What do you think?
Toronto Thunder #3
Hell or High Water
Come hell or high water, Nate’s gonna be Ramsey’s perfect (fake) boyfriend . . .
The night Nate Bishop met Ramsey Andresen, he didn’t know who he was.
Didn’t know he was a hockey player. Didn’t know he’d be sticking around in Toronto. Most definitely didn’t know they’d hook up and Ramsey would walk right out of his life. Leaving him aching for more and hating that he can’t forget him.
They meet again at a Thunder team party and Nate’s not only shocked by Ramsey’s presence, but the way he acts like he belongs. He’s gorgeous and perfect and unobtainable, his existence rubbing Nate’s face into everything he can’t have.
He knows his teammates aren’t happy they don’t get along. But the last thing Nate expects is for Ramsey to suggest a plan to get them off their backs.
Not a fake friendship, but a fake situationship.
As they spend more time together—at first a necessity because of the charade, and then because they can’t stay away from each other—Nate starts to learn more about Ramsey’s secrets.
And each shadowy corner that Nate shines light into makes him like Ramsey even more. Until like slides easily into love, and fake becomes something real. Something precious. When they shatter the illusion, can they face the reality that they want each other, completely and forever, after playing pretend for so long?
The night Nate Bishop met Ramsey Andresen, he didn’t know who he was.
Didn’t know he was a hockey player. Didn’t know he’d be sticking around in Toronto. Most definitely didn’t know they’d hook up and Ramsey would walk right out of his life. Leaving him aching for more and hating that he can’t forget him.
They meet again at a Thunder team party and Nate’s not only shocked by Ramsey’s presence, but the way he acts like he belongs. He’s gorgeous and perfect and unobtainable, his existence rubbing Nate’s face into everything he can’t have.
He knows his teammates aren’t happy they don’t get along. But the last thing Nate expects is for Ramsey to suggest a plan to get them off their backs.
Not a fake friendship, but a fake situationship.
As they spend more time together—at first a necessity because of the charade, and then because they can’t stay away from each other—Nate starts to learn more about Ramsey’s secrets.
And each shadowy corner that Nate shines light into makes him like Ramsey even more. Until like slides easily into love, and fake becomes something real. Something precious. When they shatter the illusion, can they face the reality that they want each other, completely and forever, after playing pretend for so long?
383 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 26, 2026
About the author
Beth Bolden
82 books754 followersA lifelong Oregonian, Beth Bolden has just recently moved to North Carolina with her supportive husband and their sweet kitten, Earl Grey. Beth still believes in Keeping Portland Weird, and intends to be just as weird in Raleigh.
Beth has been writing practically since she learned the alphabet. Unfortunately, her first foray into novel writing, titled Big Bear with Sparkly Earrings, wasn’t a bestseller, but hope springs eternal. She’s published fourteen novels and five short stories.
Beth has been writing practically since she learned the alphabet. Unfortunately, her first foray into novel writing, titled Big Bear with Sparkly Earrings, wasn’t a bestseller, but hope springs eternal. She’s published fourteen novels and five short stories.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 145 reviews
March 29, 2026
Not sure about this book. It ends really lovely, and I guess the chemistry between the mc’s is there, the writing is good and enough happens. But what a ridiculous premise. They decide to fake date to get others to stop interfering. And then they realize dating is just what they should do and there’s the happily ever after?
I understand Ramsey is a great person with a sad foster background. He was horrible to Nate though. And then Nate’s not allowed to be annoyed with him about that? I just didn’t get it. I kept thinking: why would you do that? I even wondered if the author knew what exactly was going on between the two of them.
And then there’s the best friend who apparently gets a book too, and his story is referenced to constantly but it’s not written yet. I can predict the whole thing now though because of all the not very subtle hints. Somehow Ramsey broke them up, and in their book Wes and Marcus get there second chance. Also Jordan the rookie will get a book, because surprise surprise, he turns out to be gay too. I also had no clue what was going on with Sterling. Why was he the rookie’s mentor and why could he just leave it to Nate? I really don’t get football culture. There was also so little of the sport in this book it didn’t really matter.
I am looking forward to the next book, I love stepbrother romance 😬😂 Too bad so much of this story was also spilled already. The books can be read as standalones, and I think you might, because you read one and you already know the most important bits of all the others…
Still four stars though because in the end they get each other and they are adorable. And almost everything happens on page and I like that. I wish it was a five star though. It had enough potential. It just wasn’t there.
Might reread. And I do recommend.
I understand Ramsey is a great person with a sad foster background. He was horrible to Nate though. And then Nate’s not allowed to be annoyed with him about that? I just didn’t get it. I kept thinking: why would you do that? I even wondered if the author knew what exactly was going on between the two of them.
And then there’s the best friend who apparently gets a book too, and his story is referenced to constantly but it’s not written yet. I can predict the whole thing now though because of all the not very subtle hints. Somehow Ramsey broke them up, and in their book Wes and Marcus get there second chance. Also Jordan the rookie will get a book, because surprise surprise, he turns out to be gay too. I also had no clue what was going on with Sterling. Why was he the rookie’s mentor and why could he just leave it to Nate? I really don’t get football culture. There was also so little of the sport in this book it didn’t really matter.
I am looking forward to the next book, I love stepbrother romance 😬😂 Too bad so much of this story was also spilled already. The books can be read as standalones, and I think you might, because you read one and you already know the most important bits of all the others…
Still four stars though because in the end they get each other and they are adorable. And almost everything happens on page and I like that. I wish it was a five star though. It had enough potential. It just wasn’t there.
Might reread. And I do recommend.
April 22, 2026
I was so excited to read Ramsey's book.... 😭 But that wasn't great.
I felt absolutely nothing for either of them. I really loved Ramsey in the Portland Evergreens series, but in this book? Nope. It didn't feel like it was the same guy at all. I'm so disappointed 😭😭😭
I felt absolutely nothing for either of them. I really loved Ramsey in the Portland Evergreens series, but in this book? Nope. It didn't feel like it was the same guy at all. I'm so disappointed 😭😭😭
May 16, 2026
A- for narration / B for content - 4.5 stars
Clever, charming, intuitive and ridiculously handsome, hockey player Ramsey Andresen was a major secondary character in Beth Bolden’s Portland Evergreens series, where he was usually to be found snarking at his friends and teammates, making shrewd observations about their love lives and giving sound advice to the lovelorn – while never falling in love himself. I’d been hoping that Ramsey would eventually get a story of his own, and Hell or High Water is it; but while I enjoyed it, I can’t deny that it kinda runs out of steam sometime in the second half.
Ramsey showed up in the previous two instalments of the series, which is set a year or two after the Evergreens ; he’s been drafted by the Buffalo Wolves but has only played for a season (or part of a season) because he’s on LTIR (long-term injured reserve) following a serious concussion. Bored, lonely, restless and frustrated at his slow recovery, he’s come to Toronto to stay with his friend Wes Matthews, who plays for the Thunder, and he’s met up with the guys a few times at Vault, the new club that’s become popular with many of the sportspeople in the area. Ramsey is charismatic, witty and gorgeous, he fits in well with the friendship group and is well-liked by the members of the team – all except defenceman Nate Bishop, who goes out of his way to avoid Ramsey where possible and is short and sharp with him when it isn’t.
The sexual tension between these two was thick enough to cut with a knife in the earlier books, and now we find out the reason Nate is so stand-offish around Ramsey; they enjoyed a hot and passionate hook up over the summer that didn’t end well. The afterglow was barely glowing when Ramsey, who never lets anyone get close, doesn’t do repeats, and avoids complications like the plague, realised Nate was a player on the same team as his bestie and, in a scramble for self-protection, said some deliberately hurtful things to push Nate away. Nate had genuinely liked Ramsey for more than his looks and thought they’d had some moments of real connection, so when he keeps showing up, like the proverbial bad penny, Nate is angry and hurt, especially at watching Ramsey exerting his considerable charm and congeniality to get everyone to like him, when Nate hadn’t been allowed to.
Worse, Aiden (the star QB) and the rest of the Thunder really like Ramsey and decide to kind of adopt him while he’s in Toronto, but all Nate wants is to keep his distance. Unfortunately, his teammates – Aiden especially - won’t let him; they want to include both of them in their friendship group, so eventually, Nate and Ramsey hatch a plan to get the guys off their backs. They’ll pretend to be casually dating (as distinct from pretending to be actually dating?) for the remainder of Ramsey’s time in Toronto, so they’ll put on an act around everyone else, but otherwise, they can keep out of each other’s way.
Yeah, we all know how successful that’s going to be.
That has to be one of the flimsiest fake-relationship premises ever (and they're almost always pretty flimsy!) Pretending to be friends isn’t enough, but they can’t be fake boyfriends, so they’ll pretend to be ‘casually’ dating? (What’s the difference and why does it matter?) Still, the opening hook-up sizzles with chemistry, the snark and banter is great, and I liked the parts of the story where Nate and Ramsey start to get to know each other and become actual friends. As we learn the truth about Ramsey’s past, we can understand why he’s built such high emotional walls, but Nate is one of the few people to have ever seen beyond them - and it throws him. I liked seeing Ramsey as the one off balance for a change; he’s always been the cool, confident one, but the way Nate sees him so clearly and meets him where he is is something he doesn’t know how to deal with, and I enjoyed watching him realising it’s safe for him to be vulnerable with Nate and learning to let someone in.
Nate is a lovely guy and good for Ramsey; he’s a talented, dedicated player, and an all-round sweetheart, but he’s having a hard time adapting to new leadership responsibilities that have been kind of dumped on him, and figuring out how to work with some of the younger guys on the team. Trouble is, his backstory, compared to Ramsey’s, is a bit sparse and I’d have liked to know more about him.
The chemistry, slow-burn and the yearning of the romance are nicely done, but the problem is that after they realise they want to be together for real, the story loses momentum and it’s more of a limp than a sprint to the finish.
I was pleased that the author doesn’t take the easy road at the end; with Nate based in Toronto and Ramsey in Buffalo, they have a lot of logistics to work out so they can be together long-term. I’m not sure how easy their chosen path is going to be, but they make that choice together and are invested in making it work for them.
I’m doing the series in audio because I’m a fan of Darcy Stark, and as expected, he delivers a thoroughly engaging, strongly characterised, well-paced and clearly-differentiated performance. There are a fairly large number of secondary characters and he does a great job of finding different ‘voices’ for them, making sure the recurring characters sound consistent with earlier portrayals, and making them all sound distinct from one another. His interpretation of the two leads is really good – Nate, steady and thoughtful, Ramsey, all easy charm and confidence, and I liked the subtle changes and softness that creep into his voice as Ramsey starts to fall for Nate.
As this book is, like Beth Bolden’s other sports romances, set in a shared universe, we get characters from other books and series (Dean and Brody from Portland Evergreens ) popping up in addition to the established ones we’ve already met (Aiden, Levi, Dawson, Cam, Wes and others on the Thunder). I hadn’t realised that Nate already appeared in the Charleston Condors series; I’m working my way through that in audio, so I’ll be listening out for him! I didn’t feel quite as overwhelmed by the number of cameos and name-drops in this one (although I think that might be because there aren’t so many of them this time around), and the author continues to prepare the ground for future stories; I think I’m most eager to find out what the deal is between Wes and his ex, Marcus, who is clearly still a touchy subject!
