obvious that they belong together. Everyone knows it and everyone tries to lure them back together. Mia, however, avoids Mitch at all costs to protect herself. They can't even have a real conversation anymore, so Mitch has actually given up hope of winning Mia back. But when he returns to his hometown for Christmas, things appear in a different light. He realizes that she's hurting as much as he is, and he seizes the opportunity. There's no room for false pride—he still loves her and wants her and her daughter back, so he does everything in his power to make it happen. It’s wonderful to see Mia slowly let down her barriers and open her heart to him again—surrounded by a wonderful family, happy children, and lots of snow. Sigh.
Re-Read 12/2025: 4 stars
First Read 2017: 5 stars
This is a cute holiday novella, even though I didn’t love it as much as I did the first time around. I think it’s because of Mia, the FMC, and her midlife crisis.
Mia had been with Mitch since high school, but at 31 she wanted a divorce—despite still loving her husband and having a two-year-old daughter with him. She couldn’t bear the life as a hockey wife anymore (with all the moving around and new beginnings) and felt like she had lost herself, being only Mitch’s plus one. I can’t help but wonder if these reasons are good enough to give up a loving husband and wonderful father. It seems rather selfish. On the other hand, though, she is punishing herself as much as she is punishing Mitch and her daughter, so it’s probably more foolish than selfish.
Especially since it's so obvious that they belong together. Everyone knows it and everyone tries to lure them back together. Mia, however, avoids Mitch at all costs to protect herself. They can't even have a real conversation anymore, so Mitch has actually given up hope of winning Mia back. But when he returns to his hometown for Christmas, things appear in a different light. He realizes that she's hurting as much as he is, and he seizes the opportunity. There's no room for false pride—he still loves her and wants her and her daughter back, so he does everything in his power to make it happen. It’s wonderful to see Mia slowly let down her barriers and open her heart to him again—surrounded by a wonderful family, happy children, and lots of snow. Sigh.
Re-Read 12/2025: 4 stars
First Read 2017: 5 stars
July 21, 2015
The perfect holiday novella to snuggle up with. Holiday Hat Trick, like all of Catherine Gayle’s books, tugs at your heartstrings and give you the warm fuzzies.
Mitch and Mia, and everyone around them, thought they belong together since high school. But Mitch’s job put a big strain in their relationship, forcing them to get a divorce.
When Mitch “Q” Quincey from the Portland Storm sets out for his three day holiday break and his three goals in mind, he never thought a deviation from them is just what he wanted but never thought he could have.
Having her ex-husband intrude in her family holiday festivities is not what Mia had planned. But now that she has a better foothold on herself and life, could Mitch’s unexpected visit be the perfect second chance to have it all?
I love how Catherine make us feel for these characters who easily find a way to your heart with their charm and all around good, loving nature. It was so sweet how family and friends teamed to give these two the nudged they needed. It was equally pleasing how both Mitch and Mia communicated to work through their issues. And let’s not forget about the smile inducing romance.
This short story packs a powerful fun, heartwarming punch full of hope and love and lots of holiday fun. Holiday Hat Trick is a standalone novella from the Portland Storm series (#5.5) by Catherine Gayle.
Amazon buy link -> http://amzn.to/1tqlfah
* ARC graciously provided by author. I am sincerely grateful! *
Mitch and Mia, and everyone around them, thought they belong together since high school. But Mitch’s job put a big strain in their relationship, forcing them to get a divorce.
When Mitch “Q” Quincey from the Portland Storm sets out for his three day holiday break and his three goals in mind, he never thought a deviation from them is just what he wanted but never thought he could have.
“I felt as though I had come home. But this wasn’t my home anymore. This wasn’t my family anymore. No matter how much I wanted them, no matter how readily they might still accept me, if I couldn’t be with Mia, I didn’t really belong.
Having her ex-husband intrude in her family holiday festivities is not what Mia had planned. But now that she has a better foothold on herself and life, could Mitch’s unexpected visit be the perfect second chance to have it all?
“He was air, and he brought the dying parts of me back to life, filled the hollowness with a desperate sort of hope.”
