Callous Shot

Cranham Kings #2

by Becca Steele

Daniel Hoyton has been a thorn in my side for as long as I can remember. We play for rival hockey teams. We attend rival universities. Our families are on opposite sides of the law.

I hate him, with his irritatingly smug smile, his arrogance, and his inability to take anything seriously.
I want to wipe that smile from his face with my fist.
…Or my mouth.

I can’t decide if I want to punch him or kiss him, and it’s beginning to be a problem. A problem with big consequences. Not only is he completely wrong for me, but his family and friends are under investigation…and my uncle is in charge of the operation.

I know we’re going to crash and burn.
But I can’t seem to stay away from the flames.

Callous Shot is part of Cranham Kings, a college hockey romance series with darker themes. Each book can be read as a standalone.

Genres: M M Romance, Enemies To Lovers, Sports, Hockey, Dark Romance, College, Dark

462 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 24, 2026

About the author

Becca Steele is a USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of new adult romance from contemporary to dark. Her books have been translated into multiple languages.

Becca resides in the south of England with her family. When she's not writing, you can find her reading, gaming, or curating yet another playlist.

Stalker links
http://authorbeccasteele.com/links

Reviews

[moonlight ☾ · Rating 4 out of 5]

finally found another Becca Steele book i enjoyed other than Savage Rivals. 😭 i've read a bunch of her books at this point but nothing else had hit the same until now. this was so fun and i loved Daniel and Lincoln together!!

[Renae Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could not get enough of this dark, forbidden romance between two rival hockey players who also harbor a deep-seated hatred for one another, rooted in their warring family histories. This story has many layers and exposition, which I appreciated because it clearly set the stage for why Dan and Lincoln are enemies in every sense of the word. Because they play for rival hockey teams, they are regularly at odds not only in life but on the ice as well. Their chemistry is magnetic. I instantly loved how intense and primal their attraction to one another is, and how combative and combustible their eventual falling for one another would be.

Overall, I loved being in this world of crime, danger, forbidden romance, and found family. Lincoln and Dan both have complicated family drama, and seeing how they quickly become one another's confidante and protector was brilliantly executed and made for a very compelling story. The familial dynamics were also well developed, which makes me very curious about the future installments, given how strong and interesting the characters are overall. This story is a whirlwind, and I could not put it down as I anticipated the fallout of Lincoln and Dan's epic story.

*** I reviewed a complimentary copy of this story.***

[Dani · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was thoroughly entertaining from start to end and I wasn't ready to say goodbye to Link or Dan!

I absolutely loved Dan! Great name too 😜😜 although it was also kinda weird because everyone calls me Dan!! I've never seen an MC with my name before so it was strange! Anyway, Dan was hilariously ridiculous but so adorable. I loved how playful and silly he was, but he could also be really serious and emotional too. The way he loves his family and friends made him so endearing and I absolutely loved the scene of him doing Tils hair with braids!!!

These two idiots though!! They were so obsessed with hating each other for their whole lives but they didn't even realise what it actually was that kept drawing them to each other. Dan and Link were the definition of idiots in love, but I also enjoyed their enemies with benefits / fuck foes relationship dynamic too. The way these two are like super magnets around each other was so entertaining and the way they denied their connection to anyone who would listen had me giggling at them frequently. It was really sweet seeing their relationship growing and changing and their talks and cuddles were just the cutest.

The fact that Dan thought they were being subtle had me laughing, but I also cried for Link's childhood and how awful his parents were. I'm so glad he had his uncle and the Hoyton family to love him. I also cried when Dan found the documents!!! Oh my god, the stress these two put me through!

This was just such a fun read and I'm hoping there's going to be a book for Neo and Toby too, but I'm actually really intrigued by Ryker and I think I'd read his story even if it was MF, which I don't read much of these days!

*****
I received an ARC of this book from The Author Agency, and this is my honest review

[Becca Steele]

Dan and Lincoln's story.

