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Home Ice
TAI
Ten years ago, I made the biggest mistake of my life.
When Hawke left for the NHL and my hockey dreams went up in smoke, I ghosted my best and longest friend. It made sense at the time, but there hasn’t been a day where I haven’t missed him.
So when we run into each other again, and his only response is “Do I know you?”, I know I deserve it. But I refuse to let one mistake keep us apart forever. Especially when he has bigger problems, and I’m in a position to help him.
JENSEN
All I wanted this offseason was to spend my time relaxing–not getting an emergency phone call from Mom to come home. My hometown is full of too many memories of me and Tai so I avoid returning there as much as I can.
But now I have one more memory to add to the list: my high school girlfriend.
And the kid we apparently had together.
Kasen hates me and thinks I abandoned them, and my only way to get to him is through his coach. My ex-best friend. The friend that has been impossible to forget. No matter how much I’ve tried.
Ten years ago, I made the biggest mistake of my life.
When Hawke left for the NHL and my hockey dreams went up in smoke, I ghosted my best and longest friend. It made sense at the time, but there hasn’t been a day where I haven’t missed him.
So when we run into each other again, and his only response is “Do I know you?”, I know I deserve it. But I refuse to let one mistake keep us apart forever. Especially when he has bigger problems, and I’m in a position to help him.
JENSEN
All I wanted this offseason was to spend my time relaxing–not getting an emergency phone call from Mom to come home. My hometown is full of too many memories of me and Tai so I avoid returning there as much as I can.
But now I have one more memory to add to the list: my high school girlfriend.
And the kid we apparently had together.
Kasen hates me and thinks I abandoned them, and my only way to get to him is through his coach. My ex-best friend. The friend that has been impossible to forget. No matter how much I’ve tried.
350 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 25, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 742 reviews
July 28, 2026
Ima just say how I feel….
I think this is Saxon James's BEST BOOK???
This was tender and sweet in all the ways you wanted it to be.
The focus was on Jensen and Tai fixing their friendship that fell apart 10 years prior for a solid amount this book.
I love how they developed, and realised they’d fallen for each other over time…. Whilst also realising it was always them, but they’d been stupid teenagers 🥹
I just love how slowly this developed.
I REEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEALLY FUCKING HATE LUSTY THOUGHTS RUINING EVERY FUCKING BOOK LATELY AND THIS HAD NONE UNTIL A LUSTY THOUGHT WAS WARRANTED!!!!!!!!!!! fuck it was perfect......
These two had nothing but friendship in mind......... until they didn't......
I have never vouched so hard for a relationship to work between a teenager and an unexpected parent before?
I was holding out the whole for book for a hug… or a smile…. God, the goods were delivered like a punch in the heart muscle!
SJ convinced me to like a child/teen character… what is this wizardry????
I think this is Saxon James's BEST BOOK???
This was tender and sweet in all the ways you wanted it to be.
The focus was on Jensen and Tai fixing their friendship that fell apart 10 years prior for a solid amount this book.
I love how they developed, and realised they’d fallen for each other over time…. Whilst also realising it was always them, but they’d been stupid teenagers 🥹
I just love how slowly this developed.
I REEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEALLY FUCKING HATE LUSTY THOUGHTS RUINING EVERY FUCKING BOOK LATELY AND THIS HAD NONE UNTIL A LUSTY THOUGHT WAS WARRANTED!!!!!!!!!!! fuck it was perfect......
These two had nothing but friendship in mind......... until they didn't......
I have never vouched so hard for a relationship to work between a teenager and an unexpected parent before?
I was holding out the whole for book for a hug… or a smile…. God, the goods were delivered like a punch in the heart muscle!
SJ convinced me to like a child/teen character… what is this wizardry????
August 31, 2026
Yeeees, this was exactly what I was craving!!
Ten years after Tai ghosted his best friend Hawke when Hawke left to pursue his NHL career, the two unexpectedly end up back in each other’s lives when Hawke returns home for the offseason and discovers he has a teenage son, Kasen, he never knew existed 😳
A teenage son who is very much not happy to see his supposedly deadbeat dad suddenly turn up. And let me tell you: Kasen was awesome. He’s so prickly, such a smart-ass, so hurt and vulnerable underneath the tough exterior, and watching him and Hawke build their relationship from the ground up was so very satisfying to read. Kasen certainly was NOT about to make it easy for Hawke lol
But watching Hawke keep showing up, while Kasen slowly, slowly lets him was wonderful to witness 🥹
And then there’s Tai and Hawke.
The second chance element worked wonderfully for me here. They were best friends growing up, until Stuff happens and they loose contact in quite the dramatic way. Ten years later, there’s hurt on both sides and plenty to make up for, but there are also actual good reasons they stopped being friends, there’s grovelling from both sides, mature behaviour, communication, and most importantly, this sense of irrevocably making the other person a priority this time around *swoon* 🫠
I genuinely don’t even know if I liked Hawke or Tai more. Both of them had a good head on their shoulders, weren’t dramatic for drama’s sake, had grown up a whole lot in those ten years and weren’t interested in dwelling on what-ifs and maybes. Instead, they look forwards, they’re willing to put in the work and make the best out of a really fucking complicated situation and I loved that.
And their dynamic… sigh. 🥹
They’re so.. at peace with each other and the support they show each other, the way they so naturally fall back into being a team, the way they make room for each other; it all was so genuinely moving 😭
But don’t let all that emotional maturity and tenderness fool you because there is also some DELICIOUS sexual energy flowing between these two, like.. wowza this was HOT. 😳 First their tingles-inducing flirting, and then their absolute, all-consuming need for each other, the pull, the desperation - it all made me very hot and bothered ❤️🔥
And then that ending 🥹 Because underneath the romance and the second chances and this newly cobbled-together family, so much of this book ended up being about the power of accepting help and finally, finally allowing yourself to receive it. Watching them get there was just 🥹🥹
So yeah. Second chances in more ways than one, old wounds, surprise fatherhood, a wonderfully prickly teenager, mature communication, found family, hockey, crazy amounts of sexual tension, and two men deciding that this time, they’re going to choose each other and keep choosing each other.
Just lovely 🧡
4,5⭐️
Ten years after Tai ghosted his best friend Hawke when Hawke left to pursue his NHL career, the two unexpectedly end up back in each other’s lives when Hawke returns home for the offseason and discovers he has a teenage son, Kasen, he never knew existed 😳
A teenage son who is very much not happy to see his supposedly deadbeat dad suddenly turn up. And let me tell you: Kasen was awesome. He’s so prickly, such a smart-ass, so hurt and vulnerable underneath the tough exterior, and watching him and Hawke build their relationship from the ground up was so very satisfying to read. Kasen certainly was NOT about to make it easy for Hawke lol
But watching Hawke keep showing up, while Kasen slowly, slowly lets him was wonderful to witness 🥹
And then there’s Tai and Hawke.
The second chance element worked wonderfully for me here. They were best friends growing up, until Stuff happens and they loose contact in quite the dramatic way. Ten years later, there’s hurt on both sides and plenty to make up for, but there are also actual good reasons they stopped being friends, there’s grovelling from both sides, mature behaviour, communication, and most importantly, this sense of irrevocably making the other person a priority this time around *swoon* 🫠
I genuinely don’t even know if I liked Hawke or Tai more. Both of them had a good head on their shoulders, weren’t dramatic for drama’s sake, had grown up a whole lot in those ten years and weren’t interested in dwelling on what-ifs and maybes. Instead, they look forwards, they’re willing to put in the work and make the best out of a really fucking complicated situation and I loved that.
And their dynamic… sigh. 🥹
They’re so.. at peace with each other and the support they show each other, the way they so naturally fall back into being a team, the way they make room for each other; it all was so genuinely moving 😭
But don’t let all that emotional maturity and tenderness fool you because there is also some DELICIOUS sexual energy flowing between these two, like.. wowza this was HOT. 😳 First their tingles-inducing flirting, and then their absolute, all-consuming need for each other, the pull, the desperation - it all made me very hot and bothered ❤️🔥
And then that ending 🥹 Because underneath the romance and the second chances and this newly cobbled-together family, so much of this book ended up being about the power of accepting help and finally, finally allowing yourself to receive it. Watching them get there was just 🥹🥹
So yeah. Second chances in more ways than one, old wounds, surprise fatherhood, a wonderfully prickly teenager, mature communication, found family, hockey, crazy amounts of sexual tension, and two men deciding that this time, they’re going to choose each other and keep choosing each other.
