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Making Time: A Queer Hockey Romance
Not yet published
Expected 26 Feb 26It’s not a meet-cute. It’s a meet-chaos.
Nothing about Jamie Sullivan’s first season as captain of the Madison Muskies is going according to plan. He’s playing terribly, and an impulsive on-ice fight leaves him injured and out of the lineup. It feels like things can’t get worse when a drunken scrap with a neighborhood snowman lands him in Tyler’s path.
Tyler Raymond is back in Madison with his three year old son, Rowan, doing everything in his power to hold his life together while stuck in disorderly (but affordable) student housing. He has enough on his plate without huge, soft-eyed men knocking themselves unconscious in his yard.
Jamie is desperate to make things right. Realizing Tyler needs a reset, Jamie puts him in touch with his moms, who rent out their attic apartment. What began as a rock-bottom moment quickly changes as Jamie gets to know the prickly single dad and his adorable son, and soon enough it feels natural to include them in his life on and off the ice.
Neither of them have time for romance: Jamie is trying to return to the lineup and redeem himself, while Tyler is trying to make ends meet as a single parent. But there’s something undeniable there, and with every second the two men spend together, their reasons for why a relationship won’t work start to disappear.
Maybe, for each other, they can make time.
Nothing about Jamie Sullivan’s first season as captain of the Madison Muskies is going according to plan. He’s playing terribly, and an impulsive on-ice fight leaves him injured and out of the lineup. It feels like things can’t get worse when a drunken scrap with a neighborhood snowman lands him in Tyler’s path.
Tyler Raymond is back in Madison with his three year old son, Rowan, doing everything in his power to hold his life together while stuck in disorderly (but affordable) student housing. He has enough on his plate without huge, soft-eyed men knocking themselves unconscious in his yard.
Jamie is desperate to make things right. Realizing Tyler needs a reset, Jamie puts him in touch with his moms, who rent out their attic apartment. What began as a rock-bottom moment quickly changes as Jamie gets to know the prickly single dad and his adorable son, and soon enough it feels natural to include them in his life on and off the ice.
Neither of them have time for romance: Jamie is trying to return to the lineup and redeem himself, while Tyler is trying to make ends meet as a single parent. But there’s something undeniable there, and with every second the two men spend together, their reasons for why a relationship won’t work start to disappear.
Maybe, for each other, they can make time.
280 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication February 26, 2026
885 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
This was so sweet I could cry.
Making time is a hockey player x single dad romance and it was everything I could ask for. I love kids in books and Rowan was so cute and everyone in the book was honestly so nice I got to escape reality for a while.
If you like cute romances that will make you smile and maybe cry a little bit look no further, this is it.
Thank you to the author for the ARC!!
Making time is a hockey player x single dad romance and it was everything I could ask for. I love kids in books and Rowan was so cute and everyone in the book was honestly so nice I got to escape reality for a while.
If you like cute romances that will make you smile and maybe cry a little bit look no further, this is it.
Thank you to the author for the ARC!!
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February 19, 2026
I signed up for this ARC because I’m a total sucker for a single dad romance and a cute cover and this book completely exceeded my expectations. This book perfectly balances sweet with spicy.
Rowan is an adorable kid. Sometimes I find children kind of annoying in books (and real life tbh), but he was written really well. Rowan and Tyler have such a wonderful relationship, but the highlight of the book was definitely the dynamic between the three of them once Jamie becomes a part of their lives. The incredibly sweet connection between Rowan and Jamie made the romance between Jamie and Tyler so much better. The love between the three of them was refreshingly wholesome.
But also, these two men are hot as hell. I LOVE the way they’re described - tattoos, piercings, lingerie, AND a hot moustache? We were spoiled in this one. The heat they feel for each other felt so intense and the building anticipation while they figured out their relationship was sooo good.
I really enjoyed this and I’ll definitely be checking out more from this author.
⭐ 4.5/5
🌶️ 3/5
Rowan is an adorable kid. Sometimes I find children kind of annoying in books (and real life tbh), but he was written really well. Rowan and Tyler have such a wonderful relationship, but the highlight of the book was definitely the dynamic between the three of them once Jamie becomes a part of their lives. The incredibly sweet connection between Rowan and Jamie made the romance between Jamie and Tyler so much better. The love between the three of them was refreshingly wholesome.
But also, these two men are hot as hell. I LOVE the way they’re described - tattoos, piercings, lingerie, AND a hot moustache? We were spoiled in this one. The heat they feel for each other felt so intense and the building anticipation while they figured out their relationship was sooo good.
I really enjoyed this and I’ll definitely be checking out more from this author.
⭐ 4.5/5
🌶️ 3/5
February 12, 2026
ARC Review!!!
This book was very good! If you want a book that has a good amount of hockey content mixed in with some spice this is the perfect book for you. Tyler is a single dad to the sweetest little boy Rowan. He works two jobs just to get bye. Jamie is the captain of his hockey team and never thought someone like Tyler would be the guy for him. This book follows Tyler and Jamie navigating a friendship that quickly turns into a relationship around two busy schedules and the demands of parent hood.
This book was very good! If you want a book that has a good amount of hockey content mixed in with some spice this is the perfect book for you. Tyler is a single dad to the sweetest little boy Rowan. He works two jobs just to get bye. Jamie is the captain of his hockey team and never thought someone like Tyler would be the guy for him. This book follows Tyler and Jamie navigating a friendship that quickly turns into a relationship around two busy schedules and the demands of parent hood.
February 18, 2026
This flew by, it was such a cute read!!!! Both main characters were extremely easy to like. Sully was struggling with self-confidence and trying to find himself as a captain, while Tyler was a single dad doing the best he could to take care of his son and give him a good life.
I loved how real and kind-hearted the characters felt. They instantly made you want to root for them.
Sometimes I have issues with the way toddlers are written in books. They can feel unrealistic for the sake of the story, and I always find myself wondering, “Would a toddler actually act like this or say these things...?” But I completely loved little Rowan 🩷 He was absolutely adorable and had such a true little-kid vibe. He helped move the story along and played an important role, all while staying realistic and true to his three-year-old self.
All the side characters were great too, and I loved the sense of community and family they created.
All in all, this was a great read. Cozy, fun, real, and full of love🥹
I loved how real and kind-hearted the characters felt. They instantly made you want to root for them.
Sometimes I have issues with the way toddlers are written in books. They can feel unrealistic for the sake of the story, and I always find myself wondering, “Would a toddler actually act like this or say these things...?” But I completely loved little Rowan 🩷 He was absolutely adorable and had such a true little-kid vibe. He helped move the story along and played an important role, all while staying realistic and true to his three-year-old self.
All the side characters were great too, and I loved the sense of community and family they created.
All in all, this was a great read. Cozy, fun, real, and full of love🥹
February 16, 2026
this was cute !! thank you to the author for an arc !!
i do have a lot of problems w it in general tho 🧍♀️
-a lot of grammatical errors that are easily fixable and hopefully fixed before this officially publishes 🙏
-the word ravenous was used three too many times in the span of six chapters. a different word would've been more applicable to each situation, one usage of it would've been perfect 🙏
-towards the end, i lost their chemistry. idk where it went. it basically disappeared off the planet
-there wasn't enough uncertainty(?) with the way the story played out. i feel like i was supposed to be more uncertain of how they would end up together with the things that were happening, but it wasnt
-i also feel like more time should've been spent on each of their individual issues that they go through, i feel like that would've impacted me more as a reader and definitely would've helped me feel the ending and their relationship in a more enjoyable/positively receptive way.
i do have a lot of problems w it in general tho 🧍♀️
-a lot of grammatical errors that are easily fixable and hopefully fixed before this officially publishes 🙏
-the word ravenous was used three too many times in the span of six chapters. a different word would've been more applicable to each situation, one usage of it would've been perfect 🙏
-towards the end, i lost their chemistry. idk where it went. it basically disappeared off the planet
-there wasn't enough uncertainty(?) with the way the story played out. i feel like i was supposed to be more uncertain of how they would end up together with the things that were happening, but it wasnt
-i also feel like more time should've been spent on each of their individual issues that they go through, i feel like that would've impacted me more as a reader and definitely would've helped me feel the ending and their relationship in a more enjoyable/positively receptive way.
Review of advance copy received from Auteur
4.5 rounded up !
Rowan is the cutest boy ever, i wanna adopt him. I got this as an ARC from the author and I am thoroughly satisfied. It was cute, moving, sexy, funny, the found family, it was just everything I needed from this book. A beautiful love story, incredibly sweet characters, and a loving community. I'll stay with them for a while.
The hockey side was very detailed which I really liked as it is not always the case !
The writing is smooth, the story flows well, I read it in a day !
Rowan is the cutest boy ever, i wanna adopt him. I got this as an ARC from the author and I am thoroughly satisfied. It was cute, moving, sexy, funny, the found family, it was just everything I needed from this book. A beautiful love story, incredibly sweet characters, and a loving community. I'll stay with them for a while.
The hockey side was very detailed which I really liked as it is not always the case !
The writing is smooth, the story flows well, I read it in a day !