Read in ebook and paperback

- M/M standalone
- Rival hockey teams
- Enemies to lovers
- Crime boss son x lawyer's son
- Obsessed with each other
- College romance
- Mafia-esque romance

[Jane aka Coughy019 (Safety info included) · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

Tropes: Rivals to lovers, hurt/comfort, college
Feels: 2.5/5
Steam*: 3/5
Kinks: rough sex, marking
Angst: low
HEA: HEA
Pairing: MM
Triggers/potential icks/content warnings/representation: Organised crime, gang violence, Death of a parent, References to past stillbirth of sibling, References to past childhood abuse, misogyny towards women
Cheating between MCs: No
Any other cheating: Lincoln's parents cheat on each other.
Other person drama: they both have sex with others on page until about 15%. It's before they start hooking up, but after the attraction starts.

3.5 stars

Lincoln and Dan are both 20. Their families are tied together in bad ways. Dan is from a criminal family. Lincoln is from a family of police slash wealthy businessman. Lincoln's family was somewhat responsible for getting Dan's father killed when he was a baby. They have had to interact over the years, to pass messages between their families because there's been some cooperation/misdirection between them or they've used each other. They've both been obsessed with each other and very focused on the fact that the feeling is hate. They are college hockey Rivals as well as having the family history they have.

Lincoln is bi. Dan has always thought he was straight. Getting physical with each other during fights turns into hooking up. They start having a thing, thinking it's just hate sex, but it turns into more. But their relationship seems pretty hopeless because of their families.

This book had potential, I really liked the obsession that they had for each other and how attracted they were to each other. There was this palpable chemistry between them and they really started out as extremely antagonistic, so there was a lot of passion there. But some things didn't work for me.

- I hate when a book is featuring obsessive and possessive characters but also on page sex with other people. It just doesn't fit the vibe, and it really was unnecessary. They didn't need to be hooking up with others, they could have just skipped right to them hooking up and spent the pages on them.

- I didn't like the comments that so many characters in this book made about women. It was giving misogyny. I didn't like how women were treated or talked about. It was like they were things, disposable, major ick.

- I found Lincoln and Dan to be too similar as people and how they thought. There were a lot of times that I had a hard time remembering whose POV I was reading, because they were so similar.

- I found the characters both a little juvenile and superficial. They were like exaggerated versions of the good boy versus the bad boy and it just didn't come off as well written.


Some notable moments:

"“Fuck,” he gasped as I went for his throat. His hands landed in my hair, jerking my head back. “We said we were gonna forget that ever happened.” “We’ll forget it again.” I didn’t even know what I was saying. All I knew was that my mouth needed to be on him, to punish him for making me feel this way."

"What had I been thinking, inviting him over after the game? The answer was, I hadn’t been thinking. I’d watched him glide across the ice in my direction, his entire focus fixed on me. Being the recipient of Daniel Hoyton’s full attention was so heady. The words had just spilled out, and then he’d smiled at me, and I was completely gone."


*FYI about steam: I rate steam based on a combination of quality & quantity. I note kink separate from steam because I don't want to underrate steamy reads that don't have much kink.

**Note about spoilers: I like to comment on the plot of a book in reviews, so I almost always mark my reviews as containing spoilers. But I try to avoid spoiling the big dramatic moments! As a reader, I personally like to know what I'm getting into before I read a book so I know more about the content and if it's to my taste/mood, so I try to give that information in my reviews for myself when I'm considering rereading and also for other readers.

[Julia (bookish.jka) · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I eyed him warily. I had an inkling of where he was heading… More than an inkling. More like I was fully on board this incoming train wreck heading for its inevitable conclusion with no way to stop it. “What things?” “You said no one was as good as you with their mouth. Prove it.”