Just lovely 🧡
4,5⭐️
September 4, 2026
Jensen and Tai
Second Chance Romance
High School Hockey Coach / NHL Player
Surprise Child
HEA
Spice - 2.5-3/5
Story - 5/5
Hope to see more from this series <3
Second Chance Romance
High School Hockey Coach / NHL Player
Surprise Child
HEA
Spice - 2.5-3/5
Story - 5/5
Hope to see more from this series <3
September 28, 2026
This is by far the best book by Saxon James I’ve read so far. Loved everything about it 💕
Yes, it’s a hockey romance (kind of). No, it’s not about the (in)famous queer hockey collective, even though we get a single Easter Egg reference.
It’s a tender, mature, second chance/former best friends-to-lovers romance, paired with the equally well written (newfound) father/son relationship, and topped up with an equally complicated father/son relationship that needed to heal after the father had a stroke a few years back.
As I said, I loved everything about it. It was handled with care and respect, tenderness, humour, past hurt, and most importantly, with love.
And I loved having two main characters who actually communicate, especially after not having talked to each other for 10 years.
I agree with Pauline’ review:what made the dynamic between Tai and Hawke so special was the fact that they were so at peace with each other, so… settled.
The cherry on top: the steamy scenes were… smoking 🥵
Definitely a reading rec, especially for those who waited for Saxon to get her magic back. One of my top reads this year!
Yes, it’s a hockey romance (kind of). No, it’s not about the (in)famous queer hockey collective, even though we get a single Easter Egg reference.
It’s a tender, mature, second chance/former best friends-to-lovers romance, paired with the equally well written (newfound) father/son relationship, and topped up with an equally complicated father/son relationship that needed to heal after the father had a stroke a few years back.
As I said, I loved everything about it. It was handled with care and respect, tenderness, humour, past hurt, and most importantly, with love.
And I loved having two main characters who actually communicate, especially after not having talked to each other for 10 years.
I agree with Pauline’ review:what made the dynamic between Tai and Hawke so special was the fact that they were so at peace with each other, so… settled.
The cherry on top: the steamy scenes were… smoking 🥵
Definitely a reading rec, especially for those who waited for Saxon to get her magic back. One of my top reads this year!
September 11, 2026
It's been a while since my last SJ read, but the overwhelming positive reviews lured me in.
Overall this was a sweet (and spicy) read, I didn't have big issues with it, just sadly wasn't as blown away by it as mostly everyone else.
So here are my bullet points, first what didn't work for me, then what I enjoyed.
-The story's set up was very convenient and not really believable (what with it being a small town and people gossiping).
-Laying all the blame on the dead ex girlfriend was an easy and not very nice decision by the author.
-I was not a fan of Hawke's attitude of toughening up his son while training.
-Wasn't a fan of the parking lot sex and getting each other horny while having dinner with Tai's dad, either (and them having sex by the river, where supposedly other people went, too).
-The author's focus shifted from Hawke wanting to establish a relationship with his son Kasen, to sex, sex, sex. Kasen got demoted to an afterthought in a very big part of the book. Also, Kasen not grieving (aside one episode near the end) when his mother had died a week before the start of the book? No way.
What I enjoyed:
The MCs were adults who behaved like adults. They accepted that their past actions had consequences, and explained why they needed to act a certain way. MCs who talk about mistakes and can say they're sorry, who know that not everything is black and white, and don't linger on resenting the other but try to move forward, are my catnip.
Overall this was a sweet (and spicy) read, I didn't have big issues with it, just sadly wasn't as blown away by it as mostly everyone else.
So here are my bullet points, first what didn't work for me, then what I enjoyed.
-The story's set up was very convenient and not really believable (what with it being a small town and people gossiping).
-Laying all the blame on the dead ex girlfriend was an easy and not very nice decision by the author.
-I was not a fan of Hawke's attitude of toughening up his son while training.
-Wasn't a fan of the parking lot sex and getting each other horny while having dinner with Tai's dad, either (and them having sex by the river, where supposedly other people went, too).
-The author's focus shifted from Hawke wanting to establish a relationship with his son Kasen, to sex, sex, sex. Kasen got demoted to an afterthought in a very big part of the book. Also, Kasen not grieving (aside one episode near the end) when his mother had died a week before the start of the book? No way.
What I enjoyed:
The MCs were adults who behaved like adults. They accepted that their past actions had consequences, and explained why they needed to act a certain way. MCs who talk about mistakes and can say they're sorry, who know that not everything is black and white, and don't linger on resenting the other but try to move forward, are my catnip.
June 27, 2026
⭐️
4.5 stars rounded up!
⭐️
Another great and fun Saxon James romance! After her health scare this year, it's amazing to see her still able to write and publish. I commend her because even healthy it's hard to write, so doing it while battling something so serious is amazing.
Tai and Jensen were best friends for years, around 9 or 10 from about 13 to 22 years old, before Tai cut off all contact when Jensen was drafted to the NHL, because his father suffered a stroke right before the draft and he himself had to drop out of the draft and his dreams to take care of him, as it was a bad stroke for his father that meant a lot of care afterward for him.
And they had little to no money that was all swallowed up in care for his father, so he had to take on multiple jobs to keep them even afloat in the first place, and since he wasn't in the NHL, he couldn't afford care for his father, and he definitely couldn't leave him to go be an NHL star. So he had to give up his dream, and his best friend to do it.
It's understandable why he does that, because he was very angry and resentful at the time he had to do this, and he wanted Jensen to be able to go live his dream and no drop everything for him, and to be happy and not feel guilty while he does it. He still shouldn't have ghosted Jensen and cut him out of his life, but it's understandable why, with all he was going through at the time.
Poor Jensen has no idea why his best friend dropped him like a hot potato and never contacted him for 10 years. When he's told he has a 14 year old son and the boy's mother, Carly, died in a car accident the week prior, he's absolutely floored, and has to return to his hometown in Vermont to deal with it.
There he and Tai run into each other, and Jensen is understandably still hurt and angry, and acts like he doesn't know him.
His kid, Kasen, is a broody, angry, grieving 14 year old kid who was led to believe that Jensen abandoned him and his mother all these years, so he's very angry and hateful towards Jensen at first. But he's just a devastated, scared kid who has his walls up after losing his mother, and he's scared to let in a new parent who he thinks abandoned him on top of everything else.
Once Jensen learns of what went down with Tai and the reasons he cut him off, it doesn't take long for his anger and hurt to dissipate and he just wants Tai back in his life, so they start to reconnect pretty soon into this while Jensen slowly tries to connect with his child.
For the most part, this had a great balance between Tai and Jensen's romance and Jensen trying to gain a connection and relationship with Kasen. I do think the epilogue had a bit too much focus on the Kasen of it all, so that's a main reason for my .5 stars off. I loved Kasen, he was great and he, Jensen and Tai made a great family unit by the end, but this is still first and foremost a Romance, so I would have liked the epilogue to be more focused on Jensen and Tai. Like the draft going on with Kasen could have been a background detail with a focus on Jensen and Tai. Maybe they're ready to get engaged in the epilogue, as they've been together for almost 3 and a half years at that point, even if it was long distance for most of it. Or just a focus on them getting to be together permanently now with no distance at all.
It just felt a bit disappointing. As much as I liked Kasen, I'm not really here for that above anything else, so...romance needed to be more of the focus in that epilogue, in my opinion.
Also, I felt like it took awhile to show Tai's feelings for Jensen. We got attraction and feelings on Jensen's side pretty early on, but we weren't really getting things from his side at first until they gave in and did stuff together. Even just showing attraction from Tai's side would have been nice. His attraction and feelings towards Jensen eventually come across, but not at first and that was a bit of a bummer.
Otherwise, though, I adored this and I loved these two together. This was a fun and enjoyable read, and seeing these two get their shit together after all this time was great. They lost 10+ years already, so them realizing it was them for each other all along was beautiful.
The Carly aspect of this was a bit annoying and frustrating, but not in a way that I felt like the writing lacking, but more that even though she was dead, she as a character was still present and she was frustrating. I know she loved Kasen dearly and did all she could for him, but I personally can't forgive her for keeping Kasen a secret from Jensen. The fact that she even ran into Jensen in town here and there over the years and still NEVER said anything is fucking WILD.
And she cheated on Jensen - which, is NEVER excusable, even if Jensen was checked out a lot in their relationship. That's not an excuse! Just break up with him, girl! And then whoever the other guy was left her for hockey and she didn't know who the father was - fair, that's a lot to put on Jensen if the kid turned out not to be his. BUT then at 5 when Kasen very clearly took after Jensen, THAT WAS THE TIME TO TELL HIM!!!! Like?!!! That's almost 10 years Jensen lost out on because of her.
