Delivering a stone down the ice has never been so complicated.
Local curling legend Perry Hasting’s life is all about curling and Evan, and he likes it that way.
He still can’t believe Evan followed him out of a party all those years ago, just because Perry told him to. He tries not to think about the day Evan realizes Perry isn’t enough for him.
New to the curling world, Evan Baily learned to curl because of Perry’s love of the game.
He’ll do pretty much whatever Perry asks of him, and has discovered not only does he love Perry’s game, he’s more than halfway decent at it. But he’s not so oblivious he doesn’t see Perry cracking under the pressure of Evan’s intensity on and off the ice.
Who knows how things might have gone, if not for that one fateful tournament, a sucker punch, and a bossy Skip suddenly in need of a new team.
Suddenly gold medal dreams they never knew they had hinge on undeniable chemistry and unexpected partnerships. The road to the winter games is a long one, but Alan Channing could give Perry and Evan everything they’ve always wanted, both at the top of the podium and in love.
On the Button is part of the Love On The Podium shared queer romance series.
Jaime Samms is a plaid-hearted Canadian who spends the too-long winters writing stories about love between men and the too-short summers digging in the garden. There are dust bunnies in the corners of her house—which she blames on a husky named Kai. There are dishes on the counter—which is clearly because teenagers! There is hot coffee in the pot and the occasional meal to keep her from starving—because her husband is remarkable and patient.
A multi-published author whose work has been translated into French, Italian, and German, Jaime delights in the intricate dance of words that leads her through tales of the lost and broken hearted men she writes about to the love stories that find and mend them.
And when the muse is being stubborn, she also makes pretty things with yarn and fabric scraps because in her world, no heart is too broken to love, and nothing is too worn or tired it can’t be upcycled into something beautiful. All it takes is determination and the ability to see life a little bit left of center.
I don’t know if I was fully prepared going in for the myriad of relationships and complications this story contains. First of all, I didn’t realize it was a poly romance - and that’s on me for not paying better attention - but diving in headfirst probably allowed me to have the most natural reaction possible. No anticipation or expectations, other than lots of curling, a race for the podium, and a HEA. I can confidently say it delivers on all three.
Second, the complexity and intricacy of dynamics are intriguing. There are family connections, professional connections, romantic connections…all ebbing and flowing at each step of this journey. Pair that with the representation, unique characters, and complicated situations, and this book is captivating.
From the start, the story goes pretty hard setting up the relationship between Perry and Evan. They’re so in love and rock solid that I kind of wondered why they even needed a third partner, but this is where the set up is crucial. Jaime Samms does a terrific job highlighting what’s working and what’s not, inserting just enough uncertainty to show how maybe someone could fill the gaps. Or at least pique their interest, because they’re in love but definitely sense an incompleteness.
Enter Alan Channing.
Alan’s conflict is all about curling - he has his hands full with his Olympic prospects and the Darren Twins. The Darren Twins…they’re the kind of guys you love to hate: pretentious, entitled, and conceited. Not a single redeemable quality about them. Needless to say, finding the perfect guy - or in this case, guys - really could not come at a more complicated time.
If I had to pick a word to describe this one, it’d be messy, and by that, I mean there are emotions everywhere. (Thankfully Michael’s a licensed therapist.😮💨) The do they/don’t they of it all is the least of their worries; things get a bit angsty as they navigate the stress, tension, fear, and vulnerability of their Olympic journey. These guys let it all hang out and leave it all on the ice for the chance to have it all.
*I voluntarily read a complimentary copy of this book*
Honestly I enjoyed this book but in my opinion is the weakest one i've read of this series, while i liked the characters and the spice was top notch, i found the story line to be boring and crammed, mostly a result of this book taking place in a span of about a year and a half so we get time jumps that made that a lot happened out of the paga and with not much sense.
On the Button is the first book in the Love On The Podium shared queer romance series, a series that's also written by queer writers inspired by different Olympic sports and I cannot recommend it enough!
~Blurb~ Local curling legend Perry Hasting’s life is all about curling and Evan, and he likes it that way.
He still can’t believe Evan followed him out of a party all those years ago, just because Perry told him to. He tries not to think about the day Evan realizes Perry isn’t enough for him.
New to the curling world, Evan Baily learned to curl because of Perry’s love of the game.
He’ll do pretty much whatever Perry asks of him, and has discovered not only does he love Perry’s game, he’s more than halfway decent at it. But he’s not so oblivious he doesn’t see Perry cracking under the pressure of Evan’s intensity on and off the ice.
Who knows how things might have gone, if not for that one fateful tournament, a sucker punch, and a bossy Skip suddenly in need of a new team.
