Sheep Calm and Merry On

by Ashlyn Kane

It's been three years since former hockey player Devon Hughes dried out, hung up his skates, and started raising wool sheep. Now he's driving home from Christmas shopping in a snowstorm and happens across a stranded motorist. What kind of monster would he be if he didn't stop?

When the weather turns, Noah Bell is returning to his roots after a short stint in pro hockey, a slightly longer stint in higher education, and a failed relationship. He's convinced he's going to freeze to death in a rest stop on I-75 until a stranger shows up to rescue him. At least if he goes home with this guy, he'll be warm before he can get ax-murdered. Except it turns out he and Devon have more in common than just not being serial killers. If they can get past the panic and sheep calm, maybe this Christmas they'll get their merry on.

Genres: M M Romance, Hockey, Contemporary, Sports, Romance, Christmas, Holiday

93 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 4, 2025

About the author

Ashlyn Kane is a thirtysomething writer, editor, procrastinator, and dog mom. She likes cheese, puns, and hockey.

Reviews

[Carol [Goodreads Addict] · Rating 5 out of 5]

RATING 4.5 STARS

Sheep Calm and Merry On by Ashlyn Kane is a short, sweet, oh so swoony, MM Holiday novella that I loved.

Devon Hughes has been out of the pro hockey field for three years. Now he’s half owner of a sheep farm in Vanderbilt, Michigan. It’s just days before Christmas and he’s on the way home from shopping, trying to make it safely home when the winter storm worsens. When he finds a stranded motorist he has no choice but to bring him home until the storm is over.



Noah Bell is moving back to his home town to start a new job. He is also an ex-hockey player whose career ended due to a head injury. After a bad break up, Noah is starting over but perhaps chose the wrong time for the trip home. He is stranded after a run in with a snow bank when a handsome stranger rescues him.

The sparks are there from the start with these two. The cuteness factor is through the roof with them. It turns out that they have more in common than either of them realized! This was an adorable novella. My one complaint was that the ending was very abrupt. I wanted more of them! I also have to mention how adorable Devon’s dog, Nelson was! This was a perfect little holiday read that was just right for this chilly afternoon and made my heart all warm and squishy.

[sunnoah · Rating 5 out of 5]

i finished this in 2 hours !!! it was soooo good, i loved it 😭😭😭😭😭 devon and noah are my favs from now on !!!!! the vibes were exactly what i needed with this cold weather and i’m happy the characters got their happy ending too !!! devon can sing me a lullaby any time he wants 🫣🫣🫣🫣
y’all should know too that i LOVE the only one bed trope !!!!!!


thanks to ashlyn kane for the arc !!!!

[Lily Loves 📚 · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was enjoying this book with its quiet love story coming to life set at Christmas. Two broken men who have hockey in common. I could even look past the muppet comments because a muppet isn’t what I’d call attractive but maybe cute? Then the book just ends!!!! This felt so unfinished and I was so disappointed. What happened here? It was only at 75% in so I was very confused!

[Andria Potter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short and absolutely adorable. 5 ⭐!

[Bethany Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks Ashlyn Kane for an advanced copy to review!

The sign of a great novella is that I want 80k more words on the characters after falling in love with them in less than 100 pages. So cute and fun.

This packs a LOT into a short amount of pages, with a traumatic brain injury, a recovering addict, and more. I was impressed with the flow of the story and I already know I love Ashlyn’s writing. Her sense of humor is *so* prevalent here and I found myself grinning and laughing so much. It was a genuinely sweet story with a lovely end. I hope Noah and Devon live and love many happy years on the sheep farm.

PS the muppet jokes were my absolute fave. A true millennial moment.

Definitely recommend picking this one up, I had a great time with it.

[Fredicka · Rating 5 out of 5]

I went into this thinking it was gonna be like every other quick Christmas book. Boy A finds Boy B stuck on the side of the road due to heavy snow. Boy A takes Boy B back home while they wait out the storm. Boy A’s dog plays wing man, and they fall in love. HEA the end.
And yes, this book ticked every one of those boxes. But it did it with humor, and really good writing. I could’ve spent 300 more pages reading about Noah and Devon getting to know each other and falling in love. This was some really good writing. Such a small book left such a big impact.

[Kassu · Rating 4 out of 5]

4-⭐

Super cute Christmas short. It's interesting, charming, and funny enough to make me properly enjoy it even with a happy, angst-free, straightforward plot. (Usually I crave some angst or danger, some kind of conflict.)

[Pjm12 · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit instalove, but they have stuff in common, so there's that.