I don't care if the other guy was an asshole who wanted to chase his hockey dreams, Jensen *stil deserved to know* and also he wasn't that guy so she shouldn't have assigned that fear to Jensen because of what another guy did. At the end of the day, whether Jensen chose to be in Kasen's life or not, he *deserved* to know! If Jensen then decided to fuck off anyway, that would *be on him*! Like...maybe she could fear he'd try to take Kasen away...but then that fear should have been given as a reason! But instead it was the opposite, that she feared he wouldn't want to be in his life. Not giving him even a chance to make a choice is shitty.
Sorry Carly died and all but she annoyed the fuck out of me from beyond the grave. So did her mother, Amelia. Like I get that Kasen is "all you have left" and you just lost your daughter, but that doesn't give you the right to try to keep him from his father, who has more parental rights than you do. Like she's lucky Jensen is such a good guy and didn't want to cut her out of Kasen's life and it seemed let her have custody of Kasen for a majority of the year anyway.
Ugh whatever - I just felt bad for Jensen in all this and he was, in the end, way too understanding and nice about it all.
In the end, they all got to be happy and he got to create a relationship with his son, which is the most important part - and become a family with him and Tai.
So, I definitely recommend this, it was a great book overall. I can't wait for more from Ms. James and I'm happy she's doing better and hopefully we can get many more books from her in many years to come! <3
Until the next one! 🥰
Another great and fun Saxon James romance! After her health scare this year, it's amazing to see her still able to write and publish. I commend her because even healthy it's hard to write, so doing it while battling something so serious is amazing.
Tai and Jensen were best friends for years, around 9 or 10 from about 13 to 22 years old, before Tai cut off all contact when Jensen was drafted to the NHL, because his father suffered a stroke right before the draft and he himself had to drop out of the draft and his dreams to take care of him, as it was a bad stroke for his father that meant a lot of care afterward for him.
And they had little to no money that was all swallowed up in care for his father, so he had to take on multiple jobs to keep them even afloat in the first place, and since he wasn't in the NHL, he couldn't afford care for his father, and he definitely couldn't leave him to go be an NHL star. So he had to give up his dream, and his best friend to do it.
It's understandable why he does that, because he was very angry and resentful at the time he had to do this, and he wanted Jensen to be able to go live his dream and no drop everything for him, and to be happy and not feel guilty while he does it. He still shouldn't have ghosted Jensen and cut him out of his life, but it's understandable why, with all he was going through at the time.
Poor Jensen has no idea why his best friend dropped him like a hot potato and never contacted him for 10 years. When he's told he has a 14 year old son and the boy's mother, Carly, died in a car accident the week prior, he's absolutely floored, and has to return to his hometown in Vermont to deal with it.
There he and Tai run into each other, and Jensen is understandably still hurt and angry, and acts like he doesn't know him.
His kid, Kasen, is a broody, angry, grieving 14 year old kid who was led to believe that Jensen abandoned him and his mother all these years, so he's very angry and hateful towards Jensen at first. But he's just a devastated, scared kid who has his walls up after losing his mother, and he's scared to let in a new parent who he thinks abandoned him on top of everything else.
Once Jensen learns of what went down with Tai and the reasons he cut him off, it doesn't take long for his anger and hurt to dissipate and he just wants Tai back in his life, so they start to reconnect pretty soon into this while Jensen slowly tries to connect with his child.
For the most part, this had a great balance between Tai and Jensen's romance and Jensen trying to gain a connection and relationship with Kasen. I do think the epilogue had a bit too much focus on the Kasen of it all, so that's a main reason for my .5 stars off. I loved Kasen, he was great and he, Jensen and Tai made a great family unit by the end, but this is still first and foremost a Romance, so I would have liked the epilogue to be more focused on Jensen and Tai. Like the draft going on with Kasen could have been a background detail with a focus on Jensen and Tai. Maybe they're ready to get engaged in the epilogue, as they've been together for almost 3 and a half years at that point, even if it was long distance for most of it. Or just a focus on them getting to be together permanently now with no distance at all.
It just felt a bit disappointing. As much as I liked Kasen, I'm not really here for that above anything else, so...romance needed to be more of the focus in that epilogue, in my opinion.
Also, I felt like it took awhile to show Tai's feelings for Jensen. We got attraction and feelings on Jensen's side pretty early on, but we weren't really getting things from his side at first until they gave in and did stuff together. Even just showing attraction from Tai's side would have been nice. His attraction and feelings towards Jensen eventually come across, but not at first and that was a bit of a bummer.
Otherwise, though, I adored this and I loved these two together. This was a fun and enjoyable read, and seeing these two get their shit together after all this time was great. They lost 10+ years already, so them realizing it was them for each other all along was beautiful.
The Carly aspect of this was a bit annoying and frustrating, but not in a way that I felt like the writing lacking, but more that even though she was dead, she as a character was still present and she was frustrating. I know she loved Kasen dearly and did all she could for him, but I personally can't forgive her for keeping Kasen a secret from Jensen. The fact that she even ran into Jensen in town here and there over the years and still NEVER said anything is fucking WILD.
And she cheated on Jensen - which, is NEVER excusable, even if Jensen was checked out a lot in their relationship. That's not an excuse! Just break up with him, girl! And then whoever the other guy was left her for hockey and she didn't know who the father was - fair, that's a lot to put on Jensen if the kid turned out not to be his. BUT then at 5 when Kasen very clearly took after Jensen, THAT WAS THE TIME TO TELL HIM!!!! Like?!!! That's almost 10 years Jensen lost out on because of her.
I don't care if the other guy was an asshole who wanted to chase his hockey dreams, Jensen *stil deserved to know* and also he wasn't that guy so she shouldn't have assigned that fear to Jensen because of what another guy did. At the end of the day, whether Jensen chose to be in Kasen's life or not, he *deserved* to know! If Jensen then decided to fuck off anyway, that would *be on him*! Like...maybe she could fear he'd try to take Kasen away...but then that fear should have been given as a reason! But instead it was the opposite, that she feared he wouldn't want to be in his life. Not giving him even a chance to make a choice is shitty.
Sorry Carly died and all but she annoyed the fuck out of me from beyond the grave. So did her mother, Amelia. Like I get that Kasen is "all you have left" and you just lost your daughter, but that doesn't give you the right to try to keep him from his father, who has more parental rights than you do. Like she's lucky Jensen is such a good guy and didn't want to cut her out of Kasen's life and it seemed let her have custody of Kasen for a majority of the year anyway.
Ugh whatever - I just felt bad for Jensen in all this and he was, in the end, way too understanding and nice about it all.
In the end, they all got to be happy and he got to create a relationship with his son, which is the most important part - and become a family with him and Tai.
So, I definitely recommend this, it was a great book overall. I can't wait for more from Ms. James and I'm happy she's doing better and hopefully we can get many more books from her in many years to come! <3
Until the next one! 🥰
June 26, 2026
The ending?! I didn't expect to tear up, but here we are 🥹🥹💙
Hawke and Kasen are precious 😭💙
Hawke and Kasen are precious 😭💙
October 1, 2026
4.5***** stars
Jensen & Tai
yeah, it was exactly as good as everyone said it was.
***********
Unnamed Series
Book 1 - Home Ice - 4.5 stars
Book 2 - Thin Ice - release 02/27
Jensen & Tai
yeah, it was exactly as good as everyone said it was.
***********
Unnamed Series
Book 1 - Home Ice - 4.5 stars
Book 2 - Thin Ice - release 02/27
July 29, 2026
You may already know I'm not the biggest fan of kids in my romance books, I have enough of my own at home 🤯 but I genuinely have no complaints about this trope here.
I didn’t expect this book to be so sweet. And to be honest, sweet doesn’t usually make it up to 5 stars. But I just can’t give it anything less than that 💜
Trust SJ to make everything just work. All interactions felt natural, I loved the pacing and healthy communication, the side characters were fantastic, and I adored the care she put into Jensen slowly finding his place in Kasen's life and heart.
Mostly, of course, I loved how it all developed between him and Tai 💜
“When he’s around, I want him to be around more.
Like his cells are magnetized to my cells, and we’re both too weak to resist the pull.”
Communication done right. Every obstacle, every difficult conversation, every issue was handled in a way that felt believable. No magical fixes, no unnecessary drama.
I love books that feel like they could actually happen to real people.
And again - sweet rarely gets me all emotional and sobby. Multiple times at that.