Review of advance copy received from Author
This story is such a gem! The character development was great, and I loved getting to know Jamie and Tyler as they got out of their own heads and into each other's lives. The description of a meet-chaos is so accurate and was as funny as anyone could hope for. Absolutely recommend this book! I am so thankful to have received an ARC copy, and am looking forward to buying a physical copy as soon as it's available!
February 10, 2026
ACR review
🌟🌟🌟.5
This was a fun easy book to read.
It went exactly like I expected. Liked all the characters and how are they all helped each other like one big family.
I love a cute kid in a story and it definitely has that.
🌟🌟🌟.5
This was a fun easy book to read.
It went exactly like I expected. Liked all the characters and how are they all helped each other like one big family.
I love a cute kid in a story and it definitely has that.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Safety info, content warnings and tropes down below.
Reading this book was like watching your team lead the entire race, then the horror of watching them celebrate too early and be overtaken at the finish line -- aka falling from 5 to 3.5 stars in 15 pages.
I adored this book and every character in it from the very first page until about the 90% mark. Both Tyler and Jamie were sweethearts in their own way. They’re distinctive, good people. They're also lonely, and it was sweet to watch them find each other. I liked how, despite the wild first meeting between them, the progression of their relationship felt realistic. I also thought – as a person who reads sports romance because I love sports – that it had a good balance of sports and romance. The hockey details were spot on (mostly, more on that later), and I thought it was good to have some focus on the difficulties of dating a pro athlete as a regular person. The found family with the other athletes and their families was incredibly sweet and made me smile and feel happy for Tyler and Rowan. Really appreciated that part of it.
The big focus of the book and the main challenge of the relationship is making time for each other amid pro sports and fatherhood, and while that’s important and realistic, I thought it leaned too heavily on this, to the point the relationship still felt wobbly at 99% – see quote below. Yes, pro hockey players are on roadtrips a lot but the characters act like they'll only see each other twice a month.
I repeat, at 99%.
This problem, although maybe not massive, was then made worse by the fact that THERE IS NO EPILOGUE. If there was ever a book that needed an epilogue for me to believe in a HEA, it was this one. I was so disappointed.
Another thing that was a bit frustrating, and maybe -- hopefully -- fixed before release day, was the use of en dashes instead of em dashes, which looks way too similar to hyphens, which means I read things wrong and had to do double takes all the time. Hopefully just an ARC copy issue.
Also, if you’ve ever watched an NHL Winter Classic (usually played in football stadiums or baseball parks), you'll know why fans throwing hats on the ice after a hattrick is 100% not ever gonna happen. Maybe a small beta issue to most but that really stood out to me lol. These fans are yeeting their hats FAR, lol. That was my only hockey-related issue.
Okay ouch, that turned into more of a bitchfest than I was intending, but up until 90% I really did adore everything about this book. I was so confident it would be an easy 5 star read. It just kinda fell apart at the very end there. Negative parts really stand out so much more when the rest is excellent. I am excited to read more from this author tho, and I don't regret this at all. I just really wish I felt more sure these guys would stay together forever. Also Rowan is an adorable kid.
Thank you to the author for the ARC.
Blanket spoiler warning ⬇️
⚠️ Tropes & content tags ⚠️
Single dad
Pro hockey player
Slutty mustache
Tattoos
Lace panties
Slow burn
Strangers to lovers
Found family
Black cat MC
Consent as foreplay
Exotic dancer
⚠️ Content warning ⚠️
On-ice violence (mild)
Minor injury to MC
Alcohol consumption (on-page intoxication)
Financial insecurity
Vomiting
Brief hospitalization
References to past recreational drug use (MC)
Explicit sexual content
⚠️Book safety ⚠️
Cheating: No
Other person drama: No
Breakup: No
POV: 3rd person, dual
Genre: Sports romance
Pairing: M/M
Strict roles or versatile: Versatile
Main characters’ age: Not specified
Series: Standalone (for now?)
Kindle Unlimited: Yes
Pages: 298
Happy ending: Yes, mild HFN
So Jamie was a queer professional athlete with soft blonde curls and a slutty mustache. That was… Fuck.
Sharpie slid a mug across the table. It looked incredible, the swirl of whipped cream dotted with crumbles of cookies and drizzled chocolate. Jamie took a sip, groaning at the rich sweetness on his tongue. “I want to tell you this is disgusting, but you get very cute, like a big blonde baby, whenever you eat a sweet treat.”
“Take your time,” Jamie repeated, the words a low murmur against Tyler’s hair. “And whenever you want to talk, you tell me, okay? You tell me you’re ready, and I’ll be there.”
“Can I get you naked, baby?”
“You have a mouse problem,” he said. “What?” Jamie held up one of the large cookies, which was missing a corner. Tyler laughed. “Oh, that’s me.” “You’re a mouse?” “No!” Tyler couldn’t stop laughing now, giggles spilling from him with every breath. “I just eat a little nibble when I feel like it.” Jamie looked completely taken aback, staring open-mouthed at Tyler like he’d just revealed he routinely ran naked around Lake Minocqua in January. “You’re telling me you have tasty treats in your house and you have the discipline to only take these tiny little bites? Who the hell are you?”
“There are a million attractive things about you,” Tyler said, leaning forward to press a quick kiss to Jamie’s furry chest. “But do you want to know why I really picked you?” Jamie frowned, shaking his head. “The mustache.”
You can find most of my reviews on Instagram as well: https://www.instagram.com/booksafety?...
Reading this book was like watching your team lead the entire race, then the horror of watching them celebrate too early and be overtaken at the finish line -- aka falling from 5 to 3.5 stars in 15 pages.
I adored this book and every character in it from the very first page until about the 90% mark. Both Tyler and Jamie were sweethearts in their own way. They’re distinctive, good people. They're also lonely, and it was sweet to watch them find each other. I liked how, despite the wild first meeting between them, the progression of their relationship felt realistic. I also thought – as a person who reads sports romance because I love sports – that it had a good balance of sports and romance. The hockey details were spot on (mostly, more on that later), and I thought it was good to have some focus on the difficulties of dating a pro athlete as a regular person. The found family with the other athletes and their families was incredibly sweet and made me smile and feel happy for Tyler and Rowan. Really appreciated that part of it.
The big focus of the book and the main challenge of the relationship is making time for each other amid pro sports and fatherhood, and while that’s important and realistic, I thought it leaned too heavily on this, to the point the relationship still felt wobbly at 99% – see quote below. Yes, pro hockey players are on roadtrips a lot but the characters act like they'll only see each other twice a month.
“Are we idiots for thinking this will work?” Tyler asked, even as his whole body lit up with the heat of loving, and the warm glow of being loved. Jamie’s eyes crinkled in the corners, and the green seemed so bright and alive in the low glow of the lamplight. “Probably.”
I repeat, at 99%.
This problem, although maybe not massive, was then made worse by the fact that THERE IS NO EPILOGUE. If there was ever a book that needed an epilogue for me to believe in a HEA, it was this one. I was so disappointed.
Another thing that was a bit frustrating, and maybe -- hopefully -- fixed before release day, was the use of en dashes instead of em dashes, which looks way too similar to hyphens, which means I read things wrong and had to do double takes all the time. Hopefully just an ARC copy issue.
Also, if you’ve ever watched an NHL Winter Classic (usually played in football stadiums or baseball parks), you'll know why fans throwing hats on the ice after a hattrick is 100% not ever gonna happen. Maybe a small beta issue to most but that really stood out to me lol. These fans are yeeting their hats FAR, lol. That was my only hockey-related issue.
Okay ouch, that turned into more of a bitchfest than I was intending, but up until 90% I really did adore everything about this book. I was so confident it would be an easy 5 star read. It just kinda fell apart at the very end there. Negative parts really stand out so much more when the rest is excellent. I am excited to read more from this author tho, and I don't regret this at all. I just really wish I felt more sure these guys would stay together forever. Also Rowan is an adorable kid.
Thank you to the author for the ARC.
Blanket spoiler warning ⬇️
⚠️ Tropes & content tags ⚠️
Single dad
Pro hockey player
Slutty mustache
Tattoos
Lace panties
Slow burn
Strangers to lovers
Found family
Black cat MC
Consent as foreplay
Exotic dancer
⚠️ Content warning ⚠️
On-ice violence (mild)
Minor injury to MC
Alcohol consumption (on-page intoxication)
Financial insecurity
Vomiting
Brief hospitalization
References to past recreational drug use (MC)
Explicit sexual content
⚠️Book safety ⚠️
Cheating: No
Other person drama: No
Breakup: No
POV: 3rd person, dual
Genre: Sports romance
Pairing: M/M
Strict roles or versatile: Versatile
Main characters’ age: Not specified
Series: Standalone (for now?)
Kindle Unlimited: Yes
Pages: 298
Happy ending: Yes, mild HFN
So Jamie was a queer professional athlete with soft blonde curls and a slutty mustache. That was… Fuck.