I enjoyed listening to Nate and Ramsey’s story despite my criticisms, and can say it’s probably my favourite book of this series so far. I’m not sure you could listen to Hell or High Water as a standalone, but if you’re following the Toronto Thunder series or are familiar with the Portland Evergreens , you might want to give this one a try.
Clever, charming, intuitive and ridiculously handsome, hockey player Ramsey Andresen was a major secondary character in Beth Bolden’s Portland Evergreens series, where he was usually to be found snarking at his friends and teammates, making shrewd observations about their love lives and giving sound advice to the lovelorn – while never falling in love himself. I’d been hoping that Ramsey would eventually get a story of his own, and Hell or High Water is it; but while I enjoyed it, I can’t deny that it kinda runs out of steam sometime in the second half.
Ramsey showed up in the previous two instalments of the series, which is set a year or two after the Evergreens ; he’s been drafted by the Buffalo Wolves but has only played for a season (or part of a season) because he’s on LTIR (long-term injured reserve) following a serious concussion. Bored, lonely, restless and frustrated at his slow recovery, he’s come to Toronto to stay with his friend Wes Matthews, who plays for the Thunder, and he’s met up with the guys a few times at Vault, the new club that’s become popular with many of the sportspeople in the area. Ramsey is charismatic, witty and gorgeous, he fits in well with the friendship group and is well-liked by the members of the team – all except defenceman Nate Bishop, who goes out of his way to avoid Ramsey where possible and is short and sharp with him when it isn’t.
The sexual tension between these two was thick enough to cut with a knife in the earlier books, and now we find out the reason Nate is so stand-offish around Ramsey; they enjoyed a hot and passionate hook up over the summer that didn’t end well. The afterglow was barely glowing when Ramsey, who never lets anyone get close, doesn’t do repeats, and avoids complications like the plague, realised Nate was a player on the same team as his bestie and, in a scramble for self-protection, said some deliberately hurtful things to push Nate away. Nate had genuinely liked Ramsey for more than his looks and thought they’d had some moments of real connection, so when he keeps showing up, like the proverbial bad penny, Nate is angry and hurt, especially at watching Ramsey exerting his considerable charm and congeniality to get everyone to like him, when Nate hadn’t been allowed to.
Worse, Aiden (the star QB) and the rest of the Thunder really like Ramsey and decide to kind of adopt him while he’s in Toronto, but all Nate wants is to keep his distance. Unfortunately, his teammates – Aiden especially - won’t let him; they want to include both of them in their friendship group, so eventually, Nate and Ramsey hatch a plan to get the guys off their backs. They’ll pretend to be casually dating (as distinct from pretending to be actually dating?) for the remainder of Ramsey’s time in Toronto, so they’ll put on an act around everyone else, but otherwise, they can keep out of each other’s way.
Yeah, we all know how successful that’s going to be.
That has to be one of the flimsiest fake-relationship premises ever (and they're almost always pretty flimsy!) Pretending to be friends isn’t enough, but they can’t be fake boyfriends, so they’ll pretend to be ‘casually’ dating? (What’s the difference and why does it matter?) Still, the opening hook-up sizzles with chemistry, the snark and banter is great, and I liked the parts of the story where Nate and Ramsey start to get to know each other and become actual friends. As we learn the truth about Ramsey’s past, we can understand why he’s built such high emotional walls, but Nate is one of the few people to have ever seen beyond them - and it throws him. I liked seeing Ramsey as the one off balance for a change; he’s always been the cool, confident one, but the way Nate sees him so clearly and meets him where he is is something he doesn’t know how to deal with, and I enjoyed watching him realising it’s safe for him to be vulnerable with Nate and learning to let someone in.
Nate is a lovely guy and good for Ramsey; he’s a talented, dedicated player, and an all-round sweetheart, but he’s having a hard time adapting to new leadership responsibilities that have been kind of dumped on him, and figuring out how to work with some of the younger guys on the team. Trouble is, his backstory, compared to Ramsey’s, is a bit sparse and I’d have liked to know more about him.
The chemistry, slow-burn and the yearning of the romance are nicely done, but the problem is that after they realise they want to be together for real, the story loses momentum and it’s more of a limp than a sprint to the finish.
I was pleased that the author doesn’t take the easy road at the end; with Nate based in Toronto and Ramsey in Buffalo, they have a lot of logistics to work out so they can be together long-term. I’m not sure how easy their chosen path is going to be, but they make that choice together and are invested in making it work for them.
I’m doing the series in audio because I’m a fan of Darcy Stark, and as expected, he delivers a thoroughly engaging, strongly characterised, well-paced and clearly-differentiated performance. There are a fairly large number of secondary characters and he does a great job of finding different ‘voices’ for them, making sure the recurring characters sound consistent with earlier portrayals, and making them all sound distinct from one another. His interpretation of the two leads is really good – Nate, steady and thoughtful, Ramsey, all easy charm and confidence, and I liked the subtle changes and softness that creep into his voice as Ramsey starts to fall for Nate.
As this book is, like Beth Bolden’s other sports romances, set in a shared universe, we get characters from other books and series (Dean and Brody from Portland Evergreens ) popping up in addition to the established ones we’ve already met (Aiden, Levi, Dawson, Cam, Wes and others on the Thunder). I hadn’t realised that Nate already appeared in the Charleston Condors series; I’m working my way through that in audio, so I’ll be listening out for him! I didn’t feel quite as overwhelmed by the number of cameos and name-drops in this one (although I think that might be because there aren’t so many of them this time around), and the author continues to prepare the ground for future stories; I think I’m most eager to find out what the deal is between Wes and his ex, Marcus, who is clearly still a touchy subject!
I enjoyed listening to Nate and Ramsey’s story despite my criticisms, and can say it’s probably my favourite book of this series so far. I’m not sure you could listen to Hell or High Water as a standalone, but if you’re following the Toronto Thunder series or are familiar with the Portland Evergreens , you might want to give this one a try.
March 28, 2026
If Beth wasn't one of, if not, my favorite author, this book would be getting a much harsher review.
Deacon once told Nate, “You’re gonna find someone and they’re gonna be great for you, I promise." Unfortunately, I don't feel that happened here.
I'm not obsessed with Ramsey, never have been, and this book seems to be written for those people who are. I am Team Bishop all the way- so I'm disappointed. I liked Ramsey as a side character but was honestly not that invested in him. We met Nate in the final Condors book and I was invested immediately. I was excited for this book. Then let down constantly.
1. These guys should make each other better but Nate's character development seems to have been left behind in favor of Ramsey's.
When we met Nate as a rookie he was like a mild version of Cam- sweet, shy, HOPEFUL. Nate smiled so wide, Deacon could see his teeth shining white in the dark across the dance floor. Gah, he was so adorable!
But 3 years later he is not that guy. We see him after he had a one night stand with Ramsey that left him bitter and hurt. Then Ramsey keeps showing up and poking the wound, and Nate's teammates don't have his back. Nate is angry for half of this story. I hurt seeing this version of Nate and kept waiting for that other version to shine after the conflict resolved. Too bad he never showed. He was patient and sweet, yeah, but his light was so dim compared to how he'd been. With how brightly he'd shone while crushing on Deacon I expected it to be a thousand times brighter when he finally fell in love. It wasn't.
Ramsey, of course, gets all the character development. Even his support system is robust, which makes me furious about Aiden's little speech to Nate. Nate is Aiden's teammate, his hypothetical brother, so the way the conversation moved made it clear Ramsey was priority number one in this book. I just can't get over the fact that nobody had Nate's back the way they should have. I'm actually angry at Aiden for not putting Nate first to begin with- even though I knew it was coming I was not expecting his request to include Ramsey into their football team gatherings to be so... Ramsey first, Bishop second.
2. Bi-erasure had me take a 3 day break while reading at 45% because the constant implications that Ramsey wasn't attracted to women were upsetting. Ramsey was into everyone while in college- Brody told us that "Ramsey swung every way", Mal was worried Ramsey would sleep with his roommate, and we saw Ramsey flirt with girls in college- but 3 years later Nate and Wes are making comments about Ramsey and women like Ramsey's gay. When Ramsey thinks of past hookups he only thinks of men, too. No thanks. I left the HR fandom because of bi-erasure and biphobia, I'm certainly not ignoring it here.
3. Ramsey does NOT apologize to Nate. I used the keyword search feature, too, because I thought I missed it. I needed it after seeing what Ramsey did to Nate's head for half the story. But it's not anywhere to be found! EXCUSE ME? Why not? An apology is owed to Nate for how their hookup ended and the multiple "pretending we've never met" interactions across 5 months of Ramsey antagonizing Nate. And just to make me even angrier, when Ramsey suggests fake dating our sweet Nate considers apologizing to Ramsey for being so cold to him recently... Just NO.
I can hear the Ramsey fans, though. "Oh it was so cute how Ramsey wanted Nate's attention...." No. Hurting someone's feelings then finding time to taunt them is not cute. Nate gets accused of "pulling Ramsey's pigtails" by his teammates and it makes the whole thing even more upsetting. Ramsey was selfish and inconsiderate, then continued to be so for several months. All Nate did was react with hurt and I'm not holding that against him.
4. Lab grown diamonds are real diamonds.
I have more but nothing as important as what's listed above. The Nate Bishop I fell in love with in the Condors series is definitely not the guy in this story. Considerate and sweet, but isolated and in his own head, worried about his heart and the rookie, and far too separate from his entire football team. I miss that light he had before Ramsey got ahold of him. This was definitely a let down.
Deacon once told Nate, “You’re gonna find someone and they’re gonna be great for you, I promise." Unfortunately, I don't feel that happened here.
I'm not obsessed with Ramsey, never have been, and this book seems to be written for those people who are. I am Team Bishop all the way- so I'm disappointed. I liked Ramsey as a side character but was honestly not that invested in him. We met Nate in the final Condors book and I was invested immediately. I was excited for this book. Then let down constantly.
1. These guys should make each other better but Nate's character development seems to have been left behind in favor of Ramsey's.
When we met Nate as a rookie he was like a mild version of Cam- sweet, shy, HOPEFUL. Nate smiled so wide, Deacon could see his teeth shining white in the dark across the dance floor. Gah, he was so adorable!
But 3 years later he is not that guy. We see him after he had a one night stand with Ramsey that left him bitter and hurt. Then Ramsey keeps showing up and poking the wound, and Nate's teammates don't have his back. Nate is angry for half of this story. I hurt seeing this version of Nate and kept waiting for that other version to shine after the conflict resolved. Too bad he never showed. He was patient and sweet, yeah, but his light was so dim compared to how he'd been. With how brightly he'd shone while crushing on Deacon I expected it to be a thousand times brighter when he finally fell in love. It wasn't.
Ramsey, of course, gets all the character development. Even his support system is robust, which makes me furious about Aiden's little speech to Nate. Nate is Aiden's teammate, his hypothetical brother, so the way the conversation moved made it clear Ramsey was priority number one in this book. I just can't get over the fact that nobody had Nate's back the way they should have. I'm actually angry at Aiden for not putting Nate first to begin with- even though I knew it was coming I was not expecting his request to include Ramsey into their football team gatherings to be so... Ramsey first, Bishop second.