I love how Catherine make us feel for these characters who easily find a way to your heart with their charm and all around good, loving nature. It was so sweet how family and friends teamed to give these two the nudged they needed. It was equally pleasing how both Mitch and Mia communicated to work through their issues. And let’s not forget about the smile inducing romance.
This short story packs a powerful fun, heartwarming punch full of hope and love and lots of holiday fun. Holiday Hat Trick is a standalone novella from the Portland Storm series (#5.5) by Catherine Gayle.
Amazon buy link -> http://amzn.to/1tqlfah
* ARC graciously provided by author. I am sincerely grateful! *
November 16, 2015
This novella was OK; not my favorite by far, but it was good enough. We didn't really know Mitch going into this story, so I wasn't as excited to read it in the first place.
I thought Mia was selfish. Don't get me wrong, I can understand her issue, but I don't think ripping a baby away from a loving father, a man that Mia herself loves and who loves her, was the right thing to do. I've had to live through moving a number of times for my husband's career. I wasn't happy about it and had difficulty adjusting, knowing we'd likely move in a couple of years. I didn't react by divorcing him and taking our children back to my home state. I sucked it up and rebuilt my life every time. She knew what she was getting into when she married a professional athlete. My husband wasn't even in the same profession when we first married. He got into it after seven years.
Anyway, it was really difficult for me to connect with Mia, but I liked Mitch, and it was a short book, so I read it. It doesn't really add to the series, but maybe it will later on.
I thought Mia was selfish. Don't get me wrong, I can understand her issue, but I don't think ripping a baby away from a loving father, a man that Mia herself loves and who loves her, was the right thing to do. I've had to live through moving a number of times for my husband's career. I wasn't happy about it and had difficulty adjusting, knowing we'd likely move in a couple of years. I didn't react by divorcing him and taking our children back to my home state. I sucked it up and rebuilt my life every time. She knew what she was getting into when she married a professional athlete. My husband wasn't even in the same profession when we first married. He got into it after seven years.
Anyway, it was really difficult for me to connect with Mia, but I liked Mitch, and it was a short book, so I read it. It doesn't really add to the series, but maybe it will later on.
September 15, 2017
3 1/2 stars! This was a cute read as far as holiday stories go. I did miss the rest of the team however.
July 8, 2018
I just loved getting a glimpse of Mitch life outside of the Portland Storm and how determine he was when he got home. Yes he had three task when he arrived for Christmas break. It was great to see Mia and Mitch in their relationship and seem them with there little girl Marley. I really enjoyed this story.
February 21, 2018
Hotness Rating 3 out of 5
Review to come...
Review to come...
December 31, 2015
Holiday Hat Trick is a sweet holiday read. Getting to know Mitch in this family environment, you'd never know he was a tough hockey player. He's an alpha-male, most definitely, but sensitive and emotional. He owns his feelings and isn't afraid to show them. He's also a great father and uncle and that comes through clearly in the story.
I think showing Mia's perspective in this story is really interesting. Albeit a high profile, unusual marriage, the issues that she experienced were real - losing yourself to your marriage. And she hadn't even had children yet. How many women can say they lost who they were when they married and had a family. It was great to show how she has discovered who she can be and finds a way to do so with Mitch.
I think showing Mia's perspective in this story is really interesting. Albeit a high profile, unusual marriage, the issues that she experienced were real - losing yourself to your marriage. And she hadn't even had children yet. How many women can say they lost who they were when they married and had a family. It was great to show how she has discovered who she can be and finds a way to do so with Mitch.
August 6, 2015
I really liked the hero and his willingness to compromise and get to spend time with his baby girl. It was honestly much more difficult to relate with Mia, the ex-wife. As of now, I still haven't completely understood why she suddenly jumped overboard and launched the divorce procedure, instead of first taking a break and a breather to both think about the relationship and who she was. She striked me as rather immature and not completely worthy of his love for her. Maybe that came from the format of the short story that started after the divorce, instead of showing how she was drawn to that and felt there was no other way for her.
November 10, 2020
Mia and Mitch were absolutely meant to be! I loved all the Christmas magic around them! I really enjoyed everything about these two! They were so fun and caring towards one another! So happy Mitch got his family back together! 🥰🎄
December 28, 2015
Have the tissues handy, this one will have you teared up from start to end!