What To Expect:

🖤MM romance
🏒hate to love
🖤dark themes
🏒college hockey
🖤dark academia
🏒mafia vibes
🖤bi-awakening
🏒all the Spice
🖤HEA

I absolutely loved this! Callous Shot is book 2 in Becca Steele’s Cranham Kings series of linked standalones, set in a dark academia, college hockey environment, with some dark secrets and equally shady crime families.

The series is a mix of MF and MM romances and whilst there is an HEA for each couple/book, there is also an overarching story, so I’d suggest you read them in order to appreciate all the cameos.

This is Dan and Lincoln’s story and it’s a dark and dirty, hate to love trope, with off the chart chemistry and a great storyline.

All the things I love!

Highly recommended!

5 stars 🌟

[Sona · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

Can we please stop calling everything dark just because it has a few criminals, some shootouts, and people dramatically slamming each other around? Because apparently, I have a very different understanding of what dark means.
We have criminal families, violence, and supposedly dangerous people, but where these criminals were softer than my grandmother.

So we have Dan and Lincoln they come from rival families on opposite sides of the law. Their rivalry gradually turns into romance. Now let’s talk about Dan and his family ( they are the supposedly criminals in the story) There was a scene, that I genuinely couldn’t take seriously. After some violence and dramatic slamming around, the bad guy tells Dan he’s a disappointment, only for his mother ( which is also a criminal *wink to immediately jump in with an “I love you, Dan. I’m so proud of you,” followed by his uncle another criminal *wink wink basically joining the emotional support committee. I swear, the only thing missing was a group hug. With the bad guy joining in 😂 I have absolutely nothing against loving, supportive families, even in morally questionable characters. In fact, I love seeing that loyalty and affection. But if you’re trying to sell me a dangerous criminal family, perhaps don’t dismantle the entire atmosphere by turning a supposedly intimidating confrontation into a family therapy session.

Lincoln’s family was another example of the same problem, except this time we got cartoonish villains. The execution needed to make sense. The whole business with Lincoln’s stillborn brother being constantly held up as the better child just didn’t land for me. A family grieving a child and becoming bitter, dysfunctional, or emotionally destructive because of that loss? Absolutely believable. But repeatedly comparing Lincoln to a baby who was never born alive, as though this child had already demonstrated how much better he was at following the family’s expectations? Where exactly is the foundation for that? The book wanted me to accept the angst without giving me enough of a believable emotional history to support it.

And that was my issue throughout the book: angst for the sake of angst, drama for the sake of drama, and darkness that exists more in the marketing than on the page. Give me whatever dysfunctional family dynamics you want. Give me terrible parents, morally questionable characters, complicated grief, and deeply damaged people. I’m happy to go along with all of it if you build the story well enough for me to believe it. I don’t need everything to be comfortable or conventional. I need it to feel genuine.

As for Lincoln and Daniel, the romance was cute. I won’t deny that. We have the classic rivalry, families on opposite sides of the law, years of hostility, and that delicious hate-to-love progression where two people who should absolutely stay away from each other inevitably get closer. I liked the characters, and there were moments when the romance worked for me. But cute chemistry and a familiar trope combination weren’t enough to pull me completely into the story.

And please, for the love of everything, can we stop using dark romance as a label for anything with a criminal in it? Dark romance, to me, is about more than a few violent scenes and morally questionable family businesses. Sometimes it’s uncomfortable. Sometimes it pushes your boundaries. Sometimes you’re sitting there questioning your own sanity for continuing to read, but you cannot look away. That’s the experience I’m talking about. Simply adding criminals and a shootout doesn’t automatically create that atmosphere.

Ultimately, Callous Shot was a whole lot of meh for me. The premise had potential, and the characters had elements I enjoyed, but the execution just didn’t deliver the emotional depth I was hoping for.