Sharpie slid a mug across the table. It looked incredible, the swirl of whipped cream dotted with crumbles of cookies and drizzled chocolate. Jamie took a sip, groaning at the rich sweetness on his tongue. “I want to tell you this is disgusting, but you get very cute, like a big blonde baby, whenever you eat a sweet treat.”
“Take your time,” Jamie repeated, the words a low murmur against Tyler’s hair. “And whenever you want to talk, you tell me, okay? You tell me you’re ready, and I’ll be there.”
“Can I get you naked, baby?”
“You have a mouse problem,” he said. “What?” Jamie held up one of the large cookies, which was missing a corner. Tyler laughed. “Oh, that’s me.” “You’re a mouse?” “No!” Tyler couldn’t stop laughing now, giggles spilling from him with every breath. “I just eat a little nibble when I feel like it.” Jamie looked completely taken aback, staring open-mouthed at Tyler like he’d just revealed he routinely ran naked around Lake Minocqua in January. “You’re telling me you have tasty treats in your house and you have the discipline to only take these tiny little bites? Who the hell are you?”
“There are a million attractive things about you,” Tyler said, leaning forward to press a quick kiss to Jamie’s furry chest. “But do you want to know why I really picked you?” Jamie frowned, shaking his head. “The mustache.”
You can find most of my reviews on Instagram as well: https://www.instagram.com/booksafety?...
Review of advance copy received from Author
Oh, my heart. I have never fallen so quickly and so completely for two main characters before. Taylor E. Weston’s latest novel, Making Time, had me curled up in my comfiest sweatshirt feeling the most delicious feels from cover to cover. Also, to be honest, the use of the word “dingus” made me ridiculously happy.
Book 1 of the Madison Muskies series introduces us to Jamie “Sully” Sullivan, Captain of the Madison Muskies hockey team. He’s striving to live up to the expectations of his fans, teammates, and himself, struggling to fit into the big skates of his mentor and former team captain. This book is a journey of self-discovery and self-worth for Sully as much as it is a romance. Heavy is the head that wears the C on their jersey and Sully might be cracking under that self-imposed pressure. His meet-chaos with single dad Tyler feels like the best worst thing ever.
Tyler Raymond is also struggling under pressure. He’s a single dad to Rowan, the sweetest 3 year old ever, and while his family loves him to pieces, that love and helpfulness has made him feel a bit inadequate. Striking out on his own back in Madison after leaving the safety of Vermont has made a few truths horribly clear - his college support network is not supporting him and he is dangerously close to falling apart. His meet-chaos with Sully feels like the worst best thing ever.
Taylor E. Weston writes toddlers brilliantly. Rowan does not feel like a weirdly precocious side-kick, nor does he suddenly behave un-toddler-like so that Tyler and Sully can have convenient moments. Weston deftly writes the complicated relationship parents have with their self-worth, their identities beyond “parent of - “, and the often overwhelming love and stress of parenthood. Tyler is a complex and complete person beyond being Rowan’s dad. And seeing Sully fall in love with all the parts of him - and Rowan - turned me into a puddle of gibbering goo. In a good way.
Sully is dreamy. The muscles, the mustache, the calm strength. His determination to lead and support the people around him is dang dreamy. He is dang dreamy. These two men might seem like an odd couple on first glance, but they fit like puzzle pieces. Their careful steps into friendship and more had me swoon-sighing like a love-drunk cartoon girl with heart eyes. Is there anything more beautiful than active listening and honest communication? Sully’s family of Muskies teammates and their enveloping of Tyler and Rowan is the type of found family story that absolutely fills my bucket. (It also means that I’m looking forward to the next Muskie’s story.)
Weston’s books thrill me because beyond the spice (and there is magnificent spice) and the HEA, they deliver incisive explorations into humanity. Into what it means to belong, what it means to love your entire self, and what family actually is. These books make me warm and snuggly on cold winter days and these characters are so real I forget I can’t have coffee with them. I loved Making Time. From the Chapter Titles to Tyler’s poetry, I was hooked. (insert ice fishing joke here) Read it. Fall in love with tattooed poets, mustachioed hockey players, and small discoveries that feel big.
I received a copy of this book from the author. All opinions are my own.
Book 1 of the Madison Muskies series introduces us to Jamie “Sully” Sullivan, Captain of the Madison Muskies hockey team. He’s striving to live up to the expectations of his fans, teammates, and himself, struggling to fit into the big skates of his mentor and former team captain. This book is a journey of self-discovery and self-worth for Sully as much as it is a romance. Heavy is the head that wears the C on their jersey and Sully might be cracking under that self-imposed pressure. His meet-chaos with single dad Tyler feels like the best worst thing ever.
Tyler Raymond is also struggling under pressure. He’s a single dad to Rowan, the sweetest 3 year old ever, and while his family loves him to pieces, that love and helpfulness has made him feel a bit inadequate. Striking out on his own back in Madison after leaving the safety of Vermont has made a few truths horribly clear - his college support network is not supporting him and he is dangerously close to falling apart. His meet-chaos with Sully feels like the worst best thing ever.
Taylor E. Weston writes toddlers brilliantly. Rowan does not feel like a weirdly precocious side-kick, nor does he suddenly behave un-toddler-like so that Tyler and Sully can have convenient moments. Weston deftly writes the complicated relationship parents have with their self-worth, their identities beyond “parent of - “, and the often overwhelming love and stress of parenthood. Tyler is a complex and complete person beyond being Rowan’s dad. And seeing Sully fall in love with all the parts of him - and Rowan - turned me into a puddle of gibbering goo. In a good way.
Sully is dreamy. The muscles, the mustache, the calm strength. His determination to lead and support the people around him is dang dreamy. He is dang dreamy. These two men might seem like an odd couple on first glance, but they fit like puzzle pieces. Their careful steps into friendship and more had me swoon-sighing like a love-drunk cartoon girl with heart eyes. Is there anything more beautiful than active listening and honest communication? Sully’s family of Muskies teammates and their enveloping of Tyler and Rowan is the type of found family story that absolutely fills my bucket. (It also means that I’m looking forward to the next Muskie’s story.)
Weston’s books thrill me because beyond the spice (and there is magnificent spice) and the HEA, they deliver incisive explorations into humanity. Into what it means to belong, what it means to love your entire self, and what family actually is. These books make me warm and snuggly on cold winter days and these characters are so real I forget I can’t have coffee with them. I loved Making Time. From the Chapter Titles to Tyler’s poetry, I was hooked. (insert ice fishing joke here) Read it. Fall in love with tattooed poets, mustachioed hockey players, and small discoveries that feel big.
I received a copy of this book from the author. All opinions are my own.
February 19, 2026
“I need you to know how happy I am. With you. Both of you. Getting to call you mine, Tyler? It might be the best thing to ever happen to me.”
“You too,” Tyler responded, but then held up a hand. “I mean, Rowan’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me, but you are amazing, and–”
“Number three, remember?”
I absolutely devoured this book. Making Time was a sweet, heartfelt, steamy, romance about choosing your family and appreciating the little things in life. I love a good slice-of-life story, and I loved that the whole point of this one was about making a conscious effort to make time for the things and people you care about.
Book one of the Madison Muskies was a raging success in my eyes. I practically highlighted the whole book - it was literally that good. Sometimes you just need a feel-good romance that doesn't cause you anxiety while you wait for the characters to pull their heads out of their arses, y'know?
I adored Jamie, Tyler, and sweet little Rowan. They made the perfect family. Right from the very first snowman-related meet cute, I knew I was going to fall in love with these three.
I also really liked that Rowan wasn't treated as a plot device or character advancement for Jamie and Tyler. He was his own person and the way the author has written him really makes him believable. Weston doesn't make Rowan or the idea of parenthood a "burden". She's written every day parenting struggles without over-simplyfing them or making the act of parenting convenient for certain scenes.
Jamie and Tyler have their own lives, struggles, and choices to make, but they still manage to include each other in every thought and decision. They're both very lonely to begin with, and unsure of themselves and where they stand, but the more they get to know each other and open up, the more confident they get in themselves. I think the simple act of communicating really made all the difference to them as individuals and as a couple. They're both so used to internalising their struggles, and when they start talking them through and encouraging each other, thats when their mindsets become more positive. It's a noticeable change for the reader, and it really shows how much they grow personally and as a couple.
Which is why I was very confused by the lack of epilogue. I finished the page expecting there to be one and there just... wasn't. I thought we'd get to see Jamie and Tyler continue to grow and we didn't, which made me feel sad because I desperately wanted to see how they thrived and how their relationship progressed on their chosen terms. I dunno, it felt unfinished without an epilogue. I loved everything about the other 99.9999% of the story and I just wish that an epilogue had been included to round it out.
My only real gripe for this book was that the "handsy Dan" drama at the end felt a little unnecessary when the story was already low-stakes-high-reward. It just didn't add anything for me. We already know Jamie would protect Tyler and Rowan with his life.
All in all, I really loved Making Time. This was my first book of Taylor E. Weston's and I'd read another one any day! She writes beautifully and I thoroughly enjoyed every part of this book.
“You too,” Tyler responded, but then held up a hand. “I mean, Rowan’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me, but you are amazing, and–”
“Number three, remember?”