October 9, 2018
HAVE YOU READ? SPORTS REC
If you love hockey and you love the holidays, then a visit with Catherine Gayle’s Portland Storm boys in "Holiday Hat Trick" is certainly worth your time. This novella features relative newcomer to the team, Mitchell “Q” Quincy, in a bid to spend time with his baby daughter over Christmas and finalize his divorce from ex-wife, Mia. But is Mia really as ex as she thinks she is? Could it be that her family might become theirs once again? It will be, if they have anything to say about it! A sexy, sassy addition to a fun, adrenaline-fueled series.
This rec appears in Romantic Intentions Quarterly #3 - October 2018
If you love hockey and you love the holidays, then a visit with Catherine Gayle’s Portland Storm boys in "Holiday Hat Trick" is certainly worth your time. This novella features relative newcomer to the team, Mitchell “Q” Quincy, in a bid to spend time with his baby daughter over Christmas and finalize his divorce from ex-wife, Mia. But is Mia really as ex as she thinks she is? Could it be that her family might become theirs once again? It will be, if they have anything to say about it! A sexy, sassy addition to a fun, adrenaline-fueled series.
This rec appears in Romantic Intentions Quarterly #3 - October 2018
September 14, 2018
...or Q's Three Goals
In hockey, a hat trick is three goals (in one game) from the same player.
In the Portland Storm series, the term is used in life.
Mitch Quincey has "three goals" he would like to score during the Christmas break. However, none of the goals have anything to do with hockey.
As a novella, is book is a quick read or listen. This is always a plus with me.
Holiday Hat Trick is listed as 4.5 in the series about a fictional hockey team. The Storm are a team that I am a fan of since reading Light the Lamp.
In hockey, a hat trick is three goals (in one game) from the same player.
In the Portland Storm series, the term is used in life.
Mitch Quincey has "three goals" he would like to score during the Christmas break. However, none of the goals have anything to do with hockey.
As a novella, is book is a quick read or listen. This is always a plus with me.
Holiday Hat Trick is listed as 4.5 in the series about a fictional hockey team. The Storm are a team that I am a fan of since reading Light the Lamp.
February 4, 2019
Mitch and Mia were another powerhouse couple. I understood Mia's need to find herself, but I really felt myself falling for Mitch and wishing better for him the entire book. His determination to be the best father for his little girl led to him spending his holiday break with his ex-wife's family for goodness sake! What does that say about his dedication? Of course, Mia wasn't as against it all as she was trying to pretend and the great story that was told in such a short book was again well told and made me want to see more of them in the future books!!!
December 29, 2021
This is the first book I've read by Catherine Gayle and though just a novella, I will be checking out more of her Portland Storm books. The characters are relatable and truly still love each other though divorced. Mia and Mitch are childhood sweethearts who divorced because Mia lost her sense of self following her hockey playing husband from city to city. Mitch just wants his family back and to spend time with his young daughter. With a little holiday magic and meddling family they might just reunite.
July 4, 2021
A cute holiday, second chance romance!
I really liked this novella. This was a second chance romance I could believe in. Mitch and Mia’s divorce wasn’t hateful or mean so them reconciling in a short amount of time made sense. And the author ended it realistically where they acknowledge there are still things to work through. I really hope we get glimpses of this relationship in future books.
I really liked this novella. This was a second chance romance I could believe in. Mitch and Mia’s divorce wasn’t hateful or mean so them reconciling in a short amount of time made sense. And the author ended it realistically where they acknowledge there are still things to work through. I really hope we get glimpses of this relationship in future books.
July 4, 2022
Holiday Hat Trick (Portland Storm Book 8)
The love story of Mitchell and Mia. It's Christmas break for the Portland Storm and Mitchell is off to Brandon, Manitoba with three goals: 1. move all his gym equipment out of Mia's, 2. see lawyer to get joint custody of his daughter, 3. spin as much time with his daughter. Can he do it or will something else happen? Great story.