2. Bi-erasure had me take a 3 day break while reading at 45% because the constant implications that Ramsey wasn't attracted to women were upsetting. Ramsey was into everyone while in college- Brody told us that "Ramsey swung every way", Mal was worried Ramsey would sleep with his roommate, and we saw Ramsey flirt with girls in college- but 3 years later Nate and Wes are making comments about Ramsey and women like Ramsey's gay. When Ramsey thinks of past hookups he only thinks of men, too. No thanks. I left the HR fandom because of bi-erasure and biphobia, I'm certainly not ignoring it here.
3. Ramsey does NOT apologize to Nate. I used the keyword search feature, too, because I thought I missed it. I needed it after seeing what Ramsey did to Nate's head for half the story. But it's not anywhere to be found! EXCUSE ME? Why not? An apology is owed to Nate for how their hookup ended and the multiple "pretending we've never met" interactions across 5 months of Ramsey antagonizing Nate. And just to make me even angrier, when Ramsey suggests fake dating our sweet Nate considers apologizing to Ramsey for being so cold to him recently... Just NO.
I can hear the Ramsey fans, though. "Oh it was so cute how Ramsey wanted Nate's attention...." No. Hurting someone's feelings then finding time to taunt them is not cute. Nate gets accused of "pulling Ramsey's pigtails" by his teammates and it makes the whole thing even more upsetting. Ramsey was selfish and inconsiderate, then continued to be so for several months. All Nate did was react with hurt and I'm not holding that against him.
4. Lab grown diamonds are real diamonds.
I have more but nothing as important as what's listed above. The Nate Bishop I fell in love with in the Condors series is definitely not the guy in this story. Considerate and sweet, but isolated and in his own head, worried about his heart and the rookie, and far too separate from his entire football team. I miss that light he had before Ramsey got ahold of him. This was definitely a let down.
March 27, 2026
Audiobook: May, 2026
This was fun! It's Ramsey's story so duh I signed up for the #ALC 😍. I love their banter, the hookup to kinda hate/flirting to fake dating to love they have 🤭.
It's the only audiobook I own of Beth's (currently). I'd've loved a duet narration but atleast it's in 3rd person so there's no confusion as to who's speaking. I did listen to it in 1.10x speed. Oh ya, also the typos I found in ebook, I didn't notice here!
N's vocals feel youthful while R's deep (I'd imagined opposite lol). Inner thoughts sound same. Some intents are shown well, like sass & worry. But some lines sounded a bit robotic to me 🤔. Couple side characters got a nasaly voice, omg 😆. Levi's southern accent is hella deep! VA's clear in normal voicing (aka not above 2) tho.
I love the story 5/5 but will be giving the audiobook 4.75/5 overall.
“You deserve the real thing. You are the real thing.”
Audiobook ratings:
Narration: Single, Darcy Stark
Voice acting: 7/10 (good)
March, 2026
A MM romance with Footballer x Hockey player, Opposites Attract, Hookup to Hate to love, Second Chance, Slowburn, Bickering, Fake to (real) dating, Sports, Love, Healing & Found family!
I had been mighty excited for Ramsey's book, especially knowing he got paired up with Nate 😁. I love them & the friendships here. So glad to get the #ARC! I was locked in.
Nate is the defensive football captain. N's quiet, observant, caring, hopeless romantic sweetheart but also a stubborn, cautious, brickhouse!
Ramsey is a hockey player healing from injury. R's charming, sly, cocky, strives on control & doesn't let lovers close (hookup king) yet can be kind & nice.
I've seen R since his college days (Portland series) & I KNEW there'd be a reason why N hates R yet they're both kinda obsessed 🤭. So much build up! 1s ready for love, other runs from it. Yet their connection seemed irresistible & inevitable! The way N sees through R's walls is sweet, R's feelings are complex to focused 🙌. Oh, the emotional hits! I also appreciate that we see the actual sports in Beth's book.
Fake relationship was a great chance. When finally R's open to N, it's sweet. They both can be cruel to eachother, but ends up being so sweet 🩷. Smart/Dumb teases! The Jordan sub-plot was something lol, thrilling. How N+R figure out their future plans was aching & sweet. The last some chapters 🥹🥰 are so freaking cute!!! So excited for Wes & Lane books.
There were some typos in 1st half but there weren't actually in last half which is opposite of what typically happens in books lol. Plus, it always said "2 months", even when I'm sure more months had passed. I hope that got sorted in live version!
Story Ratings:
POV: 3rd person, Dual POV
1) Enjoyed? —> Yes! 5/5
2) The Characters: 5❤️/5
3) Top feels: 😳😅🤭🤔🥵😩😁😂🥹😍🫨😏😭😬🥳🥲🤷♀️😤🥰🤭💕
4) Steamy scenes: 2.5/5
5) Levels: Cute+Swoon: 4.5/5
Angst: 3/5 (slowburn!)
Dark: 1.5/5
6) Creativity + world: 4.5/5
7) Plot arc: (Fake dating, sports) 4.25/5
8) Writing style + pace: 4.25/5
** #arcHonestReview #AllViewsAreMyOwn **
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This was fun! It's Ramsey's story so duh I signed up for the #ALC 😍. I love their banter, the hookup to kinda hate/flirting to fake dating to love they have 🤭.
It's the only audiobook I own of Beth's (currently). I'd've loved a duet narration but atleast it's in 3rd person so there's no confusion as to who's speaking. I did listen to it in 1.10x speed. Oh ya, also the typos I found in ebook, I didn't notice here!
N's vocals feel youthful while R's deep (I'd imagined opposite lol). Inner thoughts sound same. Some intents are shown well, like sass & worry. But some lines sounded a bit robotic to me 🤔. Couple side characters got a nasaly voice, omg 😆. Levi's southern accent is hella deep! VA's clear in normal voicing (aka not above 2) tho.
I love the story 5/5 but will be giving the audiobook 4.75/5 overall.
“You deserve the real thing. You are the real thing.”
Audiobook ratings:
Narration: Single, Darcy Stark
Voice acting: 7/10 (good)
March, 2026
A MM romance with Footballer x Hockey player, Opposites Attract, Hookup to Hate to love, Second Chance, Slowburn, Bickering, Fake to (real) dating, Sports, Love, Healing & Found family!
I had been mighty excited for Ramsey's book, especially knowing he got paired up with Nate 😁. I love them & the friendships here. So glad to get the #ARC! I was locked in.
Nate is the defensive football captain. N's quiet, observant, caring, hopeless romantic sweetheart but also a stubborn, cautious, brickhouse!
Ramsey is a hockey player healing from injury. R's charming, sly, cocky, strives on control & doesn't let lovers close (hookup king) yet can be kind & nice.
I've seen R since his college days (Portland series) & I KNEW there'd be a reason why N hates R yet they're both kinda obsessed 🤭. So much build up! 1s ready for love, other runs from it. Yet their connection seemed irresistible & inevitable! The way N sees through R's walls is sweet, R's feelings are complex to focused 🙌. Oh, the emotional hits! I also appreciate that we see the actual sports in Beth's book.
Fake relationship was a great chance. When finally R's open to N, it's sweet. They both can be cruel to eachother, but ends up being so sweet 🩷. Smart/Dumb teases! The Jordan sub-plot was something lol, thrilling. How N+R figure out their future plans was aching & sweet. The last some chapters 🥹🥰 are so freaking cute!!! So excited for Wes & Lane books.
There were some typos in 1st half but there weren't actually in last half which is opposite of what typically happens in books lol. Plus, it always said "2 months", even when I'm sure more months had passed. I hope that got sorted in live version!
Story Ratings:
POV: 3rd person, Dual POV
1) Enjoyed? —> Yes! 5/5
2) The Characters: 5❤️/5
3) Top feels: 😳😅🤭🤔🥵😩😁😂🥹😍🫨😏😭😬🥳🥲🤷♀️😤🥰🤭💕
4) Steamy scenes: 2.5/5
5) Levels: Cute+Swoon: 4.5/5
Angst: 3/5 (slowburn!)
Dark: 1.5/5
6) Creativity + world: 4.5/5
7) Plot arc: (Fake dating, sports) 4.25/5
8) Writing style + pace: 4.25/5
** #arcHonestReview #AllViewsAreMyOwn **
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Did Not Finish
May 15, 2026This is not a review. It's notes to remind me why I dropped it.
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The meet cute and the off the charts hook up that ended sourly was the best part of the story
Then after the masks fall and they see who is who Ramsey sends so many mixed messages it is insulting not only to Nate, but to the reader as well. All the bravado is off putting.
Then the notion that they should pretend to date to "get their friends off their backs" is so weak a reason that the story crumbles right here for me.
Whatever realizations and feelings after this just fall flat and I don't care anymore.
Spoilers:
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The meet cute and the off the charts hook up that ended sourly was the best part of the story
Then after the masks fall and they see who is who Ramsey sends so many mixed messages it is insulting not only to Nate, but to the reader as well. All the bravado is off putting.
Then the notion that they should pretend to date to "get their friends off their backs" is so weak a reason that the story crumbles right here for me.
Whatever realizations and feelings after this just fall flat and I don't care anymore.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 22, 2026
I’ve spent the past two weeks binge reading this series and the Portland U books (read first two in TT then read PU so I had allll the context for Ramsey’s book) and I fear I don’t know what to do with my life now. I feel like this world has been my whole personality for these two weeks and I’m not ready to let it go 😭 might be time to reread from the beginning
But also I need to know what other people thought about
But also I need to know what other people thought about
Read
March 27, 2026most anticipated read of like two weeks when i realized just WHO the characters in this were after passively scrolling thru beth bolden's newsletters. but i luuurve beth bolden's sports romance, and this was perfect for me bc ALL OF THE CAMEOS were books that i read and enjoyed like goddd the deacongrant AND brodydean??? those are my two faves!!!! and i did really enjoy this so yay. one thing abt beth bolden is that even her flighty characters start wanting to commit SO BAD halfway thru the novel ramsey from melting the ice looking at hell or high water ramsey like whoooo is that????? the "fake dating" plot ends on their second "fake date" and they start real life dating its gorgeous. i do wish we got at least ONE jealousy scene (and obviously it's ramsey who has to be jealous) and i truly got so sick of the absolute insane ramsey glazing going on. maybe its bc my type leans more towards nate (built like brick shithouse...smart and witty...emotionally available.. that last one is really important bc theres only room for one avoidant person in the relationship and its me <3) but EVERY single character saying ramsey was the hottest man alive had me going 🤨🤨 that CANNOT be true. but also im not into white men in the slightest. but idk. can we get a little more love for nate??? i loveeee a man that can throw me around!!! yeah i think my major gripe is we hype ramsey TOO much and nate TOO little like idk. nates my man and ramsey's there i guess!
but yeah they were cute as fuck and im lowkeyyyy sat for jordan's story whenever that happens if it does even. i will say jordan should have a little starstruck crush on nate instead of ramsey im sickk of everyone loving ramsey im sorry! but yeah cute af and it surpassed all my expectations <3 a typical beth bolden sports romance and i lurved it!
but yeah they were cute as fuck and im lowkeyyyy sat for jordan's story whenever that happens if it does even. i will say jordan should have a little starstruck crush on nate instead of ramsey im sickk of everyone loving ramsey im sorry! but yeah cute af and it surpassed all my expectations <3 a typical beth bolden sports romance and i lurved it!