Suddenly gold medal dreams they never knew they had hinge on undeniable chemistry and unexpected partnerships. The road to the winter games is a long one, but Alan Channing could give Perry and Evan everything they’ve always wanted, both at the top of the podium and in love.
Tropes: 🥌 One team 🥇 Curling Romance 🥌 Olympic Romance 🥇 Lots of spice 🥌 A dream they never knew they had. 🥇 MMM Romance
On the Button is already out.
Thanks Jaime Samms for sending this ARC in exchange for my honest review ⭐ ⭐⭐ 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
On The Button follows Perry and Evan, boyfriends who play on the same curling team. Their strong relationship is evident from very early on, where we see them through Alan’s eyes. Alan is on the curling team that is considered the Olympic Hopefuls, and he has an interest in both Perry and Evan. Personally and professionally. When their paths cross, Alan isn’t subtle about his intent.
Perry and Evan’s relationship is incredibly sweet, each of them needing the other to ground them. Evan is grounded mostly by sex from Perry, which includes D/s dynamics, as well Perry taking control. Whereas Perry is grounded by Evan through any form of physical touch and the way Evan can so easily read him and use his words to settle his mind. However with stresses and tensions rising, their relationship becomes a little bit rocky and neither of them really know how to handle it.
Alan is steady, stable, someone who commands a room and has a level head. He’s charming and straight forward, and more than anything he wants to help Perry and Evan in anyway that he can. His communication is top tier and he has the respect and love of everyone around him.
I am a sucker for polyam and this story really does deliver. It’s fast-paced, sweet, spicy and positively adorable. If you’re a fan of found family vibes, D/s dynamics, polyam or mm romance, I highly recommend this one. The relationship is portrayed in such a beautiful way, from the communication the main characters have with one another, to the struggles they face along the way. Jaime Samms really does deliver some wonderful characters, main and side!
This book was part of the Love On The Podium series compiled by a variety of authors and genres.
I was not familiar with the sport of curling before reading this story and the author seems to have a great understanding of the rules and nuances that make this game part of the Olympics.
Perry and Evan were part of a local team, and made no secret of the fact they were in love and enjoyed sharing the enjoyment of curling together. While Perry was the more experienced curler, Evan had a natural talent for it, so they were a winning combination.
Alan was on a team considered Olympic hopefuls, and had been working towards the dream of curling in the Olympics for ten years. Alan found the two men intriguing personally and professionally, and when his team needed new players he immediately thought of Perry and Evan.
Once the men meet, and the opportunity to work together on a chance to go to the Olympics is discussed, they begin spending time together and eventually admitting the attraction they have for each other and agree to give their new found romance a try. There are some challenges working through a dynamic like a triad, bit in the end their feelings mean more than the sport that brought them together and they fall in love while pursuing their Olympic dream.
This was a sweet story about found family and sharing a love that exceeds their hopes and dreams. Worth the read, even if sports romance is not your usual genre.
On the Button by Jaime Samms (part of the Love on the Podium series) features a great found family vibe which is so important when you think about it for the buildup to the Olympics for those sports that aren't very commercial outside of every four years. Plus, as any queer person knows that found family gives you something to hold onto and encourage you. Anyways, On the Button features the development of a curling team that is working towards qualifying for the Olympics via Canada's Olympic trials while at the same time navigating several relationships the main one between an established couple and the Skip of the team.
I loved seeing Perry and Evan navigate the challenge of figuring out how they wanted to let Alan into their lives beyond as their Skip. Seeing Alan slowly accept that he was in fact the right person to even the balance out of Perry and Evan was also spectacular. In general, it was great it was less of a will they won't they but a how does this impact the team and our own abilities to curl. It felt like Samms accurately depicted the challenges and benefits of dating with the curling team and I loved the payoff at the end. It's been a while since I've read a curling romance and this one definitely is worth a read.
This book is part of the multi-authored Love On the Podium series. I am a huge curling fan and was looking forward to reading this book. It did not disappoint. This is the story of Perry Hasting, Evan Baily and Alan Channing. Perry is a local curling legend. Evan is new to curling. He only started to support and join Perry but it turns out he is a great curler. The two of them together make a formidable team. They are openly in love and sharing the joy of curling. Alan has been working towards the dream of curling in the Olympics for ten years. The three meet at a tournament. When Alan's Olympic hopeful team needs two players, he immediately thinks of Perry and Evan. The three of them start working towards the Olympics. Alan's calmness and clear communication help solidify the team on and and off the ice. This is their story. I received a complementary advanced review copy of this book from the author and I am voluntarily leaving a review. It is definitely a slow burn romance. There are always challenges when forming a relationship and it is multiplied when forming a triad. The author handles the melding of the relationship with a deft hand. I really enjoyed this book. A new to me author that I quite enjoyed.