The love story of Mitchell and Mia. It's Christmas break for the Portland Storm and Mitchell is off to Brandon, Manitoba with three goals: 1. move all his gym equipment out of Mia's, 2. see lawyer to get joint custody of his daughter, 3. spin as much time with his daughter. Can he do it or will something else happen? Great story.
January 31, 2019
A sweet Christmas time Portland Storm novella where trifecta goals are set to ascertain and bonus festive magic comes into play with a little bit of family interference. Love never dies but can change over time.
June 21, 2017
Cute quick holiday novella, charming read!
July 13, 2017
I liked him and kinda wanted to smack her. Like, you got a divorce instead of couples counseling? Therapy? Something? With a small child involved? REALLY???
July 18, 2017
Nook book. Quick read. Too predictable.
October 16, 2017
super cute and different from the rest.
July 8, 2019
Loved this short story with Mitchell and Mia...a winner
September 9, 2019
3.5-4. Cute!
November 4, 2019
Good read
Another brilliant read well written and a great cast of characters thoroughly enjoyed reading this book will read more from this author
Another brilliant read well written and a great cast of characters thoroughly enjoyed reading this book will read more from this author
December 23, 2016
Mitchell Quincey is visiting his ex-wife, Mia, for the holidays. His sole objective is to get approval from her for joint custody of their daughter. When Q (a nickname he goes by among friends in the Portland Storm Hockey Team) finally met Mia for the first time in a long while, he realized he was still in love with her.
Q is persistent and charming. While Mia plays hard to get, she couldn't help but give him another chance seeing Q shower her daughter with attention and love. Admittedly, Mia has her hands full on being a single working mom. Somewhere in the middle of the holidays, they got back together in each others' arms.
What worked
Christmas magic and the presence of family were factors that pushed Mia to forgive Q's faults. Besides, Q and Mia have a long history that their families brought back through reunions and dinners shared during Christmas time. Having divorced a year before, the time apart made them both think of their loss in the divorce and how rash decisions can further lead to loneliness and isolation. On the one hand, it gave Mia the confidence to find her own footing and rediscover her self. Not only is she a wife to a popular hockey player, she has become a person of her own pursuing a career she could be proud of. What better time to have things sorted out but at Christmas time. When love is real, it finds a way.
What did not work
Since I am invested in the series, I would have wanted to see Mia more involved in the Portland Storm WAGs. The same with Q. Before and after this novella, he was only a footnote to the entire series. He could have been a character that shaped the team into what it is in its recent stands on the series. But, I am keeping my hopes up to find out what Mia and Q will play in the community of the Portland Storm Hockey Team players and their families.
I'm waiting for what Catherine Gayle has in store in the future installments for Q and Mia. I'm holding her out to Jim Sutter's mantra, "we take care of our own."
Q is persistent and charming. While Mia plays hard to get, she couldn't help but give him another chance seeing Q shower her daughter with attention and love. Admittedly, Mia has her hands full on being a single working mom. Somewhere in the middle of the holidays, they got back together in each others' arms.
What worked
Christmas magic and the presence of family were factors that pushed Mia to forgive Q's faults. Besides, Q and Mia have a long history that their families brought back through reunions and dinners shared during Christmas time. Having divorced a year before, the time apart made them both think of their loss in the divorce and how rash decisions can further lead to loneliness and isolation. On the one hand, it gave Mia the confidence to find her own footing and rediscover her self. Not only is she a wife to a popular hockey player, she has become a person of her own pursuing a career she could be proud of. What better time to have things sorted out but at Christmas time. When love is real, it finds a way.
What did not work
Since I am invested in the series, I would have wanted to see Mia more involved in the Portland Storm WAGs. The same with Q. Before and after this novella, he was only a footnote to the entire series. He could have been a character that shaped the team into what it is in its recent stands on the series. But, I am keeping my hopes up to find out what Mia and Q will play in the community of the Portland Storm Hockey Team players and their families.
I'm waiting for what Catherine Gayle has in store in the future installments for Q and Mia. I'm holding her out to Jim Sutter's mantra, "we take care of our own."
December 2, 2014
As always, I love this latest installment in the Portland Storm series by Catherine Gayle! This is a shorter read, but it is a fantastic addition to the series!