I absolutely devoured this book. Making Time was a sweet, heartfelt, steamy, romance about choosing your family and appreciating the little things in life. I love a good slice-of-life story, and I loved that the whole point of this one was about making a conscious effort to make time for the things and people you care about.
Book one of the Madison Muskies was a raging success in my eyes. I practically highlighted the whole book - it was literally that good. Sometimes you just need a feel-good romance that doesn't cause you anxiety while you wait for the characters to pull their heads out of their arses, y'know?
I adored Jamie, Tyler, and sweet little Rowan. They made the perfect family. Right from the very first snowman-related meet cute, I knew I was going to fall in love with these three.
I also really liked that Rowan wasn't treated as a plot device or character advancement for Jamie and Tyler. He was his own person and the way the author has written him really makes him believable. Weston doesn't make Rowan or the idea of parenthood a "burden". She's written every day parenting struggles without over-simplyfing them or making the act of parenting convenient for certain scenes.
Jamie and Tyler have their own lives, struggles, and choices to make, but they still manage to include each other in every thought and decision. They're both very lonely to begin with, and unsure of themselves and where they stand, but the more they get to know each other and open up, the more confident they get in themselves. I think the simple act of communicating really made all the difference to them as individuals and as a couple. They're both so used to internalising their struggles, and when they start talking them through and encouraging each other, thats when their mindsets become more positive. It's a noticeable change for the reader, and it really shows how much they grow personally and as a couple.
Which is why I was very confused by the lack of epilogue. I finished the page expecting there to be one and there just... wasn't. I thought we'd get to see Jamie and Tyler continue to grow and we didn't, which made me feel sad because I desperately wanted to see how they thrived and how their relationship progressed on their chosen terms. I dunno, it felt unfinished without an epilogue. I loved everything about the other 99.9999% of the story and I just wish that an epilogue had been included to round it out.
My only real gripe for this book was that the "handsy Dan" drama at the end felt a little unnecessary when the story was already low-stakes-high-reward. It just didn't add anything for me. We already know Jamie would protect Tyler and Rowan with his life.
All in all, I really loved Making Time. This was my first book of Taylor E. Weston's and I'd read another one any day! She writes beautifully and I thoroughly enjoyed every part of this book.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I was lucky enough to receive an ARC from Taylor E. Weston and just finished reading Making Time and gave it a 4.5/5 ⭐️
My first thought when reading was I’m not sure if Weston is a hockey player or fan but the way she described these scenes in the book made it really seem like she has extensive knowledge into the game. Several other sports related stories I’ve read didn’t seem to get into these details too deep but during these scenes, in the midst of game play I found myself being invested in the outcome as the tension built through her words.
Something I found Weston to be extremely successful with in her writing was her ability to build characters, especially with the two mains, Jamie and Tyler. A hockey team is made up of several members and the way she described each character I was easily able to create a vivid image of them in my head that didn’t blend in with others.
I was extremely invested in the relationship between Jamie and Tyler and appreciated the amount of mutual yearning these two had for each other. Both characters felt like real people going through a real situation that could be relatable to many people developing a new relationship that involves children. This was the first romance book I read that involved a child and I have to give a special mention to Rowan’s character because he felt like a believable child in the way he spoke and his actions. I even found myself laughing at points during my read as some of his behaviours reminded me of my nephew.
In these types of stories, typically the main characters are your masculine, brutish jock types but having one of the main characters be more feminine and open is a very important message as it is still something that is looked down upon in society. Tyler was completely genuine with who he was, how he portrays himself and Jamie had no problem with accepting him for who he is and proudly sharing him with the world. Also special shout out to lesbian moms!
I also wanted to mention and give Weston props for discussing subjects that you don’t see often in romance books, especially involving two men. Sexual health is a very important topic especially in the gay community and it was refreshing to see how casually the conversation of sexual health was brought up in relation to being tested, contraceptives and preventative medicine.
Overall I thought this was a great read and a stellar addition to the hockey related MM genre. I hope Weston writes more about these two characters or even some of the side characters mentioned because I feel like there is room to develop further stories.
My first thought when reading was I’m not sure if Weston is a hockey player or fan but the way she described these scenes in the book made it really seem like she has extensive knowledge into the game. Several other sports related stories I’ve read didn’t seem to get into these details too deep but during these scenes, in the midst of game play I found myself being invested in the outcome as the tension built through her words.
Something I found Weston to be extremely successful with in her writing was her ability to build characters, especially with the two mains, Jamie and Tyler. A hockey team is made up of several members and the way she described each character I was easily able to create a vivid image of them in my head that didn’t blend in with others.
I was extremely invested in the relationship between Jamie and Tyler and appreciated the amount of mutual yearning these two had for each other. Both characters felt like real people going through a real situation that could be relatable to many people developing a new relationship that involves children. This was the first romance book I read that involved a child and I have to give a special mention to Rowan’s character because he felt like a believable child in the way he spoke and his actions. I even found myself laughing at points during my read as some of his behaviours reminded me of my nephew.
In these types of stories, typically the main characters are your masculine, brutish jock types but having one of the main characters be more feminine and open is a very important message as it is still something that is looked down upon in society. Tyler was completely genuine with who he was, how he portrays himself and Jamie had no problem with accepting him for who he is and proudly sharing him with the world. Also special shout out to lesbian moms!
I also wanted to mention and give Weston props for discussing subjects that you don’t see often in romance books, especially involving two men. Sexual health is a very important topic especially in the gay community and it was refreshing to see how casually the conversation of sexual health was brought up in relation to being tested, contraceptives and preventative medicine.
Overall I thought this was a great read and a stellar addition to the hockey related MM genre. I hope Weston writes more about these two characters or even some of the side characters mentioned because I feel like there is room to develop further stories.
Review of advance copy received from Autore
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (4.5/5)
I was given the opportunity to read this book as an ARC and itleft me feeling warm and happy.
Making Time by Taylor E. Weston was such a genuinely heartwarming, emotionally grounded romance that completely drew me in. From the very beginning, the story felt deeply rooted in reality — the characters’ struggles, insecurities, and personal growth all felt authentic rather than exaggerated for drama. It made their journey together feel intimate and believable in a way that’s sometimes rare in romance.
One of my absolute favorite aspects was how healthy and communicative the central relationship was. The characters actually talk to each other, listen, and actively choose care and respect even when things are difficult. That emotional maturity was such a breath of fresh air — the conflict came from real-life pressures and internal battles rather than avoidable misunderstandings, which made the relationship feel stable, safe, and deeply supportive.
Rowan was an absolute cutie and brought so much warmth to the story. His presence added a beautiful layer of tenderness and grounded the romance in everyday reality — showing how love isn’t just between two people, but also about family, care, and chosen stability. The way he fit into the developing relationship felt natural and heartfelt, and his interactions added softness and emotional depth without ever feeling forced or overly sentimental.
I also really appreciated how the story allowed space for the characters’ individual struggles. Their challenges felt grounded and relatable, and the narrative treated them with compassion rather than glossing over them. Because of that, the emotional beats landed strongly — the happy moments felt earned, and the softer scenes carried real weight.
The supporting cast was equally lovely and added so much warmth to the world. Friends, family, and community elements enriched the story without overshadowing the romance, making everything feel lived-in and comforting. It created that cozy sense that these characters exist beyond the page, which always elevates a romance for me.
Overall, Making Time is a tender, realistic, and emotionally satisfying romance about connection, healing, and building a life that makes room for love in all its forms.
It left me with that soft, content feeling that lingers after finishing a truly heartfelt love story.
I was given the opportunity to read this book as an ARC and itleft me feeling warm and happy.
Making Time by Taylor E. Weston was such a genuinely heartwarming, emotionally grounded romance that completely drew me in. From the very beginning, the story felt deeply rooted in reality — the characters’ struggles, insecurities, and personal growth all felt authentic rather than exaggerated for drama. It made their journey together feel intimate and believable in a way that’s sometimes rare in romance.
One of my absolute favorite aspects was how healthy and communicative the central relationship was. The characters actually talk to each other, listen, and actively choose care and respect even when things are difficult. That emotional maturity was such a breath of fresh air — the conflict came from real-life pressures and internal battles rather than avoidable misunderstandings, which made the relationship feel stable, safe, and deeply supportive.
Rowan was an absolute cutie and brought so much warmth to the story. His presence added a beautiful layer of tenderness and grounded the romance in everyday reality — showing how love isn’t just between two people, but also about family, care, and chosen stability. The way he fit into the developing relationship felt natural and heartfelt, and his interactions added softness and emotional depth without ever feeling forced or overly sentimental.
I also really appreciated how the story allowed space for the characters’ individual struggles. Their challenges felt grounded and relatable, and the narrative treated them with compassion rather than glossing over them. Because of that, the emotional beats landed strongly — the happy moments felt earned, and the softer scenes carried real weight.
The supporting cast was equally lovely and added so much warmth to the world. Friends, family, and community elements enriched the story without overshadowing the romance, making everything feel lived-in and comforting. It created that cozy sense that these characters exist beyond the page, which always elevates a romance for me.