So yes, hands down, totally deserved 5 here 🌟
“There are houses in every city.”
He cups my face.
“But there’s only one you. Fuck the house. Fuck St. Louis. Fuck everything that will keep us apart. Ten years couldn’t stop us, Tai. So nothing will.”
I didn’t expect this book to be so sweet. And to be honest, sweet doesn’t usually make it up to 5 stars. But I just can’t give it anything less than that 💜
Trust SJ to make everything just work. All interactions felt natural, I loved the pacing and healthy communication, the side characters were fantastic, and I adored the care she put into Jensen slowly finding his place in Kasen's life and heart.
Mostly, of course, I loved how it all developed between him and Tai 💜
“When he’s around, I want him to be around more.
Like his cells are magnetized to my cells, and we’re both too weak to resist the pull.”
Communication done right. Every obstacle, every difficult conversation, every issue was handled in a way that felt believable. No magical fixes, no unnecessary drama.
I love books that feel like they could actually happen to real people.
And again - sweet rarely gets me all emotional and sobby. Multiple times at that.
So yes, hands down, totally deserved 5 here 🌟
“There are houses in every city.”
He cups my face.
“But there’s only one you. Fuck the house. Fuck St. Louis. Fuck everything that will keep us apart. Ten years couldn’t stop us, Tai. So nothing will.”
June 28, 2026
A Beautiful story. Everything felt perfect in this book, even though I low key disliked Hawke in chapter one. Then there was Barrett who made all the wrong decisions in his earlier life and not accepting help in later years. Kasen was just snarky enough as a hurt teen in an impossible situation, everyone falling into place to navigate this complicated situation. Realizing love on this journey of healing, forgiveness and the ultimate bonus of earning the love of his long lost child, Jensen becomes the best version of himself with Barrett and Kasen at his side.
I absolutely loved this heartwarming story.
*Favorites
*Great second chance at friendship/love
I absolutely loved this heartwarming story.
*Favorites
*Great second chance at friendship/love
August 2, 2026
Audiobook 🎧
Narrator: Brandon Francis
🏒 Ex Best Friends to Lovers
I had high hopes for this, the reviews had me excited to read.
The actual story was sweet, as were the characters, but this felt very rushed, one minute they were Ex Best Friends, then they were reunited and suddenly going at it like rabbits.
It all felt a bit cheesy and predictable for me, which I hate to say cause I love Saxon’s books. Still 4 ⭐️
HEA
Narrator: Brandon Francis
🏒 Ex Best Friends to Lovers
I had high hopes for this, the reviews had me excited to read.
The actual story was sweet, as were the characters, but this felt very rushed, one minute they were Ex Best Friends, then they were reunited and suddenly going at it like rabbits.
It all felt a bit cheesy and predictable for me, which I hate to say cause I love Saxon’s books. Still 4 ⭐️
HEA
Did Not Finish
July 31, 2026DNF @ 3%, because I sense BS coming.
Dude's family is annoying AF and he doesn't seem to have a backbone.
Dude's family is annoying AF and he doesn't seem to have a backbone.
June 8, 2026
Ugh god, Saxon James has written perfection. This surprise single dad romance follows estranged childhood best friends through a mountain of pining and hurt as they are forced to live in the same small town. This was such a great hockey romance, light on the NHL content and heavy on junior hockey content.
I really enjoyed how each character had their own parts of the book, from issues with Tai’s Dad and how Jensen had to navigate his struggles of being a new parent to a teenager. Really special characters. Incredible plot and all the depth you could hope for.
Thank-you to Foreword PR for providing me and ARC to review. This is my honest opinion.
I really enjoyed how each character had their own parts of the book, from issues with Tai’s Dad and how Jensen had to navigate his struggles of being a new parent to a teenager. Really special characters. Incredible plot and all the depth you could hope for.
Thank-you to Foreword PR for providing me and ARC to review. This is my honest opinion.
September 22, 2026
Wholesome, beautiful, and just the kind of book that leaves you with such a warm feeling when you finish it. I loved how comforting this story felt. There was something so special about seeing two people who had so much history finally get the chance to talk, be honest with each other, and slowly find their way back to what they had. This was such a lovely reading experience❤️🥹
I genuinely love Saxon James's writing style so much. There is just something about the way she writes that makes her books so easy and enjoyable for me to read. I get so invested in the characters and their relationships, and I always end up enjoying the little moments just as much as the bigger ones. Her books have this very comforting, fun, and wholesome feeling that I absolutely love, and I always know I'm going to have a good time when I pick one up🥰
I love books where everything about the past is solved in the very beginning. Like, all the things come out and now they just need to let each other come back into their lives. No misunderstandings left until the end to be revealed. No dragging things out unnecessarily. We know what happened, they know what happened, and now we get to actually see them deal with it together.
It was so good to see them talking again and sharing everything with each other. All those things about the past, all the things they had kept to themselves, and just how comfortable they were with each other while talking about it. There was something so beautiful about watching that friendship come back so naturally. Friendships are honestly so beautiful, especially when you get to see people who have known each other for so long find their way back to each other.
Kasen's antics were hilarious. That ice cream scene lmao. I was actually laughing. Being a teenager is difficult, but being a parent of a teenager... mind blown. Some of those moments were just so funny and made the whole book even more enjoyable.
And therapy. Like, we can't even imagine what wonders it can make happen. Sometimes having someone who can actually help you work through everything can change so much, and I'm genuinely so grateful for the people who keep helping the ones who need it.
And that epilogue was so so gooddddd. I was smiling so much. What a beautiful way to end the book💫❤️
Also, the mention of Ezra Palaszczuk and Foster Grant. I don't think I'll ever stop missing all of them, no matter how many times I reread their books. They have such a special place in my heart, and even the smallest mention of them makes me ridiculously happy🤭🤗
SPOILERS AHEAD:
"And hopefully, once he sees that I've called his bluff, we can have a real conversation."
She sighs, running her hand over the closest car. "I don't think it works like that. But if I yell at you and ask for a car, will you call my bluff and buy me one too?"
"No fucking way."
"You are actually the worst brother in the world. I hope you know that.”
"Right back at you."
"Maybe he's not the villain here. It sounds like he fucked up yesterday, but he's here, trying again. Doesn't that count for something?"
Kasen grunts. "We'll see." He goes to skate toward Hawke, but pauses. "That was code for you're coming with me and not leaving me alone with the guy. He's a stranger. What kind of coach are you?"
That almost makes me laugh. "The kind that will give you twenty laps next session if you decide to be a smart-ass."
"I don't think it's a conscious decision, if that helps."
"It doesn't. That's definitely worse."
"What do you normally get?"
He shrugs.
"You don't know what you normally get?"
"Of course I know."
"Then ..."
"It's not a hard question." I nudge him. "Kasen?"
"Chocolate, okay? I get chocolate."
I can only stare at his outburst. Then I break down laughing. "Wait. Tell me that you didn't order some random flavor so we wouldn't be the same?"
"It was weird."
"Why is that weird?"
"Because I don't even know you. I don't want to order the same ice cream flavor as you."
"Kasen." I barely know where to start with how ridiculous that is. "The majority of people like chocolate. It's, like, the universal flavor. Are you kidding me?"
"I panicked."
Without a word, I take his ice cream and replace it with my chocolate one.
"What are you doing?"
"Swapping,"
"Can I claim this one?"
Hawke's head snaps to him. "What do you mean?"
"For my bedroom."
"Your bedroom?" Hawke echoes, and I want to slap him.
Kasen shrugs. "Unless you want me to sleep in a box instead."
"No, no, this room's good." Hawke follows him in there. "We can like, whatever you change anything you like. New mattress, curtains, uh want."
Kasen's got his back to Hawke, but from the doorway, I watch him fight a smile before he turns back around. "I'm here for two nights. Calm down."
"Little smart-ass."
"I wonder where he gets that from?"
"Carly. He sounds exactly like Carly. Even he said so."
"He's definitely smart like her, but I don't remember her ever being an ass. That was all you."
He laughs and shoves me. "It wouldn't kill you to occasionally support my delusions."
"Should I get my nose pierced too?"
"Amelia would kill me."
"What about my eyebrow?"
"Why don't we get through one visit where I prove she can trust me before I send you home with body modifications."
His grin widens until it's almost a real smile. "So you're saying a split tongue is a definite possibility."
"Sure. If you never want to be allowed to see me again."
"I'm not used to having so many people in the house."
"I know. But they're here because they want to be."
"I'm not," Kasen cuts in. "I don't even like cleaning my own room."
"You don't have to be," I quickly say.