[Marci]

DNF @ 40% I liked snippets here and there, enough to make it to 40% but not enough to keep reading. Wasn’t feeling their connection at all and it reminded me of the pitfalls of the enemies to lovers trope. Felt very silly and I couldn’t move past it. I HATE YOU LETS KISS is so fun when done right though. 😖

[-`♡´- · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first time reading Becca Steele. Till about 20% in I thought this was going to end up being a DNF but Steele said Uno Reverse and I got sucked in. I ended up enjoying this quite a bit. Plus, I love a ginger MC.

Now I'm intrigued and curious to try out more of Steele's work.

[AnnaKitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, I have to say that I am pleasantly surprised because I really REALLY enjoyed this 💙

Surprised because for some reason I thought this would be a light spicy read, while it turned out to have a solid plot, great side characters, and writing that was absolutely flowing 💙
That said, the spice was just!!! 🥵🤌 Hate sex in it's very best!

Dan and Link are such a perfectly adorable pair of “enemies” - more like idiots, honestly 😄 - to lovers 😻
Their dynamics was fire from the very beginning and all the way to the end ❤‍🔥 I properly enjoyed all those “I hate you's" and I’d say they are probably one of my favourite couples now! The way they both fell so naturally into their feelings was amazing - zero unnecessary overthinking or complications. And Dan asking his female friend for advice was hilarious 😄

The dramatic turnaround also made total sense given their backstory, so it didn’t annoy me at all, and I genuinely ached for both of them 🥺

And while my heart absolutely broke for Link, I appreciated that his trauma was never constantly pushed to the forefront, so the story wasn’t emotionally exhausting to read (until the end, obviously 🙃).

I am very thankful for this ARC, and I honestly had such a great time with this one 💙

[Sarah]

Note to Self‼️

Per other reviewers, both MMCs hookup on page with OP at the beginning of the book and after being attracted to each other

[Monikat · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great Romeo & Romeo , enemies to lovers dark romance.
It's been a while since I read a Becca Steele book and had forgotten how good she is at these dark academia angry, enemies to lovers stories. She doesn't hold the punches back and you can feel the spit and blood they shed with each confrontation. Dan was a gem, the little rascal bad boy to Lincoln's tormented soul, but good boy stuck in a bad place. Seeing them fall for each other was a joy.

*Favorites
*To read again

[Sim-fully Ever After · Rating 5 out of 5]

5🌟 | 3🌶️

The tension between these two was honestly ridiculous in the best way.

They spent years convinced they hated each other, while everyone around them could see there was clearly something else going on. Dan and Lincoln had insane chemistry, and watching all that fighting, denial, and attraction slowly turn into something real was so much fun.

Dan was such a chaotic little menace, but he was also incredibly sweet, especially when it came to his friends and family. Lincoln had a much heavier side to his story, and I felt for him so much. I loved seeing these two go from constantly trying to get under each other’s skin to becoming each other’s person. Their obsession, possessiveness, and ridiculous “fuck foes” situation had me laughing, while their softer moments completely got me.

I also liked that there was more going on beyond the romance with the family drama, crime, and secrets, but the relationship always stayed at the centre for me. The whole thing was messy, spicy, emotional, and so easy to get sucked into.