Overall, Making Time is a tender, realistic, and emotionally satisfying romance about connection, healing, and building a life that makes room for love in all its forms.
It left me with that soft, content feeling that lingers after finishing a truly heartfelt love story.
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC review!! Okok let it be known that I finished this book in a day… I was LOCKED IN! First off I want to say this book is for the hockey girliessss… There was a lot of hockey content and wording that felt true to the game and as a fan I enjoyed that. The emphasis on individual life experience for the main characters was really really cool and felt fresh to me in addition to a narrator, was super captivating. The concept of making time and fitting someone in felt relatable in a way and was so cool to read. Both of these main characters had their own things going on and were so dynamic. It felt like we were really diving into Jamie’s emotions about being captain and Tyler’s about being a single father. I wish we got to hear a little more about the things that made Tyler Tyler besides Rowan (although we love Rowan) like his poetry and creative side. This was a really awesome story and I loved how it was just love and not this huge struggle. I also loved how unapologetically and casually Tyler was just himself. It was special to read about a character who didn’t need labels and was just them. Can we take a second for this quote that actually melted my heart?!?! “And whenever you want to talk, you tell me, okay? You tell me you’re ready, and I’ll be there.” 🫠🥰 Ok let’s get into what I didn’t loveee… Spice. This book could’ve been spicier for me but redeemed itself a little in the end. I needed more spice & more romantic moments along the way. That’s just my preference 🌶️🌶️. The ending wasn’t my favorite and I would’ve liked an epilogue but I’m hoping that leaves room for a second book👀… this story felt really different to me especially as someone who’s read TONS of hockey romance! Overall I really liked this book and now I’m sad it’s over:) Thank you so much for the opportunity to read this book as part of the ARC team!
February 14, 2026
“To me he looks like an adorable, grumpy, black kitten covered in stickers.”
Making Time by Taylor E. Weston is the first book I read from this author and definitely it won’t be the last. There is something so comforting about this book that I didn’t want it to end. I was hooked from the very first chapter.
The romance was so soft and full of that mutual yearning that makes your chest ache (full of longing looks, quiet understanding and mutual pining). The way they slowly let each other in, figuring out how to fit into their already complicated lives, it hit hard. I loved how they talked things out like real adults, choosing love and making time for each other.
And can we please talk about Rowan? That child owns my entire heart. He felt like an actual kid. The way he talked, the random little comments, his energy. He was so sweet. Every scene with him made me smile. And the found family vibes? The side characters were an awesome addition, too. I loved how everyone was supportive, like a little community forming around them, chaotic in the best way, but showing up when it mattered. And Jamie’s mums? The warmth, the meddling (but like, loving meddling) the instant acceptance. They were such a comforting presence and made everything even more wholesome.
I also liked how detailed the sports side was. You could tell the author knew what she was doing. I was invested like I was watching a playoff game.
This was sweet, funny, a little steamy, and comforting. I’m already tempted to reread it. Fingers crossed there are more books coming! There are side characters that are way too cool not to get their own story.
Thank you, Taylor E. Weston for this free eARC. This is my honest review and recommendation.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Taylor Weston has a way with words. This story was not only so beyond beautiful but it was real, raw, and relatable in all the best ways. Not a single character in this book felt one dimensional. They all felt so alive and well written. Making Time may have just became one of my comfort reads and I couldn’t be happier to say so.
When I first started seeing promo for this story I was already hooked. Having read Taylors work before I was confident that I would love this one just as much. Now keep in mind I am a first person POV girlie, like through and through. But Taylor is definitely one of the few authors that has me able to forget that I despise third person and eat an entire book by her up in a day. That’s how good this was. It took me less than a day (also due to lack of impulse control and forgetting that I have a bedtime, WHOOPS)
As a single parent you sometimes forget that it can be okay to let someone in, that making time and space for a person who has the potential to love you and your child properly is a thing. I have never related to a character the way I have related to Tyler. It was so beautiful to see such a hard working parent find someone worth making time and space for. Not only that but seeing the way Jamie embraced Rowan as a part of the package was by far the most beautiful thing I have read.
While this book has the most heartwarming moments it is also absolutely hilarious. From disastrous meet cutes, meddling mothers, sassy ex-captains, a loving best friend, supportive teammates and wags, and two rookies that I have my eyes on (They are the cutest lil beans) I was giggling non stop.
When I first started seeing promo for this story I was already hooked. Having read Taylors work before I was confident that I would love this one just as much. Now keep in mind I am a first person POV girlie, like through and through. But Taylor is definitely one of the few authors that has me able to forget that I despise third person and eat an entire book by her up in a day. That’s how good this was. It took me less than a day (also due to lack of impulse control and forgetting that I have a bedtime, WHOOPS)
As a single parent you sometimes forget that it can be okay to let someone in, that making time and space for a person who has the potential to love you and your child properly is a thing. I have never related to a character the way I have related to Tyler. It was so beautiful to see such a hard working parent find someone worth making time and space for. Not only that but seeing the way Jamie embraced Rowan as a part of the package was by far the most beautiful thing I have read.
While this book has the most heartwarming moments it is also absolutely hilarious. From disastrous meet cutes, meddling mothers, sassy ex-captains, a loving best friend, supportive teammates and wags, and two rookies that I have my eyes on (They are the cutest lil beans) I was giggling non stop.
Review of advance copy received from Author
**ARC Review**
Genre: contemporary sports MM romance
Series: Not sure yet
Trope:Hockey player-single dad
~There is a lot of kid time which I've recently discovered is a turn off for some people Personally I love it and this one was a beaut!
Heat: 5/10
~This is a slooooow burn but once it heats up it gets pretty hot!
Humour: Yes, this is a great blend of sweet, thoughtful, funny and just generally entertaining.
Writing: 8/10
I got so excited to be selected for an ARC but then immediately worried: what would I do if I hated the book?? I believe in talking about why I don't like certain reads, especially when I feel it shows questionable behaviour. Thank goodness I started reading and fell in love right away.
Reading this, I felt like it might answer a single parent's every wish for what they would want in a potential partner-care, understanding, and patience. I really also loved how it showed the community of a sports team. It showed the difficulties that come with being the partner of someone who is often away, a side people neglect to see. It was clever to show the difference between Tyler's free-spirited college friends and Jamie's teammates and families.
Overall this was a wonderful read and I'm hoping there'll be more to come! There are some hints of future couples so let's see!
Wise words:
Genre: contemporary sports MM romance
Series: Not sure yet
Trope:Hockey player-single dad
~There is a lot of kid time which I've recently discovered is a turn off for some people Personally I love it and this one was a beaut!
Heat: 5/10
~This is a slooooow burn but once it heats up it gets pretty hot!
Humour: Yes, this is a great blend of sweet, thoughtful, funny and just generally entertaining.
Writing: 8/10
I got so excited to be selected for an ARC but then immediately worried: what would I do if I hated the book?? I believe in talking about why I don't like certain reads, especially when I feel it shows questionable behaviour. Thank goodness I started reading and fell in love right away.
Reading this, I felt like it might answer a single parent's every wish for what they would want in a potential partner-care, understanding, and patience. I really also loved how it showed the community of a sports team. It showed the difficulties that come with being the partner of someone who is often away, a side people neglect to see. It was clever to show the difference between Tyler's free-spirited college friends and Jamie's teammates and families.
Overall this was a wonderful read and I'm hoping there'll be more to come! There are some hints of future couples so let's see!
Wise words:
~“Don't waste time waiting for people to be someone they are not.”**swoon**
~“'I know.' Jamie smiled softly down at him. 'All I'm asking is to come third.'
...
'Third? Who's second?' 'You, Tyler. You come second.'”
February 15, 2026
Ok I absolutely loved this !!!
❤️ Hockey player x single dad
🏒 Strangers to lovers
❤️ Found family
🏒 Slow burn
❤️ An adorable 3 year old
🏒 A slutty little blonde mustache
Jamie Sullivan (Sully) is the newly appointed captain of the Muskies, a NHL team based out of Wisconsin. Sully has a big reputation to live up to, and because of this he finds himself trying to take more shots, play harder, and even get into fights he never would have before. After one of these fights, he breaks his hand. Drinking away his sorrows after this game, he drunkenly gets into a fight with a snowman. A snowman wearing his jersey.
Tyler, a tattooed single father, who lives in the home that built said snowman, goes outside to find a passed out drunk giant on the sidewalk. Feeling responsible, he takes him to the hospital.
Meet-chaos.
Jamie is immediately (but casually) obsessed with this tattooed hottie of a dad. The tattoos, the hair, the piercings, the lace… everything about Tyler unravels Jamie.
Tyler hasn’t allowed himself to want or think of anything other than his son, Rowan. So when the perfect blonde hockey star with a slutty little mustache keeps showing up? He’s willing to try.
Making time is all about acknowledging that even when life feels busy, making time for that person is what matters. Continuing to show up and make an effort to be with those people is all we can ever ask for.