Holiday Hat Trick is not on the ice this time, but takes place over the league-mandated holiday days off. It centers on a newer player, Mitch Quincey. He and his wife Mia have been divorced for several months, a decision that was Mia's. He is still desperately in love with her, but has realized that winning her back is a lost cause. So his focus this vacation is to get the last of his things, file for joint custody, and see his little girl as much as possible. I was in love with him from the moment he began to coo about his daughter!
I was prepared to dislike Mia, but I just couldn't. I didn't want to understand her position, because this is a man who clearly loved her and their daughter and who was a legitimately good guy. A good guy that she tossed aside. But as we got to know her, I realized that there were reasons that she did what she did, reasons that I could wholy understand.
This is the thing I love most about these books, besides the hockey!! That the stories revolve around real people with real issues. The same kind of issues we all may face at some point in our lives.
Things to love...
--Mitch as a dad. The love he had for his daughter was touching.
--Mia. I related and I understood how she felt.
--Mitch as an uncle. I loved how he was with the other kids in the story. As a mom myself, there is nothing sexier!
My Recommendation: While this could be read as a standalone, I love the series so much that I say... READ THEM ALL!!
Holiday Hat Trick is not on the ice this time, but takes place over the league-mandated holiday days off. It centers on a newer player, Mitch Quincey. He and his wife Mia have been divorced for several months, a decision that was Mia's. He is still desperately in love with her, but has realized that winning her back is a lost cause. So his focus this vacation is to get the last of his things, file for joint custody, and see his little girl as much as possible. I was in love with him from the moment he began to coo about his daughter!
I was prepared to dislike Mia, but I just couldn't. I didn't want to understand her position, because this is a man who clearly loved her and their daughter and who was a legitimately good guy. A good guy that she tossed aside. But as we got to know her, I realized that there were reasons that she did what she did, reasons that I could wholy understand.
This is the thing I love most about these books, besides the hockey!! That the stories revolve around real people with real issues. The same kind of issues we all may face at some point in our lives.
Things to love...
--Mitch as a dad. The love he had for his daughter was touching.
--Mia. I related and I understood how she felt.
--Mitch as an uncle. I loved how he was with the other kids in the story. As a mom myself, there is nothing sexier!
My Recommendation: While this could be read as a standalone, I love the series so much that I say... READ THEM ALL!!
Want to read
January 26, 2015Mitchell “Q” Quincey, a journeyman playing for the Portland Storm, has three goals for his three-day Christmas break.
1. Move the rest of his gym equipment out of his ex-wife Mia’s house.
2. Get his lawyer to file a petition for joint custody.
3. Spend every last minute he can with his baby girl.
When he arrives on Mia’s doorstep, things don’t go as planned. With her whole family gathered for the holiday, the only way he can spend time with their daughter is to spend time with the whole clan. The compromise is doable, if not ideal, because he’s still in love with Mia and she won’t take him back.
Having her ex-husband show up completely unannounced at Christmas throws Mia off her game. The least Mitch could have done is called so she could have emotionally prepared herself to face him. Instead, the love and attraction she still feels for him combine to leave her fumbling for excuses. He’s always been able to leave her flustered, but now that he’s making himself part of the family again, she’s afraid she’ll lose her nerve and fall back into old patterns.
Things heat up on a snowy Christmas Eve, and Mitch decides to change his goals on the fly. With assists from Mia’s family and a bit of mistletoe, he might end up with a Holiday Hat Trick.
#1 Breakaway
#2 On the Fly
#2.5 Taking A Shot
#3 Light the Lamp
#4 Delay of Game
#4.5 Double Major
#5 In the Zone
#5.5 Holiday Hat Trick
#6 Comeback
#7 Dropping Gloves
#7.5 Home Ice
1. Move the rest of his gym equipment out of his ex-wife Mia’s house.
2. Get his lawyer to file a petition for joint custody.
3. Spend every last minute he can with his baby girl.
When he arrives on Mia’s doorstep, things don’t go as planned. With her whole family gathered for the holiday, the only way he can spend time with their daughter is to spend time with the whole clan. The compromise is doable, if not ideal, because he’s still in love with Mia and she won’t take him back.