Yes, sheep were fun. As were the dogs.

#xmas2025 read

[Teresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Cute story with enough “tragic” backstory to make it interesting but not so much it brings the Christmas feels down. Instant connection but not insta love. I liked the little twist/convenient coincidence.

I disliked that only 63 of the 93 pages listed were actual story - the rest was a preview of a different book.

[nina · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5⭐

❄️🐑 'He still tasted vaguely of pumpkin-pie spice from dessert, he smelled like gravy, and he sounded like the heavy thud of Devon’s heart coming back to life.
Devon was halfway in love with him after two days, and the idea didn’t even scare him.' 🐑❄️

insta love strikes again. cute and easy little read, and i read it during a snow storm, so that added to the vibes. overall, it left quite a bit to be desired and the ending felt pretty abrupt and just incomplete.

describing one main character as looking like a muppet countless times really took me out of it and i for one hope i never have to hear someone or their eyebrows described as muppetlike ever again!

[Marion · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amazing book! I sat down and read it from cover to cover in one sitting. This is the story of Devon Hughes and Noah Bell. Both are ex hockey players and both had a difficult time with the sport that they loved. This is a fun and cute read. The interaction between Devon and Noah is not to be missed. I loved the thoughts about serial killers and freezing to death. It was done in a fun way. Watching as they both learn to deal with a sport that they quit has a few touching moments. I received a complementary advanced review copy from the author and I am voluntarily leaving a review. My only complain is that the story isn't longer. I wanted to read more about Devon and Noah. A sure sign of a well written novella.

[Jeanette Waters · Rating 5 out of 5]

A white out snow storm brings together two former hockey players. Devon rescues a snow stranded Noah who is slowly freezing to death at an I75 rest stop. This a a short, sweet story that has lots of gentle banter and serial killer jokes. No angst, this is a fun quick read about two adorable men, a whole passel of sheep and a dog named Nelson.
This is a real charmer which will pull a smile out of the grumpiest of grumps. A nice book to curl up on the couch with a cup of tea. I hope the season will bring us more magic from Ashlyn Kane.
I received an advanced copy of this story and this is my review

[kj · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay I was in a terrible, irritable, the world is horrible and so is everything in it kind of mood when I started this book. But I was locked in within 10 pages, and by page 50, my rotten mood was totally gone and I was turned into a pile of mush.

I was so excited for this one and it absolutely delivered. It’s cute, it’s got sheep, there’s nosy friends and family, they only-one-bed it. What’s not to love?!

This is definitely going to be an annual Christmas and/or winter reread for me! It’s quick and light and fluffy, perfect for the season!

Thanks to the author for an ARC!

[Deb Kel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sweet, funny, and surprisingly touching holiday novella. Devon and Noah are both former hockey players trying to rebuild their lives, and their snowy meet-cute had me smiling from the start. The humour, especially the serial killer jokes ;) balances perfectly with the warmth and tenderness of their growing connection.

I loved their chemistry and the gentle way they helped each other heal. My only complaint? I wish it were longer! Definitely hit all the right notes!

I received a free arc copy and this is my honest review

[Traci S · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you for the book, here is my honest opinion:
Super cute holiday read! This is a lovely low drama, quick read with two pretty lovely former hockey players, a well timed snow storm, and some fun friends and family. Noah and Devon have a natural and fast connection, I would have loved more time with them but this leaves them in a wonderful place. I honestly didn’t need the friends and family as I loved the quiet, cuddled up vibes with just Devon, Noah, the sheep, and Nelson the dog. Loved it!

[Tara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was really cute - it has me smiling throughout. The characters seemed fully formed, which is rare in novellas since there often isn't enough time to really get to know them. And it was funny. I loved all the muppet references.
This takes place from roughly Christmas Eve to New Year's, so it's pretty insta-love, but it also feels quite believable.
I really loved these characters and their backstories - I wish the author had given them a full length novel and more time to fall in love.

[Gelaskaca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Noah and Devon are both retired NHL athletes. Both have their own baggage. They met when Devon rescued Noah in a snow storm. The story takes place between Christmas Eve and New Year's, so it's pretty insta-love, but it also feels natural. Their story was so refreshing, their banter was adorable, and their first kiss under the mistletoe was perfect.
The only problem I have is that the ending feels really abrupt. Yes, I know that this is a novella, but another 5 pages might give it a softer landing.