March 27, 2026
MY OPINION: I really like this series. Beth Bolden’s books are what I’d call meaty. There is a lot of thick, solid story from cover to cover. I would swear I held my breath throughout the entire thing. Was it anxiety over their story, maybe, but it for sure kept me on the edge of my seat.
We are mixing worlds here, a hockey player and a football player. Out of the gate, we hit hard, and it doesn’t stop until the last word. Saying I was on the edge of my seat the whole time sounds silly for a romance book, but it’s the facts. These two were like leopards circling each other, moving in then backing off, not wanting to be close but can’t help but want to be together.
As we read through what was happening in the world, we get to see their feelings. Surprise. Happiness. Fear. Lust. Are only a few of the feelings that they address in their inner dialog or with their friends. Finding their HEA was hard fought by both men. They were in uncharted territory and were doing their best.
What a love story. Even with the anxiety, I loved it. Both MCs are attractive in different ways, and I wanted this for them for different reasons. There was some spice, but not overly explicit, and it fit naturally in the story. There were plenty of friends around, and a side story about football. Not a lot of hockey.
Overall, I loved this book. You can read it out of order, but I recommend reading the others as well. It appears there are more great books in this series coming, and I can’t wait.
We are mixing worlds here, a hockey player and a football player. Out of the gate, we hit hard, and it doesn’t stop until the last word. Saying I was on the edge of my seat the whole time sounds silly for a romance book, but it’s the facts. These two were like leopards circling each other, moving in then backing off, not wanting to be close but can’t help but want to be together.
As we read through what was happening in the world, we get to see their feelings. Surprise. Happiness. Fear. Lust. Are only a few of the feelings that they address in their inner dialog or with their friends. Finding their HEA was hard fought by both men. They were in uncharted territory and were doing their best.
What a love story. Even with the anxiety, I loved it. Both MCs are attractive in different ways, and I wanted this for them for different reasons. There was some spice, but not overly explicit, and it fit naturally in the story. There were plenty of friends around, and a side story about football. Not a lot of hockey.
Overall, I loved this book. You can read it out of order, but I recommend reading the others as well. It appears there are more great books in this series coming, and I can’t wait.
March 27, 2026
As if I weren't going to rate Ramsey's book 5 stars!!!!!
I have been gnawing at the bars of my enclosure for this one since the FIRST Portland U book because I know a reluctant book boyfriend when I see one!! If there's one thing Beth Bolden excels at it's giving you early book spice and then making you wait ages for them to finally get their shit together.
Nate and Ramsey are both top tier - great friends, dedicated athletes, all in when they decide to be. I thought the overlap with Jordan's story worked really well at exposing the inner bits of both Nate AND Ramsey. Idk it was just great. Loved the double date with Dean and Brody. I love feeling like these two will just make it work, no problem!
I have been gnawing at the bars of my enclosure for this one since the FIRST Portland U book because I know a reluctant book boyfriend when I see one!! If there's one thing Beth Bolden excels at it's giving you early book spice and then making you wait ages for them to finally get their shit together.
Nate and Ramsey are both top tier - great friends, dedicated athletes, all in when they decide to be. I thought the overlap with Jordan's story worked really well at exposing the inner bits of both Nate AND Ramsey. Idk it was just great. Loved the double date with Dean and Brody. I love feeling like these two will just make it work, no problem!
March 31, 2026
5 stars of perfection for Ramsey’s book. I have been waiting for this and the fact that it was better than I could’ve hoped for (!!!)
I seriously am obsessed with Nate + Ramsey and their relationship and dynamic was insane in the best way. The banter, pining and longing and straight up chemistry between these two was palpable, also the fact that once they committed they COMMITTED. There’s also nothing I love than a stubborn boy who’s allergic to commitment and relationships meeting their match. Like the way Nate handled Ramsey and made him feel seen… big swoon.
Ugh I just loved every minute of this!!! Can’t wait for more from this author!
I seriously am obsessed with Nate + Ramsey and their relationship and dynamic was insane in the best way. The banter, pining and longing and straight up chemistry between these two was palpable, also the fact that once they committed they COMMITTED. There’s also nothing I love than a stubborn boy who’s allergic to commitment and relationships meeting their match. Like the way Nate handled Ramsey and made him feel seen… big swoon.
Ugh I just loved every minute of this!!! Can’t wait for more from this author!
May 26, 2026
This pissed me off a little. Ramsey deserved so much more. Passion, sex, conversation, plot! Just more. Nate was nice, Ramsey was nice, everybody was nice. Nothing happened. Nothing happened between the characters worth anything. They met, they held hands, they had half a conversation, they got together. We also got three absolutely identical sex scenes, where Ramsey did nothing. Oh, my bad, he gave a bj once. It's not even revealed what the big threesome deal was. It's not bad, there is just nothing there.
April 4, 2026
3.5 stars
March 26, 2026
This was soooo good! I've been (not so) patiently waiting for Ramsey's story since he first appeared in the Portland Evergreens series and the wait was definitely worth it! We got little glimpses of Nate and Ramsey and their "animosity" before Hell or High Water, but now we saw why Nate was acting like he was whenever Ramsey was out with their group.
Ramsey was so guarded and his walls were so high and he's always been that way, so it was great to see him finally open up and take a chance with Nate. Nate was the perfect person for Ramsey. He never backed down and he always saw him in a way no one else did. I loved the tension between them and I also really loved their strong attachment after they became a pair. I loved Nates steadfastness and Ramsey's ingeniousness.
It was fun to see Ramsey not being able to deal with Nate the way he always dealt with everyone. I loved the yearning/pining from both of them, there was something so deep to those feelings and I lived being able to experience that with Nate and Ramsey.
This was beautifully written and I just wanted to keep reading it to see what will happen next between them.
I loved every moment of this book and I'm so happy that they found their happily ever after. It was also great to see the Toronto Tunders, and Brody and Dean.
So, if you want to read about an obsessed football player who wants to finally settle down and a bad boy hockey player who is secretly soft for his football player then this is the book for you!
Ramsey was so guarded and his walls were so high and he's always been that way, so it was great to see him finally open up and take a chance with Nate. Nate was the perfect person for Ramsey. He never backed down and he always saw him in a way no one else did. I loved the tension between them and I also really loved their strong attachment after they became a pair. I loved Nates steadfastness and Ramsey's ingeniousness.
It was fun to see Ramsey not being able to deal with Nate the way he always dealt with everyone. I loved the yearning/pining from both of them, there was something so deep to those feelings and I lived being able to experience that with Nate and Ramsey.
This was beautifully written and I just wanted to keep reading it to see what will happen next between them.
I loved every moment of this book and I'm so happy that they found their happily ever after. It was also great to see the Toronto Tunders, and Brody and Dean.
So, if you want to read about an obsessed football player who wants to finally settle down and a bad boy hockey player who is secretly soft for his football player then this is the book for you!
Read
March 26, 2026No names, fake jobs? Real truths? A one night stand, a misunderstanding and then being constantly thrown together and feuding until Ramsey suggests fake dating... which becomes all too real...
These men have so much going on and so much baggage to unpack that hiding behind schemes lets them explore each other and their own feelings! I love both of these guys and watching them get together was glorious! I think this is my favourite book of this series so far!
These men have so much going on and so much baggage to unpack that hiding behind schemes lets them explore each other and their own feelings! I love both of these guys and watching them get together was glorious! I think this is my favourite book of this series so far!
March 28, 2026
Hell or High Water by Beth Bolden is the 3rd book in her Toronto Thunder series. It is the story of a man who is very good at hiding his feelings and past behind walls and the man who sees through them to the real person he is and how they fall in love. Nate Bishop is in his 4th season playing defensive end and a captain for the Toronto Thunder pro football team. He has done a lot of one-night stands that are getting old and is starting to think that he might want a long-term relationship. He goes to a bar and sees one of the hottest guys he’s ever seen and watches him, thinking that he would never want to be with him. He is very surprised when he gets approached and they guy introduces himself as Ramsey and begins telling lies about who he is and where he’s from and Nate sees right through him. Ramsey thinks he’s a challenge and wild and uninhibited and when they kiss he leaves. But Nate senses there is something about him so he catches up with him and kisses him again which leads them to Nate’s apartment and a hot love scene where he treats Ramsey in a way others haven’t, making him feel cherished. Both men feel something they haven’t felt before, but when Ramsey finds out who Nate is he abruptly leaves, knowing that his best friend Wes plays football with Nate on the Thunders and so it wouldn’t work out. Plus he is feeling feelings he hasn’t before and it scares him. Time goes by and when they meet again they don’t say anything about what happened, but Nate is angry and this causes problems between them. Ramsey is actually a pro hockey player for Buffalo, something he didn’t tell many people, although some recognized him. He is in Toronto for therapy because of a concussion that left him on the injured reserve list and he is also looking for something to invest in. He was lonely in Buffalo, so he came to Toronto and was staying with Wes and because he was around the team knew him, especially when they all went to Vault, a bar they enjoyed. So they all recognized something was going on between them and after several people told Nate he should be nicer to Ramsey they decide to fake date. But both are still feeling their need for each other and even though they set limits on what they would do in public that quickly goes out the window as they realize how much they want each other and they kiss and have another hot love scene. Ramsey has always built walls around his feelings and heart and has never let anyone in as he is very good at coming up with ways to hide them. Only Wes, and Brody, his other best friend, have seen his real side. But Nate as seen that part of him from the start and that scared him, especially since he has slowly been crumbling those walls until Ramsey is ready to accept him. Ramsey has never dated before and tells Nate that he will probably make some mistakes, but he wants to be with him and Nate is very patient and has wanted Ramsey since the first time they were together. The proceed with having a real relationship and reinforce this to their friends. Then a scary scene happens involving Jordan, one of the rookie players Nate has been mentoring, and although they knew they loved each other for a while, they are finally able to say it out loud. Then they had to face Ramsey going back to Buffalo to play hockey and Ramsey isn’t sure they can do long distance, but Nate is secure in his love and they are able to figure out how they can be together and still play the sports they love. I enjoyed this story. There is a lot of angst involved as they try to figure each other out and what they want in a relationship. Ramsey has always been secretive, dating back to his childhood, and built some pretty tough walls around his feelings and heart. Nate could see though Ramsey right from the beginning and did all he could to find the real person he was and treat him with care and love and this scared Ramsey because it had never happened before. But he soon knew that he wanted Nate in his life, so he started opening up and the more Nate saw of this side of him the more he wanted him. So what started as wanting turned to dislike and then to love as they both realized they belonged together. Their friends and teammates also played a big part in the story as did football and hockey. I recommend this book, especially if you like sport stories about a man who is hiding behind his hot façade, the man who can see through his walls, and how they are finally able to find the love that was there all the time.
Review of advance copy received from Indie Reviewers
4.5+ stars
It feels like we’ve been waiting so long for Ramsey from Portland U to meet his match, and he certainly did in Nate. Ramsey is now a professional hockey player in Buffalo, but he’s on injured reserve so he’s hanging out in Toronto with his best friend, Wes, but he’s lost without hockey. Nate is a Captain for the Toronto Thunder pro football team.
Ramsey is an enigma full of contradictions over strong walls covering this soft core of vulnerability that he doesn’t show many people. His best friends, Wes and Brody, were the closest but even they don’t know everything about him. He’s been in self-protection mode for so long that his chameleon façade has just been who people think he is.