"Eh, I'm here now." He heads in the same direction as Dad.
"He asked to come with me," Hawke says. "I swear it."
I genuinely love Saxon James's writing style so much. There is just something about the way she writes that makes her books so easy and enjoyable for me to read. I get so invested in the characters and their relationships, and I always end up enjoying the little moments just as much as the bigger ones. Her books have this very comforting, fun, and wholesome feeling that I absolutely love, and I always know I'm going to have a good time when I pick one up🥰
I love books where everything about the past is solved in the very beginning. Like, all the things come out and now they just need to let each other come back into their lives. No misunderstandings left until the end to be revealed. No dragging things out unnecessarily. We know what happened, they know what happened, and now we get to actually see them deal with it together.
It was so good to see them talking again and sharing everything with each other. All those things about the past, all the things they had kept to themselves, and just how comfortable they were with each other while talking about it. There was something so beautiful about watching that friendship come back so naturally. Friendships are honestly so beautiful, especially when you get to see people who have known each other for so long find their way back to each other.
Kasen's antics were hilarious. That ice cream scene lmao. I was actually laughing. Being a teenager is difficult, but being a parent of a teenager... mind blown. Some of those moments were just so funny and made the whole book even more enjoyable.
And therapy. Like, we can't even imagine what wonders it can make happen. Sometimes having someone who can actually help you work through everything can change so much, and I'm genuinely so grateful for the people who keep helping the ones who need it.
And that epilogue was so so gooddddd. I was smiling so much. What a beautiful way to end the book💫❤️
Also, the mention of Ezra Palaszczuk and Foster Grant. I don't think I'll ever stop missing all of them, no matter how many times I reread their books. They have such a special place in my heart, and even the smallest mention of them makes me ridiculously happy🤭🤗
SPOILERS AHEAD:
"And hopefully, once he sees that I've called his bluff, we can have a real conversation."
She sighs, running her hand over the closest car. "I don't think it works like that. But if I yell at you and ask for a car, will you call my bluff and buy me one too?"
"No fucking way."
"You are actually the worst brother in the world. I hope you know that.”
"Right back at you."
"Maybe he's not the villain here. It sounds like he fucked up yesterday, but he's here, trying again. Doesn't that count for something?"
Kasen grunts. "We'll see." He goes to skate toward Hawke, but pauses. "That was code for you're coming with me and not leaving me alone with the guy. He's a stranger. What kind of coach are you?"
That almost makes me laugh. "The kind that will give you twenty laps next session if you decide to be a smart-ass."
"I don't think it's a conscious decision, if that helps."
"It doesn't. That's definitely worse."
"What do you normally get?"
He shrugs.
"You don't know what you normally get?"
"Of course I know."
"Then ..."
"It's not a hard question." I nudge him. "Kasen?"
"Chocolate, okay? I get chocolate."
I can only stare at his outburst. Then I break down laughing. "Wait. Tell me that you didn't order some random flavor so we wouldn't be the same?"
"It was weird."
"Why is that weird?"
"Because I don't even know you. I don't want to order the same ice cream flavor as you."
"Kasen." I barely know where to start with how ridiculous that is. "The majority of people like chocolate. It's, like, the universal flavor. Are you kidding me?"
"I panicked."
Without a word, I take his ice cream and replace it with my chocolate one.
"What are you doing?"
"Swapping,"
"Can I claim this one?"
Hawke's head snaps to him. "What do you mean?"
"For my bedroom."
"Your bedroom?" Hawke echoes, and I want to slap him.
Kasen shrugs. "Unless you want me to sleep in a box instead."
"No, no, this room's good." Hawke follows him in there. "We can like, whatever you change anything you like. New mattress, curtains, uh want."
Kasen's got his back to Hawke, but from the doorway, I watch him fight a smile before he turns back around. "I'm here for two nights. Calm down."
"Little smart-ass."
"I wonder where he gets that from?"
"Carly. He sounds exactly like Carly. Even he said so."
"He's definitely smart like her, but I don't remember her ever being an ass. That was all you."
He laughs and shoves me. "It wouldn't kill you to occasionally support my delusions."
"Should I get my nose pierced too?"
"Amelia would kill me."
"What about my eyebrow?"
"Why don't we get through one visit where I prove she can trust me before I send you home with body modifications."
His grin widens until it's almost a real smile. "So you're saying a split tongue is a definite possibility."
"Sure. If you never want to be allowed to see me again."
"I'm not used to having so many people in the house."
"I know. But they're here because they want to be."
"I'm not," Kasen cuts in. "I don't even like cleaning my own room."
"You don't have to be," I quickly say.
"Eh, I'm here now." He heads in the same direction as Dad.
"He asked to come with me," Hawke says. "I swear it."
September 3, 2026
2.5⭐️
So, this is the story of Jensen and Barrett, who were best friends since age of 13 until 21, when Barrett just left and ghosted Jensen. Now 10 years later, they are reunited as Jensen discovers he has a son and has to go back to their small town.
Dude, I'm so disappointed as this had the potential to be a very good and moving read, but for me it flopped due to many reasons:
- The book literally starts with Jensen waking up between 2 bodies (a male and a female) and I am told that he "stayed up until four, getting dicked down and eating pussy." Yeah, cause this is the exact icky start I wanted to make me interested in the book. Riveting🙄🤢
- Then lo and behold, we hit chapter 15 where Jensen and Barrett are just having a lengthy detailed discussion about their past sexcapades and all the people they fucked, how they fucked or get fucked by them. We are reminded again and few times how Jensen is into threesomes. Riveting talk🤢🤢🤢 Exactly what I needed to be more invested in the couple🙄
- I didn't feel any chemistry between Jensen and Barrett. Nada. I didn't feel their connection, neither as best friends nor as lovers. It is like I'm informed that they were/are best friends and then lovers and I just have to believe that without evidence.
- Since one of the major plot point is Jensen discovering he has a son, I expected more scenes between Jensen and his son. I wanted to see more father/son dynamic and them rebuilding their relationship. I felt a little bit robbed in that department. For example, instead of the unnecessary and disgusting 'let's talk in details about all the people we fucked during the 10 years' chapter, maybe we could have used that to focus on Jensen and Kasen. Here's to hoping😑
- Oh and circling back to the 'best friends' part. How am I gonna believe they are truly best friends when Barrett didn't even choose Jensen as his person to come out to?! No, instead he told fucking Trevor (a closeted teammate) whom he was sneaking around and hooking up with. And yes, we had to hear all the riveting details about Trevor🤢 Also, Jensen never confided in Barrett about his attraction to men. So, how am I supposed to believe in a best friend relationship if you don't act like best friends at all?!😐
- Oh going back to the riveting chapter 15, and another reminder on how that icky talk had a lasting effect on me. So we are on chapter 33 and love confessions while dancing at a wedding are being made and Barrett says "when we're in your room alone, I want you to make love to me." A reader should be swooning and in Aww cus hey they are confessing their love and one is asking the other to make love to him, so sweet right?! Well, my fucked up brain latched on the word "you room" where I know that myriad of hookups and threesomes took place, thanks to our informational chapter 15. So, for me, this moment was more like ewww than awww🤢
- They were apart for 10 years where Jensen is angry at Barrett, but in the matter of few days, all is forgiven and we are hooking up. How more beautiful and convincing would have been if we slowly rebuild their friendship or revive it over a period of time, getting the connection back and fixing the cracks, then take that solid new friendship into the next level. So, I think a more slow burn development would have been better for me to believe in their relationship as best friends and lovers.
- Also, it is a small town, so gossip should travel more than the speed of light in setting like that😅 How did no one figure out Kasen resemblance to Jensen? How Jensen's parents didn't know about their son ex-gf having a baby and then that son magically looking like theirs? How did they also not hear or know about Barrett's dad medical situation and ultimately told Jensen? Like what kind of small town are we talking about if no one is in another one's private business🙄 Like that's rule number one in a small town😂
Sigh😮💨😮💨😮💨
I'm getting super picky about my romance that literally a tiny ick can trigger me, and here there were few icky things that soured my mood. Nevertheless, many people love this book, so if my issues with this book don't bother you, then give this book a chance.
So, this is the story of Jensen and Barrett, who were best friends since age of 13 until 21, when Barrett just left and ghosted Jensen. Now 10 years later, they are reunited as Jensen discovers he has a son and has to go back to their small town.