[Anita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where's the rest of the story?!!! Oh this was so adorable. Instalove but done exceedingly well. Enjoyed the premise - two retired hockey players who meet when one, per all Xmas romances, is driving in a blizzard in a car not designed for snow and wearing inappropriate clothes, and the other rescues him. You could feel that these two needed to be together. I could feel the "click" when they meet. Loved the secondary characters, especially Amber and - lol Gritty and of course, Nelson!! Devon and Noah are wonderful together. But it ends so abruptly and wanted more of our two MCs.

[Elysha Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a cute little novella that follows two retired hockey players who meet via roadside rescue in a snowstorm.

I found the relationship between Noah and Devon to be satisfying and well developed, which is sometimes missing in the short novellas. I also loved the sheep farm and of course Nelson the dog.

This isn’t a light novella as it deals with topics like chronic injury and alcoholism. However I think it was done well, especially with the short length.

A quick but very engaging holiday read.

[kjh123 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a prefect quick read to get in the winter mood!

Devon and Noah are so adorable! Their interactions from the beginning are fun and entertaining! They realize quickly how much they have in common. Their banter and connection developed on page helped me fly thru!

Novellas are difficult as they are hard to develop the character relationship but I think the author did a wonderful job in the pages they had.

Thank you for the advanced copy for the voluntary review

[Vols77 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mushy, heart warming, sweet, and fun--in other words perfection. I loved this book and loved both Noah and Devon. Their low angst love story was all love and connection. From their initial meeting you feel the love and knew their destiny was HEA. A short read that did not fell incomplete, but I sure how we get a more flushed out book two with these two. The perfect holiday read. I did receive an ARC and leave this honest review.

[Kaylee · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

This was a really sweet Christmas novella about two ex-NHL players, both living with the after-effects from their early retirements. Their story was so refreshing, their banter was adorable, and their first kiss under the mistletoe was perfect. I appreciated their honesty and straightforwardness and how supportive they both were when tackling the subject of their health long-term.
~ Only one bed
~ “Damsel” in distress
~ Lullabies for sheep
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

[Michael Burlager · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love a quick read, but...

Asyhlyn Kane created a couple of charming characters in this novella. Only problem for me though, is that it ends abruptly. I was going along, thinking that there was still another portion to their story, when suddenly, the next page started ads for more books. I had just finished the book and didn't even realize it. More than a third of the stated page length was ads. Which I don't mind, but not at the expense of the story. Too bad.

[Aղցela W. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a short quick read that I liked. Devon Hughes rescues a man who is trapped in the snow. Noah Bell is trying to make it home for Christmas he hasn't been home in years. Turns out both of them have something in common both are retired hockey players Devon flamed out due to drug use while Noah was forced to retire due to a head injury. I liked that Devon wanted to take it slow but things went fast. This book was well written with no errors in grammar or spelling.

[Age6ixRacer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gritty, Orville Peck, and two endearing hockey players trying to heal from the sport that took so much away from them. Ahhh, this was so sweet and so cozy and so healing. Just what I needed as the nights get darker and the world continues to as well. Thanks Ashlyn for the ARC! It always makes my week. ❤️💚

[Yvonne M · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this story and am so happy that I got to read about Noah and Devon. They had an instant connection and both were happy for it. I definitely want more in the future, so thank you for this brisk love story with a sheepish interlude. I definitely recommend this book to everyone who loves mm romance stories with some sports and animals too.

[Terri · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a lovely romance. Devon and Noah are both instantly likable, and they each deserve some real happiness in their lives. A lot of heart is stuffed into less than100 pages, and I know that this little gem is going to be a re-read for me. I love all the characters, including the sheep and Nelson the sheep dog, and I will be happy to revisit them. Very nice!

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was super adorable. Unlike most hockey mm romances, it wasn't about being closeted, homophobia, internalized homophobia, or fear of being perceived as "the gay hockey player" instead of "a hockey player." Maybe that's because it is about FORMER pro hockey players.

It wasn't super angsty, it wasn't one big joke, it wasn't constant pain. It was just a feel good holiday romance.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute novella. I wish it was a full length book or at least double the length. Two former hockey players who meet when one rescues the other from breaking down in a snow storm. Most of the book is over the course of one day but that one day was all it took for them to fall head over heels for each other. Cute boys, a cute dog, a little hockey, and Christmas cheer.

[Sammy Feilchenfeld · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short, sweet, and a real delight! Full of the lovely charm and instantly loveable characters I always expect from Ashlyn Kane's books. Really enjoyed the slice-of-life of it all, and it was the perfect cozy Christmas read.

Thank you to Ashlyn Kane for the ARC!