Their initial meeting was just this connection that they didn’t expect, didn’t actually want, and it scared them both. They both reacted differently, but it left a mark and neither of them could stop thinking about it.
So when they meet again, there’s this tension and unresolved feelings and spark between them that they can’t deny no matter how hard they try. Nate is broody and has up all his guards and tries to avoid Ramsey because he doesn’t want to get hurt. But there’s something about Nate that can just truly see inside Ramsey, and Ramsey knows it. And it just makes Ramsey want to uncharacteristically garner Nate‘s attention. To the point that Ramsey comes up with a plan to make nice and get everybody off their back by staging a "fake casual relationship". Well, once these guys start to let their walls down and actually spend time together, their chemistry and perceptiveness regarding each other deepens. They don't really let the other get away with anything. And it’s not long before fake becomes more real physically and emotionally, but they both have their fears and insecurities, and their friends also keep reminding them about how complicated their lives are and the potential for messiness.
It’s fun watching Ramsey just try to do normal dating things because he’s never done that, and he’s just so adorable. And Nate’s just such a good guy. He tries to take care of his teammates and be a good friend and he wants Ramsey to want more, but he’s so scared of getting hurt. This is a whole different experience for Ramsey, and he is just trying to feel his way through it. I loved seeing these two just kind of stumble into more real and honest versions of themselves with each other.
Will someone have to give up something they love in order to get something else? And how do they prioritize all their needs?
This is a football and hockey crossover about transparency, trust, vulnerability, understanding, safety, and partnership. I absolutely loved Nate and Ramsey together, and they were such a great match. I enjoyed seeing these layers of protection stripped away from Ramsey to see this soft core of a man who just loves hard and wants to be loved, but was just so afraid of rejection. We’ve seen his loyalty and care with his best friends, Brody and Wes, but seeing him in a romantic way is different. I loved that Nate could just read Ramsey like a book for the most part and call him out on his crap, and Ramsey knew it, so most of the time didn’t even try to get stuff over on him. This is the first time Ramsey‘s actually been able to be himself honestly without repercussions. Now they both find support both personally and with their careers, along with an intertwined group of friends from this series and the Portland U series. I am also looking forward to more of the football guys, Lane, Trevor, Wes, Mo, and Jordan, and maybe we will see some more hockey guys too.
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It feels like we’ve been waiting so long for Ramsey from Portland U to meet his match, and he certainly did in Nate. Ramsey is now a professional hockey player in Buffalo, but he’s on injured reserve so he’s hanging out in Toronto with his best friend, Wes, but he’s lost without hockey. Nate is a Captain for the Toronto Thunder pro football team.
Ramsey is an enigma full of contradictions over strong walls covering this soft core of vulnerability that he doesn’t show many people. His best friends, Wes and Brody, were the closest but even they don’t know everything about him. He’s been in self-protection mode for so long that his chameleon façade has just been who people think he is.
Their initial meeting was just this connection that they didn’t expect, didn’t actually want, and it scared them both. They both reacted differently, but it left a mark and neither of them could stop thinking about it.
So when they meet again, there’s this tension and unresolved feelings and spark between them that they can’t deny no matter how hard they try. Nate is broody and has up all his guards and tries to avoid Ramsey because he doesn’t want to get hurt. But there’s something about Nate that can just truly see inside Ramsey, and Ramsey knows it. And it just makes Ramsey want to uncharacteristically garner Nate‘s attention. To the point that Ramsey comes up with a plan to make nice and get everybody off their back by staging a "fake casual relationship". Well, once these guys start to let their walls down and actually spend time together, their chemistry and perceptiveness regarding each other deepens. They don't really let the other get away with anything. And it’s not long before fake becomes more real physically and emotionally, but they both have their fears and insecurities, and their friends also keep reminding them about how complicated their lives are and the potential for messiness.
It’s fun watching Ramsey just try to do normal dating things because he’s never done that, and he’s just so adorable. And Nate’s just such a good guy. He tries to take care of his teammates and be a good friend and he wants Ramsey to want more, but he’s so scared of getting hurt. This is a whole different experience for Ramsey, and he is just trying to feel his way through it. I loved seeing these two just kind of stumble into more real and honest versions of themselves with each other.
Will someone have to give up something they love in order to get something else? And how do they prioritize all their needs?
This is a football and hockey crossover about transparency, trust, vulnerability, understanding, safety, and partnership. I absolutely loved Nate and Ramsey together, and they were such a great match. I enjoyed seeing these layers of protection stripped away from Ramsey to see this soft core of a man who just loves hard and wants to be loved, but was just so afraid of rejection. We’ve seen his loyalty and care with his best friends, Brody and Wes, but seeing him in a romantic way is different. I loved that Nate could just read Ramsey like a book for the most part and call him out on his crap, and Ramsey knew it, so most of the time didn’t even try to get stuff over on him. This is the first time Ramsey‘s actually been able to be himself honestly without repercussions. Now they both find support both personally and with their careers, along with an intertwined group of friends from this series and the Portland U series. I am also looking forward to more of the football guys, Lane, Trevor, Wes, Mo, and Jordan, and maybe we will see some more hockey guys too.
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Review of advance copy received from Author
This was one of my most anticipated books (ever!) and it was so perfect that I honestly didn't want it to end!
I'm totally going to gush about Beth Bolden too because I do not see her books recommended or raved about enough. There's an entire story universe of interconnecting sports romances (mainly NFL but also some NHL and college hockey) across multiple teams, as well as chef/food industry romances that also tie in, and they just keep getting better and better. I need a bigger bookcase just to make room for them all!! If you love a good storyuniverse with plenty of books to keep you going, definitely give Beth's books a try.
So... Ramsey has been my absolute favourite Beth character since he first popped up as a side character in the first book of the Portland Evergreen series. I vote for him in every poll in the FB group, I anticipate every cameo appearance he makes... He's just one of those characters that you can't help but love immediately and his story with Nate made that perfectly clear!
I loved how Nate and Ramsey were drawn to each other immediately, like they just knew that the other was meant for them and no one else. I loved the ups and downs they faced in their rocky beginning - the way Nate tries so hard to hate Ramsey after what he did just kept making me want to hug him and tell him not to give up hope yet. I loved how Nate saw who Ramsey really is and loved him even more for it. The support between these two was everything and each of them learning about the others sport and having running commentaries was adorable! I am slightly concerned though that Ramsey is like 25% sushi in his genetic makeup...
This story was everything I hoped for when it came to Ramsey finally being hit by that icky thing called love! The way Brody and Wes were so shocked was hilarious, although I did want to give Wes a shake for all his projecting - call Marcus already bro!! Dean and Nate becoming friends was inevitable too and I loved their double date so much.
Jordan was an interesting side character too and as much as he frustrated me, I also was quietly cheering him on and hoping he'd get it together. I can't wait for him to get a book now because his character growth was already beginning and I'm excited to see where he goes.
This series just keeps getting better and better and although I'm not sure that anyone is going to be as beloved to me as Ramsey (and now Nate) is, I am really keen to see Trevor and Lane's stepbrother romance next to round out season one for the Toronto Thunder, before the switch back to the hockey boys which I'm super curious for, and I hope we get some more cameos from Ramsey and the other hockey dudes.
*****
I received an ARC of this book from Neon Rainbow, and this is my honest review
I'm totally going to gush about Beth Bolden too because I do not see her books recommended or raved about enough. There's an entire story universe of interconnecting sports romances (mainly NFL but also some NHL and college hockey) across multiple teams, as well as chef/food industry romances that also tie in, and they just keep getting better and better. I need a bigger bookcase just to make room for them all!! If you love a good storyuniverse with plenty of books to keep you going, definitely give Beth's books a try.
So... Ramsey has been my absolute favourite Beth character since he first popped up as a side character in the first book of the Portland Evergreen series. I vote for him in every poll in the FB group, I anticipate every cameo appearance he makes... He's just one of those characters that you can't help but love immediately and his story with Nate made that perfectly clear!
I loved how Nate and Ramsey were drawn to each other immediately, like they just knew that the other was meant for them and no one else. I loved the ups and downs they faced in their rocky beginning - the way Nate tries so hard to hate Ramsey after what he did just kept making me want to hug him and tell him not to give up hope yet. I loved how Nate saw who Ramsey really is and loved him even more for it. The support between these two was everything and each of them learning about the others sport and having running commentaries was adorable! I am slightly concerned though that Ramsey is like 25% sushi in his genetic makeup...
This story was everything I hoped for when it came to Ramsey finally being hit by that icky thing called love! The way Brody and Wes were so shocked was hilarious, although I did want to give Wes a shake for all his projecting - call Marcus already bro!! Dean and Nate becoming friends was inevitable too and I loved their double date so much.
Jordan was an interesting side character too and as much as he frustrated me, I also was quietly cheering him on and hoping he'd get it together. I can't wait for him to get a book now because his character growth was already beginning and I'm excited to see where he goes.
This series just keeps getting better and better and although I'm not sure that anyone is going to be as beloved to me as Ramsey (and now Nate) is, I am really keen to see Trevor and Lane's stepbrother romance next to round out season one for the Toronto Thunder, before the switch back to the hockey boys which I'm super curious for, and I hope we get some more cameos from Ramsey and the other hockey dudes.
*****
I received an ARC of this book from Neon Rainbow, and this is my honest review
May 26, 2026
M/M
Sports romance
Football player/Hockey player
Fake relationship
Friends/teammates best friend
Canada rep
Arc audio review
Story = 3.5
Narration = 5 stars
This can be read as a standalone.
The 2 MCs met at a bar. Neither knew each other. When Ramsay sees all the football jerseys at Nates house in his friends team and realizes Nate is a football player on his friends team, he gets mad at him for not warning him he's a football player and he bolts, not telling him that his friend is on his team. They later meet again at the teams party and realize they are going to be forced to hang out together alot with their mutual friends. After they constantly fight everytime they see each other, the team hounds them to get along, so they decide to pretend they are dating to get the team off their backs. Swearing it won't be real cause Nate wants a bf and Ramsay is only in Toronto temporarily due to an injury and is looking forward to being back on his team in Buffalo. Plus he doesn't date.
I didn't really like Nate at the beginning. He got better but I still didn't really love him. As for Ramsay, I felt a little bad for him with his injury and that Nate was giving him such a hard time when he didn't do anything wrong, but there was never any point where I loved his character either. Up until the 60% point I really wasn't feeling any chemistry between the 2.
This was an ok story. I found it pretty slow going for that first 60%. I didn't find the plot that interesting. I really didn't like the side character that stole the majority of the plot and ruined any enjoyment in the story for me.
I usually like the fake dating trope but that's when they actually seem to like each other. In this case the arguing went on too long for no reason. When they were together it was awkward and forced. Things did get better betweem them in the last 40%. They had some cute moments and I enjoyed the ending but it's not a story I'll read again. I mostly stuck with it just to see if Ramsay got better.
The world building and the side characters were just as great in this book as in the previous books. I'm looking forward to the demon twins in the next book and hopefully West and Marcus in the future. Those 4 characters grabbed my attention more than the 2 MCs.
I always love this narrator. They have a pleasant reading voice, he kept a good pace/flow but I did speed it up alot. He expressed all the emotions really well and made it an enjoyable listening experience. He gave all the characters, even the side characters, distinct voices that suited them each perfectly and brought the story to life and made the story easy to follow.