Dude, I'm so disappointed as this had the potential to be a very good and moving read, but for me it flopped due to many reasons:
- The book literally starts with Jensen waking up between 2 bodies (a male and a female) and I am told that he "stayed up until four, getting dicked down and eating pussy." Yeah, cause this is the exact icky start I wanted to make me interested in the book. Riveting🙄🤢
- Then lo and behold, we hit chapter 15 where Jensen and Barrett are just having a lengthy detailed discussion about their past sexcapades and all the people they fucked, how they fucked or get fucked by them. We are reminded again and few times how Jensen is into threesomes. Riveting talk🤢🤢🤢 Exactly what I needed to be more invested in the couple🙄
- I didn't feel any chemistry between Jensen and Barrett. Nada. I didn't feel their connection, neither as best friends nor as lovers. It is like I'm informed that they were/are best friends and then lovers and I just have to believe that without evidence.
- Since one of the major plot point is Jensen discovering he has a son, I expected more scenes between Jensen and his son. I wanted to see more father/son dynamic and them rebuilding their relationship. I felt a little bit robbed in that department. For example, instead of the unnecessary and disgusting 'let's talk in details about all the people we fucked during the 10 years' chapter, maybe we could have used that to focus on Jensen and Kasen. Here's to hoping😑
- Oh and circling back to the 'best friends' part. How am I gonna believe they are truly best friends when Barrett didn't even choose Jensen as his person to come out to?! No, instead he told fucking Trevor (a closeted teammate) whom he was sneaking around and hooking up with. And yes, we had to hear all the riveting details about Trevor🤢 Also, Jensen never confided in Barrett about his attraction to men. So, how am I supposed to believe in a best friend relationship if you don't act like best friends at all?!😐
- Oh going back to the riveting chapter 15, and another reminder on how that icky talk had a lasting effect on me. So we are on chapter 33 and love confessions while dancing at a wedding are being made and Barrett says "when we're in your room alone, I want you to make love to me." A reader should be swooning and in Aww cus hey they are confessing their love and one is asking the other to make love to him, so sweet right?! Well, my fucked up brain latched on the word "you room" where I know that myriad of hookups and threesomes took place, thanks to our informational chapter 15. So, for me, this moment was more like ewww than awww🤢
- They were apart for 10 years where Jensen is angry at Barrett, but in the matter of few days, all is forgiven and we are hooking up. How more beautiful and convincing would have been if we slowly rebuild their friendship or revive it over a period of time, getting the connection back and fixing the cracks, then take that solid new friendship into the next level. So, I think a more slow burn development would have been better for me to believe in their relationship as best friends and lovers.
- Also, it is a small town, so gossip should travel more than the speed of light in setting like that😅 How did no one figure out Kasen resemblance to Jensen? How Jensen's parents didn't know about their son ex-gf having a baby and then that son magically looking like theirs? How did they also not hear or know about Barrett's dad medical situation and ultimately told Jensen? Like what kind of small town are we talking about if no one is in another one's private business🙄 Like that's rule number one in a small town😂
Sigh😮💨😮💨😮💨
I'm getting super picky about my romance that literally a tiny ick can trigger me, and here there were few icky things that soured my mood. Nevertheless, many people love this book, so if my issues with this book don't bother you, then give this book a chance.
July 29, 2026
shut up! this is the first saxon james book to make me cry. this was sooo good 😭
September 7, 2026
«Him» but add a kid, some depth and make it more emotional.
June 21, 2026
"How long are you here for?" he asks after a minute. He’s always had this slightly gravelly rasp to his voice that I went through a period of trying to imitate. Turns out, I didn’t think it was cool; I thought it was hot.
Oh I loved this one! I think Home Ice has just become my fave book from Saxon! This is Jenson (Hawke) and Tai's (Barrett) story and it's an emotional rollercoaster of a ride, spanning a couple of decades, that I never wanted to get off!
What To Expect:
🏒MM hockey romance
🏒Childhood best friends to strangers to friends to lovers
🏒First love
🏒Single dad (surprise teen child)
🏒Small town
🏒NHL star x hockey coach
🏒It’s always been you
🏒All the angst
🏒All the steam
🏒HEA
Loved it!
4.25 stars
Oh I loved this one! I think Home Ice has just become my fave book from Saxon! This is Jenson (Hawke) and Tai's (Barrett) story and it's an emotional rollercoaster of a ride, spanning a couple of decades, that I never wanted to get off!
What To Expect:
🏒MM hockey romance
🏒Childhood best friends to strangers to friends to lovers
🏒First love
🏒Single dad (surprise teen child)
🏒Small town
🏒NHL star x hockey coach
🏒It’s always been you
🏒All the angst
🏒All the steam
🏒HEA
Loved it!
4.25 stars
June 25, 2026
This was, without doubt, the best Saxon James book I've read yet, I loved it.
The way the book handled Jensen's sudden parenthood and Tau dealing with his trauma about his dad stroke are by far my favorite parts. The romance was well balanced, and I didn't expect it to be. We actually focus on the story a lot, there is smut but it's a lot less than other books by the author and while I don't mind a very explicit book I feel like this story was too good to not be properly developed.
I love the best friends to lovers trope, and while in this they had a falling out it still gave me that perfect tension and reluctance.
I would say Jensen and his son are my favorite part, I love how it was constructed and the author didn't shy away from using his anger and mistrust, it was well done.
The way the book handled Jensen's sudden parenthood and Tau dealing with his trauma about his dad stroke are by far my favorite parts. The romance was well balanced, and I didn't expect it to be. We actually focus on the story a lot, there is smut but it's a lot less than other books by the author and while I don't mind a very explicit book I feel like this story was too good to not be properly developed.
I love the best friends to lovers trope, and while in this they had a falling out it still gave me that perfect tension and reluctance.
I would say Jensen and his son are my favorite part, I love how it was constructed and the author didn't shy away from using his anger and mistrust, it was well done.
July 26, 2026
I have finally came and saw the love all my friends have for this book. Jensen and Tai were soooo awesome. First part of the book had my anxiety up when Jensen meets Kasen....the poor kid was soooo pissed, and for good reason. The relationships on both sides built beautifully. I one hundred percent see why everyone has enjoyed this. I am so happy I read this. With that being said....i just read three 5 star michael books in a row and Im gonna have to change up a little in case my expections are too high now. Will be back to the regularly scheduled reading vibes soon 🩵🩵🩵🩵🩵💅
October 19, 2026
Tai Barrett and Hawke have a lot of history, and even though Barrett had his reasons for cutting contact ten years ago, seeing Hawke again still hurts. Especially when he discovers that the young boy on his hockey team is actually Hawke’s son. Thankfully, these two don’t spend the entire book dancing around their past. They reconnect, talk through what happened, and start rebuilding what they lost. It’s honestly refreshing to see them communicate early instead of dragging out unnecessary misunderstandings.
Of course, their friendship has always had something more simmering beneath the surface, and once they start letting each other in again, that attraction becomes impossible to ignore. The chemistry between these two is ridiculous. You can tell from the beginning that they belong together, even if it took them ten years to figure things out. They have their baggage to work through, but between the honesty, stubbornness, and love they share, they eventually find their way back to each other.
Despite the history, grief, and emotional weight surrounding the story, the angst is relatively low. I appreciated that the author didn’t drag out the past hurt just for the sake of creating drama. Barrett and Hawke actually make an effort to understand each other and move forward, and that made their relationship feel more satisfying to me.
One of my favourite parts was Hawke’s relationship with his son, Kasen. Kasen is grieving, angry, and carrying a lot of hurt, so his reaction to suddenly having a father in his life is understandable. Hawke doesn’t always get everything right either, which made him feel more human. Their relationship takes time to develop, and I liked that the story allowed Kasen to work through his feelings instead of magically accepting Hawke overnight.
I also loved Barrett’s personal journey. He’s spent so long keeping everything bottled up and dealing with his problems alone that watching him finally ask for help felt significant. Letting Hawke in wasn't just about romance; it showed how much Barrett had grown and how ready he was to stop carrying everything by himself.
The romance is definitely the main focus, but it doesn’t completely overshadow the other parts of the story. Hockey remains an important part of the characters’ lives without taking over the entire narrative. And honestly, I loved how the author showed that even after ten years apart, Barrett and Hawke still had that connection. They might have lost their way for a while, but finding their way back to each other felt natural.
Overall, I really enjoyed this one. It’s a story about second chances, healing, rebuilding trust, and creating a family in unexpected circumstances. Barrett and Hawke have fantastic chemistry, and watching them find their way back to each other while building something new with Kasen was genuinely lovely. Sometimes, people don't need to start over with someone new. They just need the chance to get things right with the person they never truly stopped loving.