Having her ex-husband show up completely unannounced at Christmas throws Mia off her game. The least Mitch could have done is called so she could have emotionally prepared herself to face him. Instead, the love and attraction she still feels for him combine to leave her fumbling for excuses. He’s always been able to leave her flustered, but now that he’s making himself part of the family again, she’s afraid she’ll lose her nerve and fall back into old patterns.
Things heat up on a snowy Christmas Eve, and Mitch decides to change his goals on the fly. With assists from Mia’s family and a bit of mistletoe, he might end up with a Holiday Hat Trick.
#1 Breakaway
#2 On the Fly
#2.5 Taking A Shot
#3 Light the Lamp
#4 Delay of Game
#4.5 Double Major
#5 In the Zone
#5.5 Holiday Hat Trick
#6 Comeback
#7 Dropping Gloves
#7.5 Home Ice
November 30, 2014
It's no secret I love Catherine Gayle's novels, but this very well may be her best yet. I loved this holiday romance about Mitch "Q" Quincey and his ex-wife, Mia.
Q and Mia have been divorced for some time and with his job of being an NHL star, he doesn't get to spend the time he needs and wants to with his little girl, Marley. With three goals in mind over his very quick holiday break, he heads home to Canada to try to accomplish them.
Throughout this novella, Catherine Gayle takes us inside the relationship between Q and his high school sweetheart and shows us how much both of them are hurting and wishing that things were different. With a little coaxing by Mia's well meaning Mom, Q finally starts to see that maybe he can accomplish not only his holiday hat trick, but he might score a bigger goal.
I'm not sure I can accurately articulate how much I loved this story. Whether you've read the other Portland Storm novels or not (although you should, they're awesome!), this is one you should definitely pick up.
Q and Mia have been divorced for some time and with his job of being an NHL star, he doesn't get to spend the time he needs and wants to with his little girl, Marley. With three goals in mind over his very quick holiday break, he heads home to Canada to try to accomplish them.
Throughout this novella, Catherine Gayle takes us inside the relationship between Q and his high school sweetheart and shows us how much both of them are hurting and wishing that things were different. With a little coaxing by Mia's well meaning Mom, Q finally starts to see that maybe he can accomplish not only his holiday hat trick, but he might score a bigger goal.
I'm not sure I can accurately articulate how much I loved this story. Whether you've read the other Portland Storm novels or not (although you should, they're awesome!), this is one you should definitely pick up.
December 9, 2015
A quick short fast read. This is really a novella since it is easily read in a short period of time.
This is a story about Morgan who plans to take the 3 days he has off from his professional hockey team to head home to accomplish three simple tasks. Among them is spending as much time as possible with his sweet one year old daughter. He and his ex-wife, Mia, are high school sweethearts who ended up married but the vagabond life style Morgan has as a professional hockey player causes her to lose herself. She retreated back home to Manitoba to find herself in the small town she and Morgan grew up in.
Of course, as can be expected, nothing quite goes to Morgan's plan. He does get to spend time with his sweet daughter but with Mia's parents pushing them together over the space of the three days he is back home, he starts to realize that he needs Mia back in his life. And Mia has never stopped loving him.
Settle into your favorite reading spot with a cup of tea or coffee or a glass of wine and enjoy this fast sweet holiday read.
This is a story about Morgan who plans to take the 3 days he has off from his professional hockey team to head home to accomplish three simple tasks. Among them is spending as much time as possible with his sweet one year old daughter. He and his ex-wife, Mia, are high school sweethearts who ended up married but the vagabond life style Morgan has as a professional hockey player causes her to lose herself. She retreated back home to Manitoba to find herself in the small town she and Morgan grew up in.
Of course, as can be expected, nothing quite goes to Morgan's plan. He does get to spend time with his sweet daughter but with Mia's parents pushing them together over the space of the three days he is back home, he starts to realize that he needs Mia back in his life. And Mia has never stopped loving him.
Settle into your favorite reading spot with a cup of tea or coffee or a glass of wine and enjoy this fast sweet holiday read.
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