I had way too much fun with these two and was absolutely not ready to leave them behind.

~~~~

A sincere thank you to Becca Steele and The Author Agency for the ARC! 🥰📚

I’m so grateful for the early read. As always, all thoughts and opinions are completely my own. ✨

[lakshmi · Rating 4 out of 5]

omg obsessed childhood rivals to lovers, with their families on opposite sides of the law, hockey players who just suddenly cannot stop marking each other up and getting possessive and protective over each other????? Chefs kiss 🤌

[Eva · Rating 4.75 out of 5]

4.75 rounded up!

Daniel and Lincoln were everything I needed and more. Their love was hard-fought; they fought against it and then for it…I love how this series is shaping up, and I can’t wait for all these characters to find their HEAs.

I've been feral for these two. Their chemistry was palpable even from book one, and I've been pinning for their story. The plot was even trickier than I expected. I liked that we went deeper into the mafia aspect of things and got more info on Ryker and Daniel's family.

Daniel was a bratty king. He was tough, loyal, and in denial, but possessive and obsessed with Lincoln to a dangerous degree. The stalking, constantly bringing him up and posting just for him? I loved every bit of their obsession. His dramatics were just another reason he was so amazing. Also, I loved how good of a friend he was; he would have done anything for them, and seeing him bring Lincoln into the fold made it so much sweeter.

And Lincoln? He had an unexpectedly bossy side, but it was only logical, seeing as Daniel turned into 'baby girl' around him. The way this man taunted and prodded at Dan only to get a reaction, then followed him and protected him because he was worried about him...I was so devastated by his circumstances. He deserved all the light and good emotions that Daniel brought him.

I truly have so many pairings already made up in my head about the possible couples; I cannot wait for this series to continue. I expect I'll be rereading this one soon.

Thank you so much to TAA and Becca; this book was so good; it was truly a gift to get this as an ARC.

[VicReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

𝙲𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚘𝚞𝚜 𝚂𝚑𝚘𝚝

𝙰𝚁𝙲 𝚁𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠

4.5/5 ⭐️

↓↓
OOOOOOHHHH weeeee, lawwwwwd, the tension was THICK with these two for so much of the first part of the book.

Dan and Link had this hatred and animosity towards each other. I'm talking physical fights and all. Now as the reader I could just tell there was something more brewing between them but these two were so oblivious towards their actual feelings. Everyone saw it but them.

I really enjoyed watching these two go from enemies to lovers. They seemed to always have this deep rooted connection they mistook for something it wasn't but once they realized what they were feeling, it was like something clicked between them and just just fit together so perfectly.

They fought hard for their love and relationship. There was so many things stacked against them, most of all their understanding of their feelings, but over time their love and connection prevailed.

They were both equally obsessed and I loved that.

I think the thing that irked me the most was Link kept everything to himself. Now before you come at me, I know it was most likely for the plot and climax buuuuuuuut he could have easily told Mike about his dad's threats and blackmail and still had the same events unfold, just would have had some help.

That 3rd act breakup broke my heart.

I really love the friend group of Dan's. They are like a little family. They support each other no matter what and are there when needed, no questions asked. Ryker is so intriguing and I need Ryker and Ghost!!

𝚆𝙷𝙰𝚃 𝚃𝙾 𝙴𝚇𝙿𝙴𝙲𝚃
💙MM standalone
💙College romance
💙Rival hockey teams
💙Enemies to lovers
💙Crime boss son x lawyer's son
💙Morally grey
💙Obsessed with each other
💙Unhinged behaviour
💙Bi-awakening

[Christina Sturgill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: 5/5 🌟
Spice: 3/5 🌶️
Characters: Daniel and Lincoln

RTC

[Jessica Swan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the author for the ARC. All thoughts are my own.

Another masterpiece by Becca Steele! I love all of her MM books and this one was no exception. The tension between the characters, especially in the first half of the book, was unmatched. The romance that developed felt so raw and real. The trauma and third act breakup broke my heart. The HEA was well earned and beautifully done.

[Maxie · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Review
*mild spoilers ahead*

This was my introduction to the Cranham Kings universe, and even though I haven’t read the first book, there was enough context to help me follow the story, and I still have a great time with it.