I don't think I've ever read a book about curling before, let alone a romance, but this was quite good. There was an amazing found family dynamic between the entire team which I loved and there were a few side relationships going on as well (I'd love to see Carol and Michael get their own book). The dynamic between Perry, Evan and Alan worked really well and I liked that they didn't just dive into everything right away, especially since Perry and Evan were already an established couple when they met Alan. There was communication along the way and they were all careful to make sure they understood each other. The various games were not glossed over, but were still high level enough to stay interesting so this definitely felt like it was about curling in addition to the romance (instead of being a romance about people who happen to be curlers, but we never see them do anything sport related). I definitely enjoyed this and would recommend it if you're looking for something that does not rely on miscommunication to carry the story.
On the Button by Jaime Samms is part of the multi-author Love on the Podium series. The books all stand alone and you can jump in here without having read the others. I picked this one up because I was intrigued by both the relationship dynamics and the fact that it focused on curling, a sport with which I have next to no familiarity. The relationship side is interesting, as we have a long-established couple in Evan and Perry who are bringing in a third. I think Samms does a really nice job showing the strong bond between Perry and Evan and how their relationship works.
Samms does a nice job with the character work here, really helping to develop all three men well. If you are looking for a sports romance leading up to the Olympics, particularly something that focuses on a sport that is less well known, this could be a great choice.
On the Button by Jaime Samms follows Perry and Evan, an established couple on the same curling team whose relationship is built on trust, grounding, and mutual support. Their dynamic is both sweet and intimate, with D/s elements that help them stay balanced—until stress and pressure begin to test their connection.
Alan, the team’s Skip and an Olympic hopeful, enters their lives as a steady, confident presence. Calm, communicative, and deeply supportive, he naturally complements Perry and Evan, both on and off the ice. Watching the three of them navigate what adding Alan means—not just emotionally, but within the team dynamic—was a highlight.
The polyam relationship is handled with care, strong communication, and respect, focusing less on will they/won’t they and more on how love, trust, and teamwork coexist under pressure. Add in found family vibes and a refreshing curling setting, and this was a fast-paced, sweet, and spicy read.
A great pick for fans of polyam romance, found family, D/s dynamics, and MM sports romance.
A warm, engaging sports romance that balances competition, commitment and quiet emotional stakes with ease. Perry and Evan are already solid as a couple, but the pressure of elite curling exposes Perry’s insecurities and Evan’s growing confidence in ways that feel natural and relatable. Their dynamic on and off the ice is tender, intense and occasionally messy, which makes it all the more believable.
The introduction of Alan shakes up both the team and the relationship, adding tension without turning the story into unnecessary drama. Instead of focusing on whether the romance will survive, the book explores how ambition, partnership and trust can coexist when the stakes are high. The curling backdrop is well used, giving the story momentum and a clear sense of purpose.
A thoughtful, satisfying read that blends sport and romance while celebrating teamwork, chemistry and finding your place—together.
I received a free arc copy and this is my honest review
This book is about the sport of curling. I've never read one on this topic, so this was all new to me. Problem is, the most curling I've seen is a little bit on tv and I didn't know most of the terminology. I was a bit confused as to what was going on when they were playing (this is entirely MY issue, but I wish I'd known more about the sport before I asked for the arc).
Liked the romance. Perry & Evan are on a team, already romantic partners. Alan's team is headed for the Olympics, but they decide to cut some members who weren't working out right at the sign-up deadline. Alan asks Perry & Evan (& Robbie) to join the team at the last minute. They join and practice begins. Eventually they make it to the Olympics. The romance is MMM, with Alan added into what Perry & Evan already have. It's a nice group, with a great set of side characters.
I received an ARC copy of this book from the author, so thank you to the author for that! my honest review is as follows:
I've read three of the five in the Love on the Podium series, and this one has been my favorite so far. A good balance of the sport and the romance, but also a healthy mix of found family domesticity. I know NOTHING about curling, but the energy and chemistry of the team was incredible, and getting to see how everything came together (pun...not (?) intended...?) was wonderful.
I will say there were a few errors that messed with me a little, like calling Evan "Even" at one point, or extra words that seemed part of an original idea that got rewritten, things like that. But they were few and far between, so it wasn't a constant issue pulling me out of the immersion.
Once again, huge thanks to the author, I really genuinely enjoyed this one!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I was fascinated when I saw this book was about curling as I love the sport and had not found any novels about the sport. I did have difficulty reading the first two sections and almost gave up but the middle started to improve and the last two sections were sweet and were better written.