Of course, their friendship has always had something more simmering beneath the surface, and once they start letting each other in again, that attraction becomes impossible to ignore. The chemistry between these two is ridiculous. You can tell from the beginning that they belong together, even if it took them ten years to figure things out. They have their baggage to work through, but between the honesty, stubbornness, and love they share, they eventually find their way back to each other.
Despite the history, grief, and emotional weight surrounding the story, the angst is relatively low. I appreciated that the author didn’t drag out the past hurt just for the sake of creating drama. Barrett and Hawke actually make an effort to understand each other and move forward, and that made their relationship feel more satisfying to me.
One of my favourite parts was Hawke’s relationship with his son, Kasen. Kasen is grieving, angry, and carrying a lot of hurt, so his reaction to suddenly having a father in his life is understandable. Hawke doesn’t always get everything right either, which made him feel more human. Their relationship takes time to develop, and I liked that the story allowed Kasen to work through his feelings instead of magically accepting Hawke overnight.
I also loved Barrett’s personal journey. He’s spent so long keeping everything bottled up and dealing with his problems alone that watching him finally ask for help felt significant. Letting Hawke in wasn't just about romance; it showed how much Barrett had grown and how ready he was to stop carrying everything by himself.
The romance is definitely the main focus, but it doesn’t completely overshadow the other parts of the story. Hockey remains an important part of the characters’ lives without taking over the entire narrative. And honestly, I loved how the author showed that even after ten years apart, Barrett and Hawke still had that connection. They might have lost their way for a while, but finding their way back to each other felt natural.
Overall, I really enjoyed this one. It’s a story about second chances, healing, rebuilding trust, and creating a family in unexpected circumstances. Barrett and Hawke have fantastic chemistry, and watching them find their way back to each other while building something new with Kasen was genuinely lovely. Sometimes, people don't need to start over with someone new. They just need the chance to get things right with the person they never truly stopped loving.
July 8, 2026
Aw fuck 😭😭😭 this one really got me!
I am such a sucker for a secret child/parent reuniting with a lost or unknown child trope and this one did it so so well. I loved Jensen and I loved how determined he was to get to know Kasen and do the best for him. Poor Jensen was a character who had been done wrong and deeply hurt by multiple people and my heart aches with him. He was such a sweet character to be able to forgive, move on, and start anew. Such a perfect main character to root for.
“I finally know what I’m going to do with my life when I retire. I’m going to follow his team around the country and make up for every game I’ve ever missed.” This had me on the floor crying 😭
Tai was a bit harder to love at first, as one of the ones who had wronged Jensen. But his struggles with his father and his own mental health were so palpable. I really enjoyed his journey of going from desperately doing everything himself no matter what, to being able to accept help. And his and Jensen’s relationship was like magic.
I did have to suspend my disbelief on a few things like how two cases of major gossip (Jensen’s gf giving birth 9 months after he leaves town and Ben’s stroke) never made it back to Jensen’s parents or his “nosy sister” when Tai knew so much from small town gossip that he knew exactly what neighborhood Jensen’s parents had moved to despite having never been.
But ultimately, this just had so much heart that the little things don’t matter. I just truly loved this so much.
I am such a sucker for a secret child/parent reuniting with a lost or unknown child trope and this one did it so so well. I loved Jensen and I loved how determined he was to get to know Kasen and do the best for him. Poor Jensen was a character who had been done wrong and deeply hurt by multiple people and my heart aches with him. He was such a sweet character to be able to forgive, move on, and start anew. Such a perfect main character to root for.
“I finally know what I’m going to do with my life when I retire. I’m going to follow his team around the country and make up for every game I’ve ever missed.” This had me on the floor crying 😭
Tai was a bit harder to love at first, as one of the ones who had wronged Jensen. But his struggles with his father and his own mental health were so palpable. I really enjoyed his journey of going from desperately doing everything himself no matter what, to being able to accept help. And his and Jensen’s relationship was like magic.
I did have to suspend my disbelief on a few things like how two cases of major gossip (Jensen’s gf giving birth 9 months after he leaves town and Ben’s stroke) never made it back to Jensen’s parents or his “nosy sister” when Tai knew so much from small town gossip that he knew exactly what neighborhood Jensen’s parents had moved to despite having never been.
But ultimately, this just had so much heart that the little things don’t matter. I just truly loved this so much.
October 22, 2026
3.5 stars
This was a cute, sweet story. Tai and Hawke were ex BFFs, but they pretty quickly renewed their friendship when Hawke came back to town. And it didn't take long before they had a sexual relationship going too.
I worried because there was an annoying teenager in this, but he wasn't too bad. It was understandable that he was upset after losing his mom.
Read October 21, 2026
This was a cute, sweet story. Tai and Hawke were ex BFFs, but they pretty quickly renewed their friendship when Hawke came back to town. And it didn't take long before they had a sexual relationship going too.
I worried because there was an annoying teenager in this, but he wasn't too bad. It was understandable that he was upset after losing his mom.
Read October 21, 2026
June 8, 2026
This was so good 😭🥹
*I received an ARC copy of this book, all opinions are my own*
Well Saxon got me in the feelings AGAIN!
Not only is this a really well-done second chance, childhood best friends to lovers romance…filled with all the pining & getting to know each other as the adults they currently are while still revisiting the experiences that made them a “unit” as kids/teens.
But this story is also one of overcoming hurt/betrayal (as Jensen finds out he has a teenage son that his high school girlfriend never told him about), and wanting to pour your whole self into that relationship with your child, while also feeling angry & bitter that you’ve both been put into that situation, and also dealing with the grief & sadness Kasen is feeling after his moms death (and he also feels betrayed by her for lying)
Ohh the twisted emotional webs we weave!!
It was all interwoven so well, and definitely made sense for where the characters were each at at the specific moments in time in the book.
*I received an ARC copy of this book, all opinions are my own*
Well Saxon got me in the feelings AGAIN!
Not only is this a really well-done second chance, childhood best friends to lovers romance…filled with all the pining & getting to know each other as the adults they currently are while still revisiting the experiences that made them a “unit” as kids/teens.
But this story is also one of overcoming hurt/betrayal (as Jensen finds out he has a teenage son that his high school girlfriend never told him about), and wanting to pour your whole self into that relationship with your child, while also feeling angry & bitter that you’ve both been put into that situation, and also dealing with the grief & sadness Kasen is feeling after his moms death (and he also feels betrayed by her for lying)
Ohh the twisted emotional webs we weave!!
It was all interwoven so well, and definitely made sense for where the characters were each at at the specific moments in time in the book.
June 26, 2026
5 Stars⭐️
3.5 Spice 🌶️
Tropes and Tags:
- 1ST Person, Dual POV
- Lowish angst
- Best friends to strangers to lovers
- Single dad and a surprise secret kid
- Small Town
- NHL Star x Youth Hockey Coach
- “It’s always been you”
This book feels like sitting with your face tipped up to the sun in paper form. I absolutely adored all of these characters and couldn’t have been more invested in their HEA.
I love a single parent trope, but this was a little different to the usual because it wasn’t a baby that Jensen (Hawke) *just* found out existed, but a full angsty, incredibly sassy 14 year old. Kasen is like a mini Hawke and he may have been my favourite character. He was just so sassy and kept everyone on their toes it was an absolute joy to read.
I also love a friends to lovers story, and Hawke and Tai (Barrett) had a lot to mend from their ten years of separation and anger towards each other before they could reconcile and fall back into being best friends. Once they did reconnect, it was like a sexual tension bomb exploded between them, my god it was so steamy!! They had me blushing and giggling with their flirty banter and the way they literally couldn’t keep their hands off each other. You can just feel the love pouring off these two, it was so lovely to experience.
I have to mention how damn emotional Hawke and Kasen’s relationship made me!! I was a sobbing mess just rooting for them to figure each other out so everyone could be one big happy family!!😭❤️
Love love loved this, I’m already so excited to go back and read it again!!
3.5 Spice 🌶️
Tropes and Tags:
- 1ST Person, Dual POV
- Lowish angst
- Best friends to strangers to lovers
- Single dad and a surprise secret kid
- Small Town
- NHL Star x Youth Hockey Coach
- “It’s always been you”
This book feels like sitting with your face tipped up to the sun in paper form. I absolutely adored all of these characters and couldn’t have been more invested in their HEA.
I love a single parent trope, but this was a little different to the usual because it wasn’t a baby that Jensen (Hawke) *just* found out existed, but a full angsty, incredibly sassy 14 year old. Kasen is like a mini Hawke and he may have been my favourite character. He was just so sassy and kept everyone on their toes it was an absolute joy to read.