Sports romance
Football player/Hockey player
Fake relationship
Friends/teammates best friend
Canada rep
Arc audio review
Story = 3.5
Narration = 5 stars
This can be read as a standalone.
The 2 MCs met at a bar. Neither knew each other. When Ramsay sees all the football jerseys at Nates house in his friends team and realizes Nate is a football player on his friends team, he gets mad at him for not warning him he's a football player and he bolts, not telling him that his friend is on his team. They later meet again at the teams party and realize they are going to be forced to hang out together alot with their mutual friends. After they constantly fight everytime they see each other, the team hounds them to get along, so they decide to pretend they are dating to get the team off their backs. Swearing it won't be real cause Nate wants a bf and Ramsay is only in Toronto temporarily due to an injury and is looking forward to being back on his team in Buffalo. Plus he doesn't date.
I didn't really like Nate at the beginning. He got better but I still didn't really love him. As for Ramsay, I felt a little bad for him with his injury and that Nate was giving him such a hard time when he didn't do anything wrong, but there was never any point where I loved his character either. Up until the 60% point I really wasn't feeling any chemistry between the 2.
This was an ok story. I found it pretty slow going for that first 60%. I didn't find the plot that interesting. I really didn't like the side character that stole the majority of the plot and ruined any enjoyment in the story for me.
I usually like the fake dating trope but that's when they actually seem to like each other. In this case the arguing went on too long for no reason. When they were together it was awkward and forced. Things did get better betweem them in the last 40%. They had some cute moments and I enjoyed the ending but it's not a story I'll read again. I mostly stuck with it just to see if Ramsay got better.
The world building and the side characters were just as great in this book as in the previous books. I'm looking forward to the demon twins in the next book and hopefully West and Marcus in the future. Those 4 characters grabbed my attention more than the 2 MCs.
I always love this narrator. They have a pleasant reading voice, he kept a good pace/flow but I did speed it up alot. He expressed all the emotions really well and made it an enjoyable listening experience. He gave all the characters, even the side characters, distinct voices that suited them each perfectly and brought the story to life and made the story easy to follow.
Review of advance copy
I have been waiting for Ramsey's story since he first appeared on page and oh boy did Beth deliver and then some!
This book is so good, it's a stunning demonstration of how to show a man with mile high walls learning how to lower them and let in the one person who can understand him and not want to change him.
Nate Bishop is a book boyfriend I'd love to have too, he's thoughtful, he's sex on legs, he's committed to his teammates, to being the best person he can be and he's stung when an anonymous hook-up that he thought was going somewhere heads south.
Of course, after their paths cross again, he completely gets it, while still holding that niggling bit of hurt that Ramsey freaking out after finding out who Nate was shouldn't have happened because he knows that they could be something special.
The journey they take, both individually as as a pair who start the most hilariously ridiculous fake dating scheme to stop their mutual friends/Nate's teammates from perpetually trying to sort out their fued drives most of this book's narrative.
It totally works too, it's obvious to the reader as, thankfully, we get POVs from both men, that Ramsey is running scared rather than just being a dick but he cannot get away from the fascinating draw that Nate has on him.
Watching these two circle around each other is like following the water draining down a plughole, eventually they come together in a clash of passion that can't be denied any further and it's game over when Ramsey realises he can trust Nate with anything, even his deepest fears.
I absolutely adored this book, it's hands down my favourite in the series so far (although I'm betting Wes and Marcus' hopefully second chance romance will run it close), and the magnetic pull of both characters is powerfully demonstrated to the reader.
I was willing them on throughout as they danced around each other, the chemistry between them sparking constantly and the banter and UST slowly building up beautifully.
Beth also writes a great ice hockey game, as well as an American Football one, I love that in her sports romances, we actually get SPORT alongside the romance. I want to know how the team's faring as much as the MCs relationship and she always delivers.
Loved!
#ARC kindly received from the author via Neon Rainbow ARC Reviews, I am voluntarily leaving a review
This book is so good, it's a stunning demonstration of how to show a man with mile high walls learning how to lower them and let in the one person who can understand him and not want to change him.
Nate Bishop is a book boyfriend I'd love to have too, he's thoughtful, he's sex on legs, he's committed to his teammates, to being the best person he can be and he's stung when an anonymous hook-up that he thought was going somewhere heads south.
Of course, after their paths cross again, he completely gets it, while still holding that niggling bit of hurt that Ramsey freaking out after finding out who Nate was shouldn't have happened because he knows that they could be something special.
The journey they take, both individually as as a pair who start the most hilariously ridiculous fake dating scheme to stop their mutual friends/Nate's teammates from perpetually trying to sort out their fued drives most of this book's narrative.
It totally works too, it's obvious to the reader as, thankfully, we get POVs from both men, that Ramsey is running scared rather than just being a dick but he cannot get away from the fascinating draw that Nate has on him.
Watching these two circle around each other is like following the water draining down a plughole, eventually they come together in a clash of passion that can't be denied any further and it's game over when Ramsey realises he can trust Nate with anything, even his deepest fears.
I absolutely adored this book, it's hands down my favourite in the series so far (although I'm betting Wes and Marcus' hopefully second chance romance will run it close), and the magnetic pull of both characters is powerfully demonstrated to the reader.
I was willing them on throughout as they danced around each other, the chemistry between them sparking constantly and the banter and UST slowly building up beautifully.
Beth also writes a great ice hockey game, as well as an American Football one, I love that in her sports romances, we actually get SPORT alongside the romance. I want to know how the team's faring as much as the MCs relationship and she always delivers.
Loved!
#ARC kindly received from the author via Neon Rainbow ARC Reviews, I am voluntarily leaving a review
March 26, 2026
Wanna know how to spot a sweet-talker, someone who’s been fake so long he’s perfected the craft of charming everyone? Beth Bolden’s “Hell or High Water” pairs a flirt with someone forthright. Their repartee shouldn’t be this witty, or their chemistry this wicked!
Ramsey is gorgeous and so good at reading people that he’s disarmed when his pick-up, Nate, sees right through him. After a hot bout in the sack, Ramsey discovers Nate is a pro-football player on the same team as Ramsey’s bestie, Wes. Ramsey is staying with Wes while rehabbing from a concussion received in his career as a pro-hockey player. Other than Wes, Ramsey doesn’t let people see his true self, doesn’t do repeats, and doesn’t want any complications with Nate. Instead, he runs.
Nate had liked Ramsey beyond his looks and skill between the sheets. He’d thought they’d had genuine moments and is furious to keep encountering the guy who ghosted him, especially watching competent Ramsey get everyone to like him, when Nate was not allowed. Nate snarks whenever Ramsey approaches. Realizing their nasty exchanges are affecting Wes and Nate’s team, Ramsey proposes they fake date, and Nate agrees, wanting to right his team’s mood. But charmers can play themselves.
Both men prefer to avoid emotions. Of Ramsey, we learn, “If he kept burying (emotions) down, reinforcing his walls so nobody could see deep enough within them, then even he didn’t have to know (his feelings) either.” For Nate, “It was so much easier to be shitty, to reduce the emotional stew boiling inside him down to annoyance and anger than it was to try to identify each individual ingredient.” Aren’t these complicated men revealed crisply? Ms. Bolden would make a good psychologist and writes smoothly.
Their interplay is subtle. I was wowed to read the small changes these men notice in one another, encouraging each to get closer, to trust. The pace of their relationship felt right, starting too fast, then backtracking to slow and awkward, increasing in speed until there were moments I was breathless. They crackled with honesty. The intimacy was never forced or gratuitous.
“Hell or High Water” zings with witty dialogue, a dance of intimacy, and athlete-style romance, featuring two characters out of their comfort zone, learning themselves as well as each other. This is relationship-building at its best!
Ramsey is gorgeous and so good at reading people that he’s disarmed when his pick-up, Nate, sees right through him. After a hot bout in the sack, Ramsey discovers Nate is a pro-football player on the same team as Ramsey’s bestie, Wes. Ramsey is staying with Wes while rehabbing from a concussion received in his career as a pro-hockey player. Other than Wes, Ramsey doesn’t let people see his true self, doesn’t do repeats, and doesn’t want any complications with Nate. Instead, he runs.
Nate had liked Ramsey beyond his looks and skill between the sheets. He’d thought they’d had genuine moments and is furious to keep encountering the guy who ghosted him, especially watching competent Ramsey get everyone to like him, when Nate was not allowed. Nate snarks whenever Ramsey approaches. Realizing their nasty exchanges are affecting Wes and Nate’s team, Ramsey proposes they fake date, and Nate agrees, wanting to right his team’s mood. But charmers can play themselves.
Both men prefer to avoid emotions. Of Ramsey, we learn, “If he kept burying (emotions) down, reinforcing his walls so nobody could see deep enough within them, then even he didn’t have to know (his feelings) either.” For Nate, “It was so much easier to be shitty, to reduce the emotional stew boiling inside him down to annoyance and anger than it was to try to identify each individual ingredient.” Aren’t these complicated men revealed crisply? Ms. Bolden would make a good psychologist and writes smoothly.
Their interplay is subtle. I was wowed to read the small changes these men notice in one another, encouraging each to get closer, to trust. The pace of their relationship felt right, starting too fast, then backtracking to slow and awkward, increasing in speed until there were moments I was breathless. They crackled with honesty. The intimacy was never forced or gratuitous.
“Hell or High Water” zings with witty dialogue, a dance of intimacy, and athlete-style romance, featuring two characters out of their comfort zone, learning themselves as well as each other. This is relationship-building at its best!
April 4, 2026
I have a lot of feelings about this one. So I'll break my review down into two parts. Simple Answer: for those new to Beth, especially if the Toronto Thunder is your first series. Complicated Answer: for the die-hard Bolden Babes!
Simple Answer: Yes, absolutely read this book. It's enjoyable, well-written, paced beautifully, and the main characters are compelling.
Complicated Answer: FINALLY RAMSEY!!!!! I have needed Ramsey to get his happily ever after since Book 1 of the Evergreens. First, I needed to know more simply because of how chaotic he seemed, and who doesn't love some fun chaos? But as the series continued and we got more glimpses, it became very clear that Ramsey was a sad boy who desperately needed love and would likely fight it if it came his way.
So this is where my opinion makes me a little sad. I didn't like Ramsey at the beginning of this book, and that is a testament to Beth's writing. With the glimpses we were given in the first two books, I knew Ramsey was playing with Nate's head a bit; I thought it was in a fun, flirty way. Not in a 'leave before, they can leave me way'.
Fake-dating is one of my favorite tropes because, really, who are we kidding, lol. But this is the first time the fake-dating was to get people to stop interfering. Which shouldn't work, except it works because it's Ramsey! I don't think I would've bought it in any other context. It works to get the team off Nate's back, but it also works to help break down Ramsey's walls.
Nate and Ramsey's happily ever after was a complicated journey, and it's so fitting for the two of them. Nate has decided to date intentionally, for love. Nate has always had so much love to give, but had never had the opportunity to give that love. That clashes with Ramsey, who is essentially allergic to commitment. They should not work. They seem so different as people and not in the opposite attract kind of way. But they work so beautifully because no one changes. They understand each other. They know each other.
Nate doesn't try to change Ramsey; he gives him a safe place to turn off the facade. To take off the mask of perfection. Nate allows Ramsey to be raw and real. Because of this, Hell or High Water had a different energy than the first two books. The HEA felt earned and real.