The privileged-youth setting is packed with rivalries, bruised egos, and spectacularly bad decisions. Pairing all of that with hockey gives the tension a physical edge which makes it more entertaining.

What kept me hooked, though, was the sense that beneath all the drama, these boys are constantly testing each other’s limits, waiting to see who will crack first. Their push-and-pull dynamic is intense and frustrating, but also super entertaining because every sharp exchange feels loaded with something neither of them is quite ready to admit.

The author does a great job of making Dan and Linc deeply flawed without making them unbearable. They can be reckless, stubborn, and terrible at communicating, but there is enough vulnerability beneath their bravado to make you understand them. You root for them even when you’re rolling your eyes at some of their choices.

The pacing is fast, almost reckless at times, but that energy suits the story. It mirrors the way Dan and Linc keep charging into conflict without stopping to think about the fallout, which makes the softer moments between them stand out even more.

If I had one complaint, it’s that a few emotional beats could have used more breathing room. Some moments land and then move on before they can fully sink in. Still, that breathless, messy energy is part of the book’s charm.

Callous Shot is dramatic and spicy, driven by two gloriously unhinged boys with insane chemistry, and tons of unresolved tension. I fully recommend it. To all my enemies/rivals to lovers’ enthusiasts out there, this one is a treat.

[Charlotte.s.library · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, leave it to me to cry like a baby while I read a dark mafia romance. How could I not? Dan and Link have my heart, and they're both been through so freaking much. My heart ached for them both for different reasons.

But let me make myself clear, these two... they were fire together ( pun intended ). The TENSION between them... pfiu. Someone call the firefighters because, my God, these two sure knew how to flame those flames.

The hate they had for each other for most of their lives had to be love. It was love. They were both so gone for each other it was funny seeing them realize that. They were obsessed. They were possessed.

When they finally clashed, it was glorious.

This book is a combination of plot and character development, and I loved seeing them both navigate this new reality. While it was fun, it was also so beautiful and sweet in a way I didn't expect from a dark mafia romance. Or maybe I did? I guess in a way I did, because if there is one thing I know about Becca is that she knows how to write a good enemies-to-lovers. The tension is one of her fortes and it delivered big time.

Once this book will be in audio you bet I will listen to it 389193x because I am as obsessed with these two as they are with each other... which is a LOT.

I can't wait to read more from this series. I have my eyes on a few other characters and I am ready to have my heart played with. Bring it on, Miss Steele, bring it on.

5 stars are not enough from me. I said what I said. NOT ENOUGH.

[Reading With April · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Review of Callous Shot by Becca Steele releasing on 9.24.26

Daniel & Lincoln whew!
Their story had me completely in a chokehold in the best way. Their story is dark, hate to lovers (was it really hate though?), obsessive (both MMC's), tension filled, with a ton of physical and emotional chemistry and the spice between them whew!
Daniel was chaotic in the best way, the stuff that came out of his mouth had me cracking up and I love how hard he loves his family and friends, but he also has a serious emotional side which I loved just as much as his silly fun side; he was honestly the perfect balance.
Lincoln my poor Lincoln, he had a rough childhood (his parents can get f*cked), but he didn't let that break him. I enjoyed seeing his bossy/dominant side when it came to Daniel and the way he kept calling Daniel "baby" had me kicking my feet especially when their "f*ck foes" storyline was starting.
I love how they were both unhinged with their possessive and obsessive behavior over each other, it was very entertaining with their back and forth with having to "mark" each other.
Now there is a good part of their storyline that is more emotional; after Daniel found some stuff and the moments after had me shedding a few tears. Having to read his heartbreak and him wondering why "it hurts so bad" then the realization that it's because he's in love oh my heart and the way Lincoln tried to find him and explain oh the tension and yearning that follows was perfectly written.
These two fought hard against each other in more ways then one and then they fought hard to be together through everything.