This book was perfectly paced, I loved anytime we got to see our three boys together.
Thank you SO much for a chance to read this as an Advanced Readers Copy !!
(Also, Ollie and Onni… I have my eye on you 😉)
❤️ Hockey player x single dad
🏒 Strangers to lovers
❤️ Found family
🏒 Slow burn
❤️ An adorable 3 year old
🏒 A slutty little blonde mustache
Jamie Sullivan (Sully) is the newly appointed captain of the Muskies, a NHL team based out of Wisconsin. Sully has a big reputation to live up to, and because of this he finds himself trying to take more shots, play harder, and even get into fights he never would have before. After one of these fights, he breaks his hand. Drinking away his sorrows after this game, he drunkenly gets into a fight with a snowman. A snowman wearing his jersey.
Tyler, a tattooed single father, who lives in the home that built said snowman, goes outside to find a passed out drunk giant on the sidewalk. Feeling responsible, he takes him to the hospital.
Meet-chaos.
Jamie is immediately (but casually) obsessed with this tattooed hottie of a dad. The tattoos, the hair, the piercings, the lace… everything about Tyler unravels Jamie.
Tyler hasn’t allowed himself to want or think of anything other than his son, Rowan. So when the perfect blonde hockey star with a slutty little mustache keeps showing up? He’s willing to try.
Making time is all about acknowledging that even when life feels busy, making time for that person is what matters. Continuing to show up and make an effort to be with those people is all we can ever ask for.
This book was perfectly paced, I loved anytime we got to see our three boys together.
Thank you SO much for a chance to read this as an Advanced Readers Copy !!
(Also, Ollie and Onni… I have my eye on you 😉)
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC REVIEW
Started: 2/10/2026
Finished: 2/15/2026
____________________________________
Star Rating: 3/5
(Rounded final score)
____________________________________
Category Breakdown (1–5)
Engagement: 3
Emotional Vibes: 3
Character Attachment: 4
Vibe Consistency: 5
Memorability: 4
Average Score: 3.8
____________________________________
Quick Tags
Vibes:
cozy •dark • atmospheric • emotional • soft • chaotic • spicy • fluffy • dramatic • comforting • tension-heavy • whimsical
Pacing:
fast •medium • slow • uneven • bingeable
Content Style:
character-driven •plot-driven • trope-heavy • emotional-heavy
Genres:
romance •fantasy • thriller • sci-fi • YA • contemporary • literary •
____________________________________
Notes / Review:
I was incredibly fortunate to receive an ARC of this book. From the moment I saw Taylor E. Weston's posts about it, I knew it would be right up my alley. Even though I only gave it 3 stars, it’s not because the book was bad. I truly loved and adored the characters, even more than I enjoyed the plot, which is why I rated it a bit lower. The plot felt a bit slow-paced, while the characters themselves seemed to be progressing much faster. Regardless, I thoroughly enjoyed Jamie and Tyler’s story. They are complete opposites but complement each other perfectly. The addition of Rowan, Tyler’s son, only enhanced the cuteness, and I loved watching them become a little family unit.
Started: 2/10/2026
Finished: 2/15/2026
____________________________________
Star Rating: 3/5
(Rounded final score)
____________________________________
Category Breakdown (1–5)
Engagement: 3
Emotional Vibes: 3
Character Attachment: 4
Vibe Consistency: 5
Memorability: 4
Average Score: 3.8
____________________________________
Quick Tags
Vibes:
cozy •
Pacing:
fast •
Content Style:
character-driven •
Genres:
romance •
____________________________________
Notes / Review:
I was incredibly fortunate to receive an ARC of this book. From the moment I saw Taylor E. Weston's posts about it, I knew it would be right up my alley. Even though I only gave it 3 stars, it’s not because the book was bad. I truly loved and adored the characters, even more than I enjoyed the plot, which is why I rated it a bit lower. The plot felt a bit slow-paced, while the characters themselves seemed to be progressing much faster. Regardless, I thoroughly enjoyed Jamie and Tyler’s story. They are complete opposites but complement each other perfectly. The addition of Rowan, Tyler’s son, only enhanced the cuteness, and I loved watching them become a little family unit.
Review of advance copy received from Author
A single dad and found family, both done in the absolute best way.
Jamie is newly promoted Captain of his pro hockey team, and he cannot stop putting pressure on himself. After a bad game, a fight he shouldn't had started, and a hand injury keeping him off the ice, he ends up drunk and fighting a snowman in a random front yard. Tyler is just trying to get a drink of water after his son woke him up in the middle of the night and hears a noise outside, finding a man fighting the snowman on his lawn. A shout, a layer of ice, and a knocked out man makes Tyler jump into action and take him to the hospital.
After a meet chaos like that, Jamie has to thank the unknown man for taking care of him. He's officially introduced to Tyler and his son, Rowan. After finding out he's living in student housing but it's not the ideal situation for a child, Jamie calls his moms to see if their second unit is still up for rent.
Jamie and Tyler form a friendship, with Rowan forming his own with Jamie, his new hockey player best friend. The three of them are in for a journey, with tons of chaos, but also love.
When I say I love single dad romance, I mean this. A romance that includes the child every step of the way. A father who cares so much for his son he would do anything for him, and he'll always put him first. A partner who sees that and has no problem falling second (or third) to the kid. A friendship between the partner and the kid. This is only done even better by the found family so commonly found within hockey romance, and how this new guy and kid are welcomed in with open arms.
I truly enjoyed this book and the characters. Absolutely recommend.
Jamie is newly promoted Captain of his pro hockey team, and he cannot stop putting pressure on himself. After a bad game, a fight he shouldn't had started, and a hand injury keeping him off the ice, he ends up drunk and fighting a snowman in a random front yard. Tyler is just trying to get a drink of water after his son woke him up in the middle of the night and hears a noise outside, finding a man fighting the snowman on his lawn. A shout, a layer of ice, and a knocked out man makes Tyler jump into action and take him to the hospital.
After a meet chaos like that, Jamie has to thank the unknown man for taking care of him. He's officially introduced to Tyler and his son, Rowan. After finding out he's living in student housing but it's not the ideal situation for a child, Jamie calls his moms to see if their second unit is still up for rent.
Jamie and Tyler form a friendship, with Rowan forming his own with Jamie, his new hockey player best friend. The three of them are in for a journey, with tons of chaos, but also love.
When I say I love single dad romance, I mean this. A romance that includes the child every step of the way. A father who cares so much for his son he would do anything for him, and he'll always put him first. A partner who sees that and has no problem falling second (or third) to the kid. A friendship between the partner and the kid. This is only done even better by the found family so commonly found within hockey romance, and how this new guy and kid are welcomed in with open arms.
I truly enjoyed this book and the characters. Absolutely recommend.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Wow, I devoured this book in almost one sitting. I read until my eyes physically wouldn't stay open last night and then picked it back up first thing this morning. I was so invested in the characters right from the beginning.
Jamie is a big teddy bear of guy who gets off to rough start in the book. It's his first season as captain of his hockey team and he's a bit too much in his head about it. Struggling on the ice and second guessing if he's really meant to be the captain.
Tyler is a single dad, really trying to prove to the world and himself that he can take care of his young son, Rowan, on his own. He moves away from home, back to his college town, but friendships just aren't same when you're the only one in your free spirited friend group with a kid.
After a particularly bad showing, Jamie goes out with the team and drinks a bit too much. Stumbling home, he happens upon a snowman wearing this jersey and decides to take out some of his frustration, toppling the snowman, which happens to be in Tyler's front yard. When Tyler confronts him, Jamie slips on the ice and knocks himself out. Not the most auspicious of meetings, but it sets off a chain of events destined to bring them closer together.
It was pure delight watching the relationship bloom between Jamie and Tyler. Jamie learns very quickly what it means to date a single parent and his relationship with Rowan is down right adorable.
The story is relatively low angst and includes lots of found family wholesomeness. Overall, a fantastic read.
Thank you to the author, Taylor E. Weston, for providing an advance copy for review. All opinions are my own.
Jamie is a big teddy bear of guy who gets off to rough start in the book. It's his first season as captain of his hockey team and he's a bit too much in his head about it. Struggling on the ice and second guessing if he's really meant to be the captain.
Tyler is a single dad, really trying to prove to the world and himself that he can take care of his young son, Rowan, on his own. He moves away from home, back to his college town, but friendships just aren't same when you're the only one in your free spirited friend group with a kid.
After a particularly bad showing, Jamie goes out with the team and drinks a bit too much. Stumbling home, he happens upon a snowman wearing this jersey and decides to take out some of his frustration, toppling the snowman, which happens to be in Tyler's front yard. When Tyler confronts him, Jamie slips on the ice and knocks himself out. Not the most auspicious of meetings, but it sets off a chain of events destined to bring them closer together.
It was pure delight watching the relationship bloom between Jamie and Tyler. Jamie learns very quickly what it means to date a single parent and his relationship with Rowan is down right adorable.
The story is relatively low angst and includes lots of found family wholesomeness. Overall, a fantastic read.
Thank you to the author, Taylor E. Weston, for providing an advance copy for review. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Provided an ARC by the author.