Simple Answer: Yes, absolutely read this book. It's enjoyable, well-written, paced beautifully, and the main characters are compelling.
Complicated Answer: FINALLY RAMSEY!!!!! I have needed Ramsey to get his happily ever after since Book 1 of the Evergreens. First, I needed to know more simply because of how chaotic he seemed, and who doesn't love some fun chaos? But as the series continued and we got more glimpses, it became very clear that Ramsey was a sad boy who desperately needed love and would likely fight it if it came his way.
So this is where my opinion makes me a little sad. I didn't like Ramsey at the beginning of this book, and that is a testament to Beth's writing. With the glimpses we were given in the first two books, I knew Ramsey was playing with Nate's head a bit; I thought it was in a fun, flirty way. Not in a 'leave before, they can leave me way'.
Fake-dating is one of my favorite tropes because, really, who are we kidding, lol. But this is the first time the fake-dating was to get people to stop interfering. Which shouldn't work, except it works because it's Ramsey! I don't think I would've bought it in any other context. It works to get the team off Nate's back, but it also works to help break down Ramsey's walls.
Nate and Ramsey's happily ever after was a complicated journey, and it's so fitting for the two of them. Nate has decided to date intentionally, for love. Nate has always had so much love to give, but had never had the opportunity to give that love. That clashes with Ramsey, who is essentially allergic to commitment. They should not work. They seem so different as people and not in the opposite attract kind of way. But they work so beautifully because no one changes. They understand each other. They know each other.
Nate doesn't try to change Ramsey; he gives him a safe place to turn off the facade. To take off the mask of perfection. Nate allows Ramsey to be raw and real. Because of this, Hell or High Water had a different energy than the first two books. The HEA felt earned and real.
Review of advance copy received from Author
To say I've been eager for Ramsey's time in the spotlight feels like a massive understatement. Yes, I know, this is technically a football romance series, but after all that buildup in the Portland Evergreens books I just knew Ramsey had to meet a love connection who would throw his carefully controlled world for a loop. Nate was exactly the kind of down-to-earth, no nonsense guy who saw right through Ramsey's facade, and it was a pleasure to watch as he got past Ramsey's defenses like no one else. From their unexpectedly steamy first night together to months of tension after, Nate and Ramsey couldn't look away from each other even when their brains were screaming at them to. When Ramsey proposed the truly wild idea to pretend they were fake dating, I thought Nate was going to laugh him out of the bar, but I suppose it goes to show just how smitten he was that he went along with it. I was delighted to see a less cocky, more vulnerable side of Ramsey emerge as he figured out what it meant to date someone. The more I learned about Ramsey's background, the more I understood his need to be in control, and knowing that he was letting go of that for Nate felt extra special. Nate's character growth landed more in the football side of the story, with him learning how to be a leader with empathy while keeping his linemates accountable. I thoroughly enjoyed both the sports plotline and the character-driven romance, and by the time Nate and Ramsey were confessing their love I was down bad. Another aspect of this book I found particularly noteworthy was the camaraderie between teammates. Whether it was Ramsey and Wes, Jordan and Nate, or old friends making cameos from earlier series, it felt like they had each other's backs but also wouldn't hesitate to call each other out on their BS. I'm really excited to know that several of the new faces I've gotten to know will be getting books of their own, but where Ramsey and Nate are concerned it's time to ride off into the sunset together.
**I voluntarily read an early copy of this book. This review expresses my honest thoughts and opinions.
**I voluntarily read an early copy of this book. This review expresses my honest thoughts and opinions.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I received a free copy. This review is submitted voluntarily.
Nate is a defensive lineman and captain with the Toronto Thunder. Ramsey is a defenseman with the Buffalo Wolves who is in Toronto recovering from a concussion and a good friend of Wes, backup QB for the Thunder. Before knowing who they actually were, they picked each other up in a bar. Although he had agreed to stay the night at Nate’s, upon seeing Nate’s jerseys framed on the wall he beat a hasty departure. A few months later, they meet again in another bar. Nate gives Ramsey the cold shoulder and for some time avoids contact with him, despite running into each other frequently. They end up making a deal that they would be fake boyfriends. The rest of the book has them becoming real and dealing with the effects of playing in different cities.
Oe of the things I enjoyed was the fact that, other than the two teams for which the MCs play, the other NFL and NHL teams retained their actual names. I found this much less confusing. Ramsey’s background is complicated by the fact that he spent most of his life “in the foster system” and leads him to avoid any emotional attachment. Plus, his best friend Wes has just had a nasty break-up that reinforces his view. Nate, on the other hand, has a much simpler background and spends his time wishing that his relationship with Ramsey was real. In the early part of the book, I found Ramsey frustrating but warmed to him fairly early. His attempts at being mysterious were a little much for me to follow. While we don’t really see any members of the Buffalo team, we have a lot of exposure to Nate’s teammates. They encourage the two with regard to their relationship to greater or lesser degrees. We also meet Brodie, a hockey player who retired to enable him to follow his husband who is a star football player on the West Coast. In some ways, the team is like a small town with all the gossip. At over 370 pages, I found it a tad long, but it did tend to keep me very interested. The plot develops in a fairly linear fashion.
Nate is a defensive lineman and captain with the Toronto Thunder. Ramsey is a defenseman with the Buffalo Wolves who is in Toronto recovering from a concussion and a good friend of Wes, backup QB for the Thunder. Before knowing who they actually were, they picked each other up in a bar. Although he had agreed to stay the night at Nate’s, upon seeing Nate’s jerseys framed on the wall he beat a hasty departure. A few months later, they meet again in another bar. Nate gives Ramsey the cold shoulder and for some time avoids contact with him, despite running into each other frequently. They end up making a deal that they would be fake boyfriends. The rest of the book has them becoming real and dealing with the effects of playing in different cities.
Oe of the things I enjoyed was the fact that, other than the two teams for which the MCs play, the other NFL and NHL teams retained their actual names. I found this much less confusing. Ramsey’s background is complicated by the fact that he spent most of his life “in the foster system” and leads him to avoid any emotional attachment. Plus, his best friend Wes has just had a nasty break-up that reinforces his view. Nate, on the other hand, has a much simpler background and spends his time wishing that his relationship with Ramsey was real. In the early part of the book, I found Ramsey frustrating but warmed to him fairly early. His attempts at being mysterious were a little much for me to follow. While we don’t really see any members of the Buffalo team, we have a lot of exposure to Nate’s teammates. They encourage the two with regard to their relationship to greater or lesser degrees. We also meet Brodie, a hockey player who retired to enable him to follow his husband who is a star football player on the West Coast. In some ways, the team is like a small town with all the gossip. At over 370 pages, I found it a tad long, but it did tend to keep me very interested. The plot develops in a fairly linear fashion.
March 27, 2026
After finishing the first book in the series, I knew I was hooked and couldn't wait for more. The second one left me totally head over heels, and I honestly didn't think it could get any better. But then we got Nate and Ramsey’s story (shoutout to that side character from Portland Evergreens!), and somehow—it’s even better. I was reading this in every free second I had, completely obsessed.
The journey from a quick hookup to anger and hostility, leading into a fake dating trope that ends exactly how we love—with them realizing that absolutely nothing about their connection was fake. Nate and Ramsey are just incredible together. I can’t stop thinking about them, instead of looking for a new read, I’m just re-reading my favorite chapters over and over.
There is so much goodness here:
The Toronto Thunder squad: They aren't just teammates; they’re a true found family.
The atmosphere: Pre-game prep and helping out a lost rookie, all serving as the perfect backdrop for the romance.
Ramsey Andresen: An absolute force of nature who leaves a trail of broken hearts. He’s convinced that showing his true self only leads to pain, so he stays guarded.
Nate Bishop: Unlike anyone else. Wonderful, amazing Nate, who sees the real Ramsey and proves he’s not going anywhere.
The way Nate understands him is perfectly summed up in this quote:
As I’m writing this, I’m genuinely sad that the whole series isn't out yet because I need it now. Beth has completely made me fall in love with her writing. I’ve never read such a fantastic story where a hockey player meets a football player and, despite the initial friction, they become these incredibly supportive, honest partners.
Literally everything about this story blew me away. It’s going straight to my all-time favorites shelf. I’m vibrating with excitement for the next installments (thank God Beth is giving us 8 books instead of 4, plus a new hockey series—I’m so ready!).
The journey from a quick hookup to anger and hostility, leading into a fake dating trope that ends exactly how we love—with them realizing that absolutely nothing about their connection was fake. Nate and Ramsey are just incredible together. I can’t stop thinking about them, instead of looking for a new read, I’m just re-reading my favorite chapters over and over.
There is so much goodness here:
The Toronto Thunder squad: They aren't just teammates; they’re a true found family.
The atmosphere: Pre-game prep and helping out a lost rookie, all serving as the perfect backdrop for the romance.
Ramsey Andresen: An absolute force of nature who leaves a trail of broken hearts. He’s convinced that showing his true self only leads to pain, so he stays guarded.
Nate Bishop: Unlike anyone else. Wonderful, amazing Nate, who sees the real Ramsey and proves he’s not going anywhere.
The way Nate understands him is perfectly summed up in this quote:
"I didn't tame anyone. You're still wild. You're still amazing. Just not by yourself, anymore."
As I’m writing this, I’m genuinely sad that the whole series isn't out yet because I need it now. Beth has completely made me fall in love with her writing. I’ve never read such a fantastic story where a hockey player meets a football player and, despite the initial friction, they become these incredibly supportive, honest partners.
Literally everything about this story blew me away. It’s going straight to my all-time favorites shelf. I’m vibrating with excitement for the next installments (thank God Beth is giving us 8 books instead of 4, plus a new hockey series—I’m so ready!).
Review of advance copy received from Author
It’s finally Ramsey’s book!! Been waiting for his story since his appearances in the Portland Evergreen Hockey series. Took a bit, but it was the worth the wait for him to find his happy ending. Ramsey is always there for his friends. He is the most loyal guy and sees a lot more than anyone realizes. But he also tends to put on a mask. Never letting anyone get too close to him. Especially when it comes to love. He’ll never let himself be put in that situation. But then he meets Nate. And their first interaction is a surprise at not just the chemistry between them but the fact that Nate can see right past Ramsey’s well put together mask. And though the two of them may want different things, they somehow find themselves giving in for one night. But after when Ramsey realizes exactly who Nate is and that they share someone in common, he does what he does best. He runs and makes sure Nate won’t come after him. But that someone connection is Nate’s teammate, Wes, who is one of Ramsey’s closest friends. Seeing one another is inevitable. The minute Nate sees Ramsey at the bar next to Wes, things fall into place in his mind when it comes to Ramsey. But it still hurts to see Ramsey and know they can’t be more. Or can they? When their meddling friends get to be a little too much, Ramsey offers a fake relationship. One, Nate can’t resist even though he knows this has the potential to hurt him more than ever once it ends. Oh man, these two! You just wanted to shake them both and tell them to get together! While Nate was all for it, it was really Ramsey who needed to overcome his fears. And I loved how Nate was able to help him by just being there and letting Ramsey figure it out and be patient. These two were just so sweet, especially when they got out of their own way. Really loved their story and it’s just another great addition to this series!