There is also a continuing storyline that starts with book #1, but you can still read this one and be okay; there is a back story of the good guys vs the bad guys, but who is really good and who is really bad? I guess you'll have to read it to find out.
Spice 🌶 🌶 🌶 🌶

[J.J. · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

I've always liked this author's enemies-to-lovers books, so when I found out that an actual mafia/dark story with this trope was released, I jumped on it.

As expected, I loved Lincoln and Daniel. Their chemistry was believable, and they did not stop hating each other until a while. There's nothing more disappointing than an "enemies-to-lovers" that is actually just shallow dislike, which always ends up quickly evaporating. Their chemistry was full of hate and toxic obsession, but it made their interactions so interesting. They also did not lose their fire when they started dating. They still challenge and goad each other, but in a much more loving way, obviously.

The book was a solid 4.5 stars for me until the cliché misunderstanding at around 70-75%. I was annoyed by the blackmail plot and the fact that Lincoln was hiding it, even though it was obvious it would blow up in his face. And don't even get me started on Daniel misunderstanding and believing that Lincoln had betrayed him. He refused to hear him out, and it dragged the story for a while. It was partly useful because they realize how miserable they are apart, but I wish that had been avoided. Fortunately, it didn't last too long, and things were resolved quickly enough.

The relationship between Daniel's mom and Lincoln in the epilogue really made me tear up. Lincoln never thought people could love him, and I loved that he found a family that adores him for who he is.

If Ryker ends up with Aleksi, I'm definitely reading their book.

[MM Bookwrecked · Rating 4 out of 5]

All in all I really enjoyed this, the romance felt raw and real, and their HEA was well deserved. Lincoln and Daniel had such a fun dynamic, and their tension in the first half of the book was delicious. The trauma and third act drama broke my heart but it ended really well. The plot itself around Hoyton Firm and Link's dad was also quite engaging. I wished we saw more hockey though but that wasn't the main focus. And I loved seeing some of Becca's past characters mentioned!

Now this was actually quite different to Becca's other books I found, and it took me a bit longer to get into it, but overall it was a very solid read. Mainly I wasn't a big fan of the OW action at the party towards the beginning, even if it made sense for the storyline, I would have preferred IDK just like kisses max lol. Probably a me thing, I just wasn't expecting it, but at least it wasn't too descriptive.


*Safety info (potential spoilers)*

OP drama: Dan gets a BJ (half off page) from Maisie and gives her head back (half off page) and Link gets a BJ (on page) and has sex (off page) with Kimberly at the aforementioned party, then at the fight Kimberly kisses Link but he didn't actually want it (she thought they were something more), finally at the charity event Link dances with Kimberly platonically but it sets Dan off and he tries to make Link jealous by going in to kiss Liana's neck (they are just friends). However once they properly start hooking up there is no-one else for either of them.
Third act breakup: Yes, a few weeks.
HEA (epilogue 5 years later)

[Amanda Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Becca's MM books and this was no different. I was hooked right from the get go, if you're looking for a real enemies to lovers book, then this is what you're looking for.

Daniel and Lincoln absolutely detest one another, the hated is palpable and felt through the pages, however it quickly turns into more than a hatred as they give into their desires. These two will forever now have a special place in my heart, I loved watching them navigate their feelings especially as we moved from hate to love, that hate sex...Omg!!! Their chemistry was electric and I believed every moment of them being together.

It was a really interesting blend of organised crime/police investigations/hockey. Not a combination that I thought would have worked but it really does here especially with both characters being on opposing sides within the crime and legal world but then opposing side on the ice. I liked the side characters in the book and intrigued to see if we get anymore of their stories.

This was a genuinely enjoyable read that drew me from start to finish (something I have become accustomed to with Becca's books). I will definitely be re-visiting for another read.

[Mandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! Becca did it again! What a great college hockey/ rivals to lovers/ mafia romance! This one had a little bit of everything!