The theme was about bonding - whether it be in pairs or in a thruple. Indeed, the win on the ice was attributed to the bonding and it is most clearly shown when Perry gets nervous about meeting stars in hockey and other sports and realizing he is eating amongst them but Alan and Evan calm him down by engaging him in some needed attention.
I was disappointed that more was not made of the thrill of the podium. Also, I found the book long but I think some of the bonding might have been missed if it had been shorter.
This is the first polyamorous book I've ever read, and I think it was a good introduction to the dynamic for me.
Evan and Perry are already an established couple at the start of the book. Evan likes having multiple partners, but is monogamous with Perry until they decide together to bring Alan into the mix. Their relationship as a triad is a slower burn, but once they're all together, it's fiery!
There were some points in the book where I did get lost about who was talking. I think it could have used more names in it, rather than just saying "he." It gets a bit confusing when Evan, Perry, and Alan are all men, and the rest of their curling team uses he/him pronouns.
*I received this book as an ARC and am leaving this review voluntarily*
I loved this MMM sports romance. I loved it because the characters fit perfect together and the sport was not the usual sport, but the sport of curling. I will admit to knowing little other than my limited viewing during the Olympics, but after reading this book, I want to play the sport. Perry and Evan are two insecure and in love me, each not sure they are good enough for the other. They play on a local curling team. Alan, who dreams of Olympic goal, needs players and thinks of these two. Suddenly this threesome professional and personal lives are colliding with both positive and negative issues to comfort. I love how Alan makes them relationship feel whole and allows them to find their own definition of family. Grab your favorite beverage and enjoy this sweet, slow burning romance.
This is an adorable, high heat romance with loveable characters and a lovely found family. I loved the path all three main characters took to becoming a throuple, and it was such a joy to read about how they became closer and encouraged growth in each other. The insight readers got into the pressure each character was facing and how they coped with it was great, and it made me root for them even more.
I will say that some parts of the writing felt awkward and stilted, especially the dialogue. Some dialogue didn't read as realistic for someone to say, and could have been edited to flow better. A huge thank you to the author Jaime Samms for this ARC!
Evan and Perry are teammates on the curling team for Canada. They're also an established couple. The road to the Olympics is hard and cracks are starting to sprout. Alan is their Skip and is attracted to them both. They all begin to realize he's a bridge between them and absolutely belongs with them. The communication between them was absolutely stellar. I really appreciated the attention to detail concerning curling, I'm hope those who don't really know about the sport were glad to learn of it.
On the Button by Jaime Samms is part of the On The Podium series. All Alan wanted was to Curl and make the Olympics but with the twins having bad attitudes he wasn't sure he wanted to have them there to represent Canada. While on a scouting mission masked as a team bonding trip Alan found Perry & Evan on another team. Alan hopes he can talk them into being on his team and I. His life. I loved this story which was a slow burn sweet story about finding your person or persons to help keep you grounded and fit into your own skin and the Bonus of learning about curling that I want to watch on TV.
My mother is obsessed with curling, so it's a sport I can easily identify and the bonus is that this story again features a Canadian team! It's a slow burn in terms of the poly relationship, with Perry and Evan coming to the team with an existing relationship and a want for more with Alan... the poly story felt organic and not forced, and the way they fit together made sense for both their team and their lives... it was lovely to see and experience... and of course it doesn't hurt to watch them make it to the podium.
I always enjoy a good poly book and this one involves the sport of curling. I know absolutely nothing about curling but that didn’t hinder my enjoyment of the book. Jaimie Samms is always good at creating complex characters that you get to watch grow and develop as the story goes on. This one was interesting because this story involved an already established couple in Perry and Evan who meet their ugh their sport. It was a good read - and I actually learned something about a new sport.
There was a lot that I truly liked about this book. The found family vibes, the way adding a third to an established relationship was handled, and the MCs themselves! All of that definitely worked for me. I just felt like it would have been better had I had a better knowledge of curling to start with and that kept pulling me out of my enjoyment a little.
ON THE BUTTON by Jaime Samms is part of the multi author Love on the Podium series featuring queer winter sports athletes. Curlers Perry Hasting and Evan Baily are happy with their local club but when Alan Channing comes to town to scout out their team and offer them a shot at more, it isn’t just more on the ice they can have…
If you’re looking for a spicy curling romance, this’ll do it. It’s MMM that starts off with a couple already who decide to take a third. I didn’t really feel the connection between any of them but it was sufficiently spicy. The plot to get to the Olympics was far more interesting than the romance in this case for me.
Wow what an incredible story, I loved reading this i enjoyed learning more about curling, I loved how they were seaching for new team mates and walked away with a family must read congratulations