4.5 ⭐️
Tropes:
- hockey player
- single father
- found family
- strangers to lovers
- black cat x golden retriever
I absolutely adored this book! I’ve been so excited to read since I first saw all the promotions on Instagram and was absolutely thrilled to get an ARC to read it early!
Tyler and Jamie are both well rounded and developed characters that you fall in love with so easily. Tyler is the black cat, single father MMC who is reluctant to let people in, especially in a romantic way, due to being so focused on his son. On the other hand, Jamie is the golden retriever, hockey player MMC who falls hard and fast.
This book was an absolute joy to read and I devoured it within hours. There was so many enjoyable aspects of found family, I love Jamie’s mothers and little Rowan is one of the most well written, believe children characters I’ve read in a book. I also adored Onni and Ollie living in Jamie’s basement and the chaos they bring, although I must admit I would’ve liked to have seen a bit more of them. I also loved Sharpe sticking around and giving Jamie advice. I definitely would’ve loved a bit more family/friends on Tyler’s side although I can see that’s part of the characterisation with Tyler.
I loved that there was no real angst in this book and the bit of angst that did come up was solved pretty easily and with both characters on the same page, unlike in many books.
All in all, an absolute joy to read and my favourite of the year so far!
4.5 ⭐️
Tropes:
- hockey player
- single father
- found family
- strangers to lovers
- black cat x golden retriever
I absolutely adored this book! I’ve been so excited to read since I first saw all the promotions on Instagram and was absolutely thrilled to get an ARC to read it early!
Tyler and Jamie are both well rounded and developed characters that you fall in love with so easily. Tyler is the black cat, single father MMC who is reluctant to let people in, especially in a romantic way, due to being so focused on his son. On the other hand, Jamie is the golden retriever, hockey player MMC who falls hard and fast.
This book was an absolute joy to read and I devoured it within hours. There was so many enjoyable aspects of found family, I love Jamie’s mothers and little Rowan is one of the most well written, believe children characters I’ve read in a book. I also adored Onni and Ollie living in Jamie’s basement and the chaos they bring, although I must admit I would’ve liked to have seen a bit more of them. I also loved Sharpe sticking around and giving Jamie advice. I definitely would’ve loved a bit more family/friends on Tyler’s side although I can see that’s part of the characterisation with Tyler.
I loved that there was no real angst in this book and the bit of angst that did come up was solved pretty easily and with both characters on the same page, unlike in many books.
All in all, an absolute joy to read and my favourite of the year so far!
February 19, 2026
*Thank you Taylor for the ARC! Per usual, my review and opinions are 100% my own*
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️.5
YOU'VE DONE SOMETHING HERE TAYLOR. My gosh did I love this entire story through and through. I loved Jamie and Tyler both individually and how they came together, and my lil mans Rowan was absolutely everything to this story. This is not some dramatic love story filled with super high highs and lowest of lows. Their story feels so realistic in its maturity and free from the usual romance drama. The way they met was hilariously chaotic, but from there it was this small ember that grew like a warm campfire, instead of something that burns hot quick. The level of sweetness was one hundred and there were so many instances where the tears were threatening to fall.
The found family in this is next tier. Jamie introduced Tyler and Rowan not only to a stable love within himself, but also the truest depiction of support from the found family that is the Muskies and their families. I loved seeing Tyler slowly start to open up to asking for and accepting help and truly finding a place for him and Rowan to land.
Go into this story knowing that you're not going to get some big dramatic plot, but a sweet, cozy story that will make you want to curl up and settle in with every single character Taylor writes. Everything from the main characters, to my lil mans Rowan, to the team, the coach, and Jamie's wonderfully meddling moms make this story an absolute six star read for me. I'll be wanting to re-read this for years to come I'm certain of it.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️.5
YOU'VE DONE SOMETHING HERE TAYLOR. My gosh did I love this entire story through and through. I loved Jamie and Tyler both individually and how they came together, and my lil mans Rowan was absolutely everything to this story. This is not some dramatic love story filled with super high highs and lowest of lows. Their story feels so realistic in its maturity and free from the usual romance drama. The way they met was hilariously chaotic, but from there it was this small ember that grew like a warm campfire, instead of something that burns hot quick. The level of sweetness was one hundred and there were so many instances where the tears were threatening to fall.
The found family in this is next tier. Jamie introduced Tyler and Rowan not only to a stable love within himself, but also the truest depiction of support from the found family that is the Muskies and their families. I loved seeing Tyler slowly start to open up to asking for and accepting help and truly finding a place for him and Rowan to land.
Go into this story knowing that you're not going to get some big dramatic plot, but a sweet, cozy story that will make you want to curl up and settle in with every single character Taylor writes. Everything from the main characters, to my lil mans Rowan, to the team, the coach, and Jamie's wonderfully meddling moms make this story an absolute six star read for me. I'll be wanting to re-read this for years to come I'm certain of it.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I was so thrilled to receive this book as an ARC, and let me just say it lived up to that expectation. I’m always a sucker for an opposites attract trope, and this one was no exception.
Jamie’s internal conflict that runs throughout the course of the book is such a breath of fresh air when it comes to sports romances. While athletes enjoy their jobs (most of the time at least), there’s always the thought of having to prove yourself. I really enjoyed his self-exploration with it, as well as the help he received from the people he cares about so much in his life.
Tyler captured my heart immediately. He will go to the ends of the earth for his son, even if that means sacrificing things for himself. The way he cares for people is so powerful. However, one of the moments from this book that stuck out for me the most was Jamie telling Tyler to put him third. Rowan first, himself second, and Jamie third.
Another big thing I want to point out is the beautiful cast of side characters in Making Time. I loved getting to read the two protagonists interact with them. Side characters can be hard and sometimes confusing in stories, but the way they continuously show up for both Tyler and Jamie made my heart so happy.
Some may find the timeline in this story a bit fast, but that was not an issue for me personally. I love these characters and I hope we get a chance to see them more in the future!
Jamie’s internal conflict that runs throughout the course of the book is such a breath of fresh air when it comes to sports romances. While athletes enjoy their jobs (most of the time at least), there’s always the thought of having to prove yourself. I really enjoyed his self-exploration with it, as well as the help he received from the people he cares about so much in his life.
Tyler captured my heart immediately. He will go to the ends of the earth for his son, even if that means sacrificing things for himself. The way he cares for people is so powerful. However, one of the moments from this book that stuck out for me the most was Jamie telling Tyler to put him third. Rowan first, himself second, and Jamie third.
Another big thing I want to point out is the beautiful cast of side characters in Making Time. I loved getting to read the two protagonists interact with them. Side characters can be hard and sometimes confusing in stories, but the way they continuously show up for both Tyler and Jamie made my heart so happy.
Some may find the timeline in this story a bit fast, but that was not an issue for me personally. I love these characters and I hope we get a chance to see them more in the future!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you to the author for the eARC
'Making time' sets out to be a cute, feel good romance, between a professional hockey player and a young single father. Low conflict, found family and progressive romance are delivered, with flawed but still very positive characters.
Jamie, captain of his team, is quite pathetic at the beginning (I'm saying this with love, don't get me wrong!). The pressure of his responsability, the fact that the previous captain was a bit of a legend are weighing on him quite heavily, and he makes one or two stupid choices. Lucky choices, as it happen, because it means he meets Tyler, single dad of a three years old.
There is a bit of an insta-love situation, or at least very strong emotional attraction straight away. It's cute and heartwarming, even if normally I prefer a more gradual fall.
Tyler is struggling a little to manage between his son, working and the boarding house he is living in. Luckily for him, Jamie's moms have a place to rent. From there, Tyler finds more and more support, opens up bit by bits, especially toward Jamie (despite their first meeting being a little... rough and special).
All in all, a very sweet romance, with a nice dynamic and great queer rep! If you are looking for something cute and fluffy to read, you might enjoy this one!
'Making time' sets out to be a cute, feel good romance, between a professional hockey player and a young single father. Low conflict, found family and progressive romance are delivered, with flawed but still very positive characters.
Jamie, captain of his team, is quite pathetic at the beginning (I'm saying this with love, don't get me wrong!). The pressure of his responsability, the fact that the previous captain was a bit of a legend are weighing on him quite heavily, and he makes one or two stupid choices. Lucky choices, as it happen, because it means he meets Tyler, single dad of a three years old.
There is a bit of an insta-love situation, or at least very strong emotional attraction straight away. It's cute and heartwarming, even if normally I prefer a more gradual fall.
Tyler is struggling a little to manage between his son, working and the boarding house he is living in. Luckily for him, Jamie's moms have a place to rent. From there, Tyler finds more and more support, opens up bit by bits, especially toward Jamie (despite their first meeting being a little... rough and special).
All in all, a very sweet romance, with a nice dynamic and great queer rep! If you are looking for something cute and fluffy to read, you might enjoy this one!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I adored this book so much. Its one of those ones that has you grinning from ear to ear most of the time.