I love Daniel! He was just amazing! I love how he's supposed to be the criminal, and he really does think of himself as a bad person, but he's just a big ol' softie. I mean, he eats red gummy bears before every game. He is such a sweetheart! I love how he thinks he hates Lincoln, but he's actually just obsessed with him. :D The chemistry between these two is off the charts and the evolution of their relationship felt so real. The banter left me chuckling and the spice made me blush. The whole mystery intwined into the story was great and made for some delicious tension and action-packed scenes. I felt for Lincoln and was so glad he opened up to Dan so that Dan could be what he needed. The way their family lives juxtaposed with supposed "good guy" and "bad guy" was so well done and really got me right in the feels. I love Dan's friend group and can't wait to learn more about all of those guys. I want more of this world!

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Damn, I loved the way his brain worked. And his beautiful face. And…alright, I loved every part of him. I was completely head over heels for my little demon, and now he was back where he belonged. With me.
****
The way I devoured this book!! Lincoln and Dan, just wow! These two had the fine line between love and hate down to a science. Both from powerful families caught in a rivalry filled with secrets and lies. The obsession these two had for each other is known with friends and teammates. It was only a matter of time before they took their anger out in the spiciest way possible.
Daniel is possessive, sarcastic, loyal to his family and friends and his infatuation with Lincoln was a conversation on the daily - how he thought NO ONE could possibly know he was into Lincoln, still cracks me up.
Lincoln is also possessive, loyal to Uncle Mike and Tilly and will destroy anyone who even thinks about touching Dan. He has zero respect for his dad but still falls under his control. He also pretends he is not as infatuated with Dan as Dan is with him.
This story touches a lot of triggering subjects it is so well written especially when you dive deeper into the nightmare of Lincoln's life, which is heartbreaking. The way these two open up to each other is so sweet, even when they try to hate each other they are drawn together. I absolutely loved every second of this book.

[Tiffany · Rating 5 out of 5]

Becca did it AGAIN!

I had no doubt going into this that I would enjoy this book...I was blown away.

Daniel and Lincoln were true enemies to lovers and I was drooling over their story.

First off Lincoln is my sweet baby boy, he had a terrible f*cking life and I wanted to k*ll everyone that hurt him 😞

The angst, the tension, the feelings and the SPICE...top notch, this is a DEFINITE re-read for me.

You are crazy if you don't pick this up and devour it 🖤

[Zephyr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mafia mixed with hockey always makes for a fun time. Becca Steele always does such an amazing job at mixing the two together, and Callous Shot was no different! Not only are Dan and Link rivals on the ice, their family is a deep history of being on opposite sides of the law. It created such a twisted and intriguing story that left me guessing!
Thank you, TAA, for the ARC!

[sadece1hediye · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5
Çift çokkk tatlıydı aslında ama hikaye beni zorladı nedense, yine de çift için iyi ki okumuşum diyorum.🤭

[Amanda Winter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dan and Lincoln had that fine line between love and hate down to a science, and I was absolutely HERE for it.

They had been convinced they hated each other for years, while basically everyone around them could see exactly what was going on. The tension between these two was ridiculous in the best way! Rival hockey teams, powerful families, secrets, crime, and an obsession neither of them could hide for very long. 👀

Dan was such a chaotic little menace, but underneath the sarcasm and possessiveness, he was incredibly sweet and fiercely loyal to the people he loved. Lincoln had a much heavier story, and my heart broke for him as more of his past came to light. I loved watching these two slowly become each other’s safe place, even while they were still pretending they hated each other.

Their chemistry was, their obsession was hilarious, and the whole “fuck foes” situation had me laughing. But it was their softer moments and the way they opened up to each other that really got me.

There’s plenty happening outside the romance too, with family drama, crime, secrets, and some heavier themes, but the relationship always stayed at the heart of the story for me.

Messy, spicy, emotional, and completely addictive. I had WAY too much fun with Dan and Lincoln and was absolutely not ready to say goodbye to them.

Tropes:
🏒 Rival Hockey Teams
❤️ Enemies to Lovers
🔥 Obsessive Romance
🎓 College Romance
🖤 Mafia-esque Romance
⚖️ Crime Boss’s Son x Lawyer’s Son
💚 Possessive & Protective MCs
📏 Size Difference
🤫 Family Secrets & Drama
🫶 Hurt/Comfort
👨‍👨‍👦 Found Family