I also love a friends to lovers story, and Hawke and Tai (Barrett) had a lot to mend from their ten years of separation and anger towards each other before they could reconcile and fall back into being best friends. Once they did reconnect, it was like a sexual tension bomb exploded between them, my god it was so steamy!! They had me blushing and giggling with their flirty banter and the way they literally couldn’t keep their hands off each other. You can just feel the love pouring off these two, it was so lovely to experience.
I have to mention how damn emotional Hawke and Kasen’s relationship made me!! I was a sobbing mess just rooting for them to figure each other out so everyone could be one big happy family!!😭❤️
Love love loved this, I’m already so excited to go back and read it again!!
July 20, 2026
What blonde François Arnaud is doing on the cover?
Nice story💕
Nice story💕
August 31, 2026
Jensen Hawke receives a phone call from his mother that will change his life forever. Being a successful hockey player, but on the off season, he finds himself returning home, to the news he has a son, he never knew about.
Tai Barrett played hockey with Jensen, and also had the chance to turn professional, but he chose family over fame, looking after his father. He is now a high school coach, and one of his students is Kasen,, who looks so much like Jensen.
Jensen wants to build a relationship with his son, but he needs to win Kasen over. Kasen is hurting, thinking his Dad never wanted to know him, but lies were told.
Tai has Kasen and Jensen’s best interests at heart. The more time he spends with Jensen, the more he wants him, and the feeling is mutual.
Saxon James has written yet another first class hockey book. Saxon has such a unique writing style, and manages to develop the characters so well. The descriptions of how each character feels jumps off the page.
I loved Jensen and Tai together. The side character of Kasen, is a typical teen, that feels he has been done wrong.
Brandon Francis has done a fantastic job narrating this book.
Tai Barrett played hockey with Jensen, and also had the chance to turn professional, but he chose family over fame, looking after his father. He is now a high school coach, and one of his students is Kasen,, who looks so much like Jensen.
Jensen wants to build a relationship with his son, but he needs to win Kasen over. Kasen is hurting, thinking his Dad never wanted to know him, but lies were told.
Tai has Kasen and Jensen’s best interests at heart. The more time he spends with Jensen, the more he wants him, and the feeling is mutual.
Saxon James has written yet another first class hockey book. Saxon has such a unique writing style, and manages to develop the characters so well. The descriptions of how each character feels jumps off the page.
I loved Jensen and Tai together. The side character of Kasen, is a typical teen, that feels he has been done wrong.
Brandon Francis has done a fantastic job narrating this book.
Read
June 6, 2026I’ve been excited for this book since I realized Hawke from Charming Puckboy was the same Hawke this was about! I didn’t read the blurb, just saw character names and that it was a hockey romance and honestly that was the best way to go into this. The shock I had when his mom called and he had to head home?! Unmatched. Hand over my mouth, had to set my phone down and just take a moment because what do you mean?! I loved seeing Hawke and Tai reconnect and seeing Hawke slowly but surely melt Kasens walls down and those two bond?! It was everything. This story was so wholesome while also having the spice, I loved it!! AND my baby Ezra was mentioned?! No notes, I loved everything about this story.
June 26, 2026
4 stars
“Come on, Hawke. I’ve loved you since before I knew what love was.”
Okay, I enjoyed the hell out of this book. Let's see what we had here:
🏷️ 'Surprise! You have a 14-year-old son' moment
🏷️ Solid character growth
🏷️ Friends-to-strangers-to-friends-to-lovers
🏷️ Grief/Death of a loved one (not on page)
🏷️ Mental health representation
🏷️ Second-chance adjacent
🏷️ Newly single dad (newly a dad... not newly single lol)
🏷️ Hockey romance
I think the only reason I gave this book a four instead of a five was BECAUSE it was second-chance adjacent. Second chance romances, or anything along those lines, typically aren't my favourite because they generally have some kind of angst, tension, jealousy, regret, or a combination of all of them, coated in this sadness of 'what if' when looking back at the past.
This isn't to say the romance between Jensen and Tai wasn't spectacular and well-written, because it was. Those types of romance just aren't always five-stars for me, purely based on personal preferences.
But I must say, as much as I enjoyed the romance aspects in this novel, I actually really enjoyed watching Jensen and Kasen's relationship... possibly even more than I enjoyed watching Jensen and Tai's.
To summarise:
I loved seeing Kasen and Jensen establish a relationship, and Kasen's snark and banter? Unmatched. The scenes where he was present are some of my favourites from the whole book.
“Come on, Hawke. I’ve loved you since before I knew what love was.”
Okay, I enjoyed the hell out of this book. Let's see what we had here:
🏷️ 'Surprise! You have a 14-year-old son' moment
🏷️ Solid character growth
🏷️ Friends-to-strangers-to-friends-to-lovers
🏷️ Grief/Death of a loved one (not on page)
🏷️ Mental health representation
🏷️ Second-chance adjacent
🏷️ Newly single dad (newly a dad... not newly single lol)
🏷️ Hockey romance
I think the only reason I gave this book a four instead of a five was BECAUSE it was second-chance adjacent. Second chance romances, or anything along those lines, typically aren't my favourite because they generally have some kind of angst, tension, jealousy, regret, or a combination of all of them, coated in this sadness of 'what if' when looking back at the past.
This isn't to say the romance between Jensen and Tai wasn't spectacular and well-written, because it was. Those types of romance just aren't always five-stars for me, purely based on personal preferences.
But I must say, as much as I enjoyed the romance aspects in this novel, I actually really enjoyed watching Jensen and Kasen's relationship... possibly even more than I enjoyed watching Jensen and Tai's.
To summarise:
I loved seeing Kasen and Jensen establish a relationship, and Kasen's snark and banter? Unmatched. The scenes where he was present are some of my favourites from the whole book.
“Out of the two of us, I think you’re the one with the homicidal tendencies.”
Kasen looks me up and down, no change in his expression, and from the corner of my eyes, I glimpse Barrett run a hand over his face. Okay, so maybe I shouldn’t have called my son a murderer, but in my defense, he did it first.
“I didn’t think we were staying in a hotel.”
“I’m pretty sure … this is Hawke’s house.”
“That’s not a house.” His eyes are as wide as mine are. “It’s a damn castle.” ... “You know what,” Kasen finally says. “I think I know what I’m spending the afternoon doing.”
“What’s that?”
“Embarking on an expedition.”
I bite back my laugh while Hawke shoots a confused look my way. “Ah … what?”
Kasen gestures at the house. “I think I have a real shot at finding Excalibur.”
August 14, 2026
"Tai-"
"Nope." He strokes my cheek, and I lean into the touch. "We're dancing. Then you're going to kiss me. And when we get home after the wedding, and we're in your room alone I want you to make love to me. Okay?"
"You..."
Barrett leans forward, forehead resting on my shoulder. "Come on, Hawke. I've loved you since before I knew what love was."
Excuse me while I drown in my tears 😭😭😭
This was so surprisingly good. I read it in less than a day, completely captivated by the story and the characters. It truly can't be anything but a 5 star read.
The book just had it all. Incredible chemistry. The tension, the banter, the magnetic pull between Tai and Jensen. The need to get closer and support each other despite their history.
What I loved the most was how naturally the romance developed. It's clear from their first encounter after spending 10 years apart that they're meant to be in each other's lives and there's nothing they can do to change that, and the journey they go through is just something else. It starts with sharing secrets and trying to build trust again, it leads to lust and newfound feelings for one another that just make so much sense. The connection between the characters felt genuine and earned, making every moment between them hit that much harder.
And let me just say that THE HEAT. WAS. UNBELIEVABLE. The spicy scenes were all different and unique, they felt so exhilarating and so refreshing in many ways, because of what happened both physically (wow, just wow) and emotionally between the two. I can easily say that they're among my favorite scenes ever, and I'm sure they will live in my mind for quite a long time. The more lust-y ones as well as the more emotionally charged ones. Very well done, Saxon James!
Last but not least, I liked Kason and his father-son relationship with Jensen as well, I thought it was very cute and the ending made me tear up, whilst having to admit I liked the book primarily for Jensen and Tai and their heartfelt connection.
Apparently I've been sleeping on Saxon James?! I surely need to catch up and read more of her books, and I definitely see myself reread this one in the future.
"There are houses in every city." He cups my face. "'But there's only one you. Fuck the house. Fuck St. Louis. Fuck everything that will keep us apart. Ten years couldn't stop us, Tai. So nothing will."❤️
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