Single dad Tyler and pro hockey player Jamie unexpectedly come into each other's lives and quickly realize there's an attraction there, but can two people who live busy lives in the form of parenting a toddler and being a professional athlete find the time for each other?
Yes, yes they can because Jamie is the definition of if he wanted to he would. The way he kept showing up for Tyler and Rowan showed how good of a guy he is and how he also applied that to being captain of his hockey team. Just being what the other person needs.
Tyler, my king. Just trying to raise his son the best he can on his own, but after meeting Jamie finds himself with a village of people he can now count on and be there for him made my heart so happy. As a parent of toddlers myself, we all need our people we can count on.
Such good vibes just all through this book which meant I couldn't stop reading! I loved seeing Jamie and Tyler navigate their relationship, they are so cute and fun together and truly were a team.
💚 pro hockey player + single dad
🩵 strangers to lovers
🧡 found family
💚 black cat mmc
🩵 tattoos and lace
🧡 slow burn spice
Single dad Tyler and pro hockey player Jamie unexpectedly come into each other's lives and quickly realize there's an attraction there, but can two people who live busy lives in the form of parenting a toddler and being a professional athlete find the time for each other?
Yes, yes they can because Jamie is the definition of if he wanted to he would. The way he kept showing up for Tyler and Rowan showed how good of a guy he is and how he also applied that to being captain of his hockey team. Just being what the other person needs.
Tyler, my king. Just trying to raise his son the best he can on his own, but after meeting Jamie finds himself with a village of people he can now count on and be there for him made my heart so happy. As a parent of toddlers myself, we all need our people we can count on.
Such good vibes just all through this book which meant I couldn't stop reading! I loved seeing Jamie and Tyler navigate their relationship, they are so cute and fun together and truly were a team.
💚 pro hockey player + single dad
🩵 strangers to lovers
🧡 found family
💚 black cat mmc
🩵 tattoos and lace
🧡 slow burn spice
February 14, 2026
I just adored this book, this relationship, these characters. It was so real and refreshing. It had me laughing out loud multiple times, swooning and aww’ing and fanning myself from built up tension and eventual heat. I really enjoyed and appreciated how much queer expression there was with the way Tyler dressed too. The communication between these two mmc’s was so beautifully done, so willing to make time for each other amongst their busy lives. What really got me though was the community Tyler (our single dad mmc) found through all of this. People who understood him and showed him he doesn’t have to do everything on his own to prove that he’s a good father and showing up for each other. That was beautiful.
My heart is so full after this book, it was such a sweet read. The type that would usually not keep me as engaged and yet I was never bored. It was written so well. It also made me understand why people love hockey a bit better. 😆
Anyways, I highly recommend if you’re in the mood for a sweet, queer, tatted up single dad and big blonde himbo hockey captain romance
Thank you to the author for this ARC copy in exchange for a review 🫶🏼
My heart is so full after this book, it was such a sweet read. The type that would usually not keep me as engaged and yet I was never bored. It was written so well. It also made me understand why people love hockey a bit better. 😆
Anyways, I highly recommend if you’re in the mood for a sweet, queer, tatted up single dad and big blonde himbo hockey captain romance
Thank you to the author for this ARC copy in exchange for a review 🫶🏼
February 20, 2026
This was such a precious read. I fell for this story and these characters so fast I didn’t even realize how quickly I was flying through it.
Jamie is struggling through his first season as captain of the Madison Muskies, and after one too many drinks, he…picks a fight with a snowman. As one does. Enter Tyler: tattooed single dad, newly back in Madison with his three-year-old son Rowan, just trying to rebuild his life. Tyler rescues Jamie in his moment of drunken chaos, and Jamie absolutely cannot let that go. He’s determined to get into Tyler’s good graces… and maybe his pants.
Soon, Tyler and Rowan are living in Jamie’s mom’s attic apartment, complete with free childcare and the found family Tyler didn’t even know he needed. Neither of them has time for love, but they slowly build a friendship filled with trust, tension, and a whole lot of lust. The closer they get, the harder it becomes to pretend it’s just temporary.
I loved that neither of them was perfect. They both had flaws, baggage, and walls up, but watching them slowly let their guards down was so sweet.
And ROWAN. The most precious little buddy. Truly the cutest addition to this story. Also Jamie’s moms? Obsessed.
Overall, such an enjoyable, heartwarming read. I can’t wait to see what Taylor gives us next.
Jamie is struggling through his first season as captain of the Madison Muskies, and after one too many drinks, he…picks a fight with a snowman. As one does. Enter Tyler: tattooed single dad, newly back in Madison with his three-year-old son Rowan, just trying to rebuild his life. Tyler rescues Jamie in his moment of drunken chaos, and Jamie absolutely cannot let that go. He’s determined to get into Tyler’s good graces… and maybe his pants.
Soon, Tyler and Rowan are living in Jamie’s mom’s attic apartment, complete with free childcare and the found family Tyler didn’t even know he needed. Neither of them has time for love, but they slowly build a friendship filled with trust, tension, and a whole lot of lust. The closer they get, the harder it becomes to pretend it’s just temporary.
I loved that neither of them was perfect. They both had flaws, baggage, and walls up, but watching them slowly let their guards down was so sweet.
And ROWAN. The most precious little buddy. Truly the cutest addition to this story. Also Jamie’s moms? Obsessed.
Overall, such an enjoyable, heartwarming read. I can’t wait to see what Taylor gives us next.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 19, 2026
The cover was absolutely stunning, and so was the blurb. The overall concept was incredible.
The character development and introductions were fantastic.
Jamie, Tyler, and Jamie’s moms were amazing.
And Rowan—oh my God, that child is adorable. The sweetest kid character I’ve read about since Fae Quin’s If Only in Our Dreams.
The Onni–Ollie duo and the chaos they brought were so much fun, but I missed them a lot throughout the book. I would’ve loved for them to have a bigger role—both of them. If you know what I mean. ;)
What I didn’t love as much:
I understand the struggles that can come with dating a professional athlete—how difficult it can be to balance parenthood and a relationship, and how hard it is to make time for each other.
But I think this issue was emphasized a bit too heavily. Let’s be honest, it’s not like they could only spend two days a month together, so for me, that aspect felt a little overdone.
Not to mention, the ending felt very sudden. I didn’t quite feel the HEA, and I was desperately missing an epilogue 🫣
That being said, it was still a sweet book, I loved it, and I’m very curious to see what I’ll get to read from this author next 🥰
The character development and introductions were fantastic.
Jamie, Tyler, and Jamie’s moms were amazing.
And Rowan—oh my God, that child is adorable. The sweetest kid character I’ve read about since Fae Quin’s If Only in Our Dreams.
The Onni–Ollie duo and the chaos they brought were so much fun, but I missed them a lot throughout the book. I would’ve loved for them to have a bigger role—both of them. If you know what I mean. ;)
What I didn’t love as much:
I understand the struggles that can come with dating a professional athlete—how difficult it can be to balance parenthood and a relationship, and how hard it is to make time for each other.
But I think this issue was emphasized a bit too heavily. Let’s be honest, it’s not like they could only spend two days a month together, so for me, that aspect felt a little overdone.
Not to mention, the ending felt very sudden. I didn’t quite feel the HEA, and I was desperately missing an epilogue 🫣
That being said, it was still a sweet book, I loved it, and I’m very curious to see what I’ll get to read from this author next 🥰
February 12, 2026
First of all thank you Taylor for the ARC!
After reading “Poolside” last year I became a huge fan of Taylor and her writing! While third person POV is not necessarily my fav; Taylor writes it in a way that is not confusing and is easy to understand. I was so excited when she was teasing this book and I immediately signed up for an ARC. The character art and tropes did not disappoint! This book was filled with so much heart and emotion and I related to both Jamie and Tyler about wanting to be the best for the people in their lives and always putting others first. My heart broke for Tyler so many times and Jamie’s mental block of wanting to be a good captain. The journey they both go on was beautiful and I loved how they fit so well together.
Some stand outs from the book:
-Rowan (I love a funny kid character)
-Tyler’s unique style and the lace of it all! Ugh 😮💨🥵
-Jamie’s mustache
-Dotty and Sandra
-The WAGS ❤️
This book is out 2/26 and you should definitely pick it up if you love any of what I just talked about! 👏🏻
After reading “Poolside” last year I became a huge fan of Taylor and her writing! While third person POV is not necessarily my fav; Taylor writes it in a way that is not confusing and is easy to understand. I was so excited when she was teasing this book and I immediately signed up for an ARC. The character art and tropes did not disappoint! This book was filled with so much heart and emotion and I related to both Jamie and Tyler about wanting to be the best for the people in their lives and always putting others first. My heart broke for Tyler so many times and Jamie’s mental block of wanting to be a good captain. The journey they both go on was beautiful and I loved how they fit so well together.
Some stand outs from the book:
-Rowan (I love a funny kid character)
-Tyler’s unique style and the lace of it all! Ugh 😮💨🥵
-Jamie’s mustache
-Dotty and Sandra
-The WAGS ❤️
This book is out 2/26 and you should definitely pick it up if you love any of what I just talked about! 👏🏻
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