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Indie Reviewers
4.5 stars - FINALLY (!!!) we see Ramsey fall for someone and it was in the most Ramsey way possible, with someone totally unexpected (hi, Nate!) but absolutely perfect for him.
Nate Bishop is a self-assured, veteran NFL player and a defensive captain for the Toronto Thunder, trying to navigate his newer leadership position and figure out his style to work with the younger guys on the team. But he’s struggling in his life off the field now that Ramsey Andresen is in Toronto, spending time with the team and messing with Nate’s head. Ramsey is an NHL player based in Buffalo who is probably smarter than everyone in every room he’s in but a long-term injury has him sidelined and working to get back to the sport he loves. He’s rehabbing in Toronto and staying with his best friend Wes, one of Nate’s teammates, spelling disaster from the beginning.
These two went from one night stand (with a catastrophic ending) to enemies to fake dating to falling in love over the course of this book and it was a roller coaster ride, but felt just right for these two mental chessmasters. Nate had Ramsey’s number from the very beginning, seeing beneath his carefully crafted facade to the real person he tried so hard to hide. While it took a while for Ramsey to truly open up, Nate had him figured out long before that. They fought things for so, so long. But honestly, from the first time the got together, there was no one else who would cut it for either of them and once they actually talked to each other, there was no doubt they were perfect together. They’re sweet, understanding and totally in tune with one another in a way that almost freaks Ramsey out. I wish we would have gotten a bit more of them together and working through things since Ramsey has been teased for so long - I would have loved a bit more backstory there and to know literally anything about Nate…Ramsey was the focus, which is fine, but I missed getting to know Nate too.
The Toronto Thunder guys + Brady and Dean + Deacon made me so happy. I’m really looking forward to the rest of the stories in this series - bring on more football!
Nate Bishop is a self-assured, veteran NFL player and a defensive captain for the Toronto Thunder, trying to navigate his newer leadership position and figure out his style to work with the younger guys on the team. But he’s struggling in his life off the field now that Ramsey Andresen is in Toronto, spending time with the team and messing with Nate’s head. Ramsey is an NHL player based in Buffalo who is probably smarter than everyone in every room he’s in but a long-term injury has him sidelined and working to get back to the sport he loves. He’s rehabbing in Toronto and staying with his best friend Wes, one of Nate’s teammates, spelling disaster from the beginning.
These two went from one night stand (with a catastrophic ending) to enemies to fake dating to falling in love over the course of this book and it was a roller coaster ride, but felt just right for these two mental chessmasters. Nate had Ramsey’s number from the very beginning, seeing beneath his carefully crafted facade to the real person he tried so hard to hide. While it took a while for Ramsey to truly open up, Nate had him figured out long before that. They fought things for so, so long. But honestly, from the first time the got together, there was no one else who would cut it for either of them and once they actually talked to each other, there was no doubt they were perfect together. They’re sweet, understanding and totally in tune with one another in a way that almost freaks Ramsey out. I wish we would have gotten a bit more of them together and working through things since Ramsey has been teased for so long - I would have loved a bit more backstory there and to know literally anything about Nate…Ramsey was the focus, which is fine, but I missed getting to know Nate too.
The Toronto Thunder guys + Brady and Dean + Deacon made me so happy. I’m really looking forward to the rest of the stories in this series - bring on more football!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Amazing….
It is no secret that I love Beth Bolden. I have loved every series that I have read from her, and I have been *patiently* waiting for Ramsey’s story since I first met him in the Portland Evergreens series. It was definitely worth the wait. Ramsey has always been a mysterious character who was beautiful and cared deeply about his friends. Hell or High Water is book 3 in the Toronto Thunder series. Nate Bishop is part of the Thunder and knows Wes, Ramsey’s best friend. Ramsey does not realize this until he spends the night with Nate and then pushes him away. I love how these two were so determined to stay away from each other. I do have to say that it was funny how every single character was like “you two need to get along”. I mean, it’s crazy to insist that every single person be besties- lol. However, busybodies aside, I did love Nate and Ramsey together. I love how Nate was able to see through Ramsey’s walls. He was also so good about manipulating people to think or do what he wanted: except for Nate. I like that Nate was able to see behind Ramsey’s facades. He wanted to know the man underneath, and when Ramsey gave him those glimpses it was perfect. I do have to admit that based upon what happened in this book, I am dying for Wes and Marcus. Suck it up, Wes! Admit you love Marcus and grovel and apologize. That is going to be a great book. I know Beth will knock it out of the park. I also am very intrigued by Jordan, the rookie. There is definitely more to his story. I think the best part was that Nate was not going to let Ramsey give up on his dreams. He compromised and did not make Ramsey make a decision that would be detrimental to his career (trying to be vague to resist spoilers). I really love that. It was such an adult thing to do. When you love someone, you want them to be successful. And Nate definitely loved Ramsey. I cannot wait to read more from this author.
I received an ARC from the author and Neon Rainbow ARC Readers for my honest review.
It is no secret that I love Beth Bolden. I have loved every series that I have read from her, and I have been *patiently* waiting for Ramsey’s story since I first met him in the Portland Evergreens series. It was definitely worth the wait. Ramsey has always been a mysterious character who was beautiful and cared deeply about his friends. Hell or High Water is book 3 in the Toronto Thunder series. Nate Bishop is part of the Thunder and knows Wes, Ramsey’s best friend. Ramsey does not realize this until he spends the night with Nate and then pushes him away. I love how these two were so determined to stay away from each other. I do have to say that it was funny how every single character was like “you two need to get along”. I mean, it’s crazy to insist that every single person be besties- lol. However, busybodies aside, I did love Nate and Ramsey together. I love how Nate was able to see through Ramsey’s walls. He was also so good about manipulating people to think or do what he wanted: except for Nate. I like that Nate was able to see behind Ramsey’s facades. He wanted to know the man underneath, and when Ramsey gave him those glimpses it was perfect. I do have to admit that based upon what happened in this book, I am dying for Wes and Marcus. Suck it up, Wes! Admit you love Marcus and grovel and apologize. That is going to be a great book. I know Beth will knock it out of the park. I also am very intrigued by Jordan, the rookie. There is definitely more to his story. I think the best part was that Nate was not going to let Ramsey give up on his dreams. He compromised and did not make Ramsey make a decision that would be detrimental to his career (trying to be vague to resist spoilers). I really love that. It was such an adult thing to do. When you love someone, you want them to be successful. And Nate definitely loved Ramsey. I cannot wait to read more from this author.
I received an ARC from the author and Neon Rainbow ARC Readers for my honest review.
March 29, 2026
HELL OR HIGH WATER is the third installment in the Toronto Thunder series. It can be read as a standalone but it reads so much better if you read in the order that the author intended.
What to expect:
💛Fake Relationship
🫶Enemies to Lovers
💛Football Player × Hockey Player
🫶Bad boy settles down
Nate Bishop and Ramsey Andresen met one night at a bar, hooked up had a life changing night until Ramsey realized that Nate was a football player on his best friends team. Ramsey isn't about relationships and hooking up with someone in their friend group isn't a great idea causing him to quickly walk away from Nate and their night together. Ramsey is on the IR from his hockey team staying with Wes in Toronto while he is recovering from his concussion. So now that everyone wants to hang out together with Ramsey and it has Nate feeling some type way that's causing Nate to act a bit hostile toward Ramsey.
Nate wants to settle down and saw something in Ramsey the night they were together. But when he walked out Nate got angry. Seeing Ramsey out being so charismatic with the rest of the team is infuriating. When Ramsey comes up with the idea to create a fake relationship to make it easier for everyone else to be together so Nate isn't so hostile. But Nate doesn't feel like the relationship is fake at all. He's seeing parts of Ramsey that no one else gets to see and it has Nate wanting more and more.
I'm so excited to finally get their story. I've been waiting since the beginning of the series. The tension and chemistry between them is so palpable. They chemistry is instant and explosive this story couldn't have gone any other way. I loved the angst and seeing the walls Ramsey built slowly fall was everything!!
I can't wait for what comes next!
I was given a free copy of this book to read and review for Neon Rainbow.
What to expect:
💛Fake Relationship
🫶Enemies to Lovers
💛Football Player × Hockey Player
🫶Bad boy settles down
Nate Bishop and Ramsey Andresen met one night at a bar, hooked up had a life changing night until Ramsey realized that Nate was a football player on his best friends team. Ramsey isn't about relationships and hooking up with someone in their friend group isn't a great idea causing him to quickly walk away from Nate and their night together. Ramsey is on the IR from his hockey team staying with Wes in Toronto while he is recovering from his concussion. So now that everyone wants to hang out together with Ramsey and it has Nate feeling some type way that's causing Nate to act a bit hostile toward Ramsey.
Nate wants to settle down and saw something in Ramsey the night they were together. But when he walked out Nate got angry. Seeing Ramsey out being so charismatic with the rest of the team is infuriating. When Ramsey comes up with the idea to create a fake relationship to make it easier for everyone else to be together so Nate isn't so hostile. But Nate doesn't feel like the relationship is fake at all. He's seeing parts of Ramsey that no one else gets to see and it has Nate wanting more and more.
I'm so excited to finally get their story. I've been waiting since the beginning of the series. The tension and chemistry between them is so palpable. They chemistry is instant and explosive this story couldn't have gone any other way. I loved the angst and seeing the walls Ramsey built slowly fall was everything!!
I can't wait for what comes next!
I was given a free copy of this book to read and review for Neon Rainbow.
March 26, 2026
HELL OR HIGH WATER is the third in Beth Bolden's excellent Toronto Thunder m/m football romance series. Defensive player Nate Bishop has been named co-captain, and he knows he really ought to be on top of the world, so to speak. He's playing well, has his feet under him, enjoys his teammates... But when an absolutely stunning man goes toe to toe with him at a local bar and then has the audacity to walk away, he's not sure he could explain his own reluctance to let him disappear out the door. Hockey player Ramsey Andresen is battling through a lingering concussion that has him on long-term injured reserve, and while he is even more compelled to orchestrate what happens in his sphere of influence, his body seems to be less cooperative. Throw in Nate's close-knit teammates and Ramsey's equally involved friends, and these two find themselves questioning their previous life choices on the regular, while juggling team responsibilities on and off the field and trying to appear cool and collected, when in reality, the strength of their physical attraction alone could be likened to tractor beams...
Beth Bolden's characters are compellingly written, and I could not put this down. I essentially read this in one sitting, torn between the desire to gobble up every last page and trying to pace myself as the percentage remaining in the book kept getting smaller... Nate and Ramsey do enjoy a fantastic, hard-fought relationship, as they fight their own and each other's natural tendencies toward self-preservation. Love also, as always, Ms Bolden's well-paced on-field action, as the Thunder battle opponents during the course of their season.
Ms Bolden just keeps refining her writing skills, and her talent for story-telling continues to shine. So eager for more in this series!
Beth Bolden's characters are compellingly written, and I could not put this down. I essentially read this in one sitting, torn between the desire to gobble up every last page and trying to pace myself as the percentage remaining in the book kept getting smaller... Nate and Ramsey do enjoy a fantastic, hard-fought relationship, as they fight their own and each other's natural tendencies toward self-preservation. Love also, as always, Ms Bolden's well-paced on-field action, as the Thunder battle opponents during the course of their season.
Ms Bolden just keeps refining her writing skills, and her talent for story-telling continues to shine. So eager for more